Religious ultra-conservatism has a field day in Pakistan. It puts Saudi Arabia on the Spot
October 30, 2021 By James M. Dorsey Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatism is having a field day. Barely three months after the Taliban claimed...
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James M. Dorsey
- Oct 7, 2021
- 5 min
Comparing textbooks: Even Afghanistan scores better than Pakistan
By James M. Dorsey Societal struggles and reform often take unexpected turns in vast swaths of land stretching from the Middle East into...
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James M. Dorsey
- Sep 23, 2021
- 5 min
The Battle for the Soul of Islam: Will the real reformer of the faith stand up?
By James M. Dorsey Saudi and Emirati efforts to define ‘moderate’ Islam as socially more liberal while being subservient to an autocratic...
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James M. Dorsey
- Sep 19, 2021
- 5 min
Indonesian G20 presidency promises to put a ‘battle for the soul of Islam’ on the front burner
By James M. Dorsey Indonesian religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas set the bar high for President Joko Widodo as well as...
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James M. Dorsey
- Sep 16, 2021
- 4 min
Opposing Hindutava: US conference raises troubling questions
By James M. Dorsey Controversy over a recent ‘Dismantling Global Hindutava’ conference that targeted a politically charged expression of...
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James M. Dorsey
- Sep 14, 2021
- 7 min
Initial Taliban moves fail to convince Afghanistan’s neighbours
By James M. Dorsey The Taliban’s record in recent weeks on making good on promises to respect human and women’s rights as well as uphold...
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James M. Dorsey
- Sep 9, 2021
- 5 min
Bin Laden’s legacy probably surpasses his wildest dreams
By James M. Dorsey At the very outset of the 21st century, Osama bin Laden wittingly or unwittingly positioned himself with the 9/11...
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James M. Dorsey
- Sep 7, 2021
- 5 min
Taliban perpetuate Muslim world's failed governance paradigm
By James M. Dorsey The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan perpetuates a paradigm of failed governance in the Muslim world based on a...
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James M. Dorsey
- Aug 28, 2021
- 6 min
Taliban victory threatens to be a double-edged sword for Pakistan and China
By James M. Dorsey Pakistani efforts to exploit the Taliban victory in Afghanistan threaten to reinforce ultra-conservative inclinations...
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James M. Dorsey
- Aug 17, 2021
- 5 min
Defining change: Who are the Taliban that conquered Afghanistan?
By James M. Dorsey Having taken control, the Taliban want the world to believe that they have become more pragmatic and inclusive in the...
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James M. Dorsey
- Jul 24, 2021
- 4 min
Indictment of Trump associate threatens UAE lobbying success...
...and raises questions about Emirati campaign against political Islam By James M. Dorsey This month’s indictment of a billionaire,...
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James M. Dorsey
- Jul 14, 2021
- 5 min
Defining moderate Islam: Muslims and Evangelicals forge an alliance
By James M. Dorsey A major Muslim and Evangelical organization joined forces this week to significantly advance hitherto state-backed...
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James M. Dorsey
- Jun 22, 2021
- 5 min
Middle Eastern powers vie in shaping a next generation of Muslims
By James M. Dorsey Education is emerging as a major flashpoint in competing visions of a future Muslim world. Rival concepts being...
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James M. Dorsey
- Mar 20, 2021
- 5 min
In the bull’s eye: Turkish, not Saudi, schoolbooks
By James M. Dorsey In a sign of the times, Turkish schoolbooks have replaced Saudi texts as the bull’s eye of criticism of supremacist...
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James M. Dorsey
- Jan 4, 2021
- 4 min
Erdogan positions powerful Turkish military as backbone of regional strategy
By James M. Dorsey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ushered in the new year, pledging to employ his country’s military to secure Turkey’s...
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James M. Dorsey
- Jan 1, 2021
- 4 min
Indonesia potentially set to take on China and claim leadership of ‘moderate’ Islam
By James M. Dorsey President Joko Widodo’s recent cabinet reshuffle suggests that Indonesia may adopt a more critical attitude towards...
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James M. Dorsey
- Dec 6, 2020
- 5 min
France, Belgium and Austria Move into the Frontline of a Battle for the Soul of Islam
By James M. Dorsey Punching above its weight, the United Arab Emirates is wielding a combination of religious soft power, commercial and...
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James M. Dorsey
- Jul 30, 2020
- 8 min
Indonesia: A major prize in the battle for the soul of Islam
By James M. Dorsey Saudi support of religious ultra-conservatism in Indonesia contradicts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s promotion of...
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James M. Dorsey
- Mar 28, 2020
- 2 min
JMD on NBN: Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment
AHMET T. KURU Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment A Global and Historical Comparison CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS 2019 March 25,...
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James M. Dorsey
- Feb 26, 2020
- 5 min
Not a pretty picture: The contours of a new world order are on your tv screen
By James M. Dorsey A podcast version of this story is available on Soundcloud, Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spreaker, Pocket Casts,...
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