Tag / Islam
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The New Ottoman Empire
Since the end of World War II, Turkey has been a strong U.S. ally. It was one of the targets of the Marshall Plan and was a crucial part of our pre-1991 fight against communism. It joined NATO in 1952, sent troops to Korea, harbored U.S. missiles, cooperated with pro-U.S. Middle Eastern states, hosted American…
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Islamophobia In China
Islamophobia has long been frowned upon in Western societies, as many deem this an act of religious discrimination or xenophobia; this is not, however, the case in China. In recent years, posting anti-Islam speeches on China’s social media almost became a politically correct thing: people would speak of Muslims in the way Westerners talk about…
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The Cultural Dimension of Syrian Conflict
From the American Revolution to the color revolutions, intellectuals have played a significant role in creating grand narratives and mobilizing the public. They constructed social theories that facilitated collective action, and their visions continued to serve the new regime after the revolutions succeeded. In the Arab Spring, however, intellectuals are marginalized and the ideological aspect…
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Separation of Shul and State
It isn’t just antisemitism in France. It’s an anti-religious fervor sweeping the nation, causing people to tuck in their crosses, stars and crescent moons and save religious practice for the home. Sure, there are places of worship dotting the landscape — France is beloved for its astounding Catholic architectural works, historical masterpieces such as the…
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Uz-what-istan?
On September 2, 2016, Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan, suffered a brain hemorrhage and died. He was 78 when he died. Why does it matter that an aging executive of a largely-irrelevant Caucasus country died? Because it has never happened before. After serving two years as head of the Soviet Bloc’s Uzbek Communist Party, Karimov…
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America’s “Enemy Aliens”
America’s fraught relationship with Islam has a recent history. After decades filled with embattled rhetoric and devastating wars, America has arrived at a juncture where refugees and fear are the tragic results. This crucible is where Presidential candidate Donald Trump stands, talking about tracking Muslims, stopping Muslim immigration, and surveilling Muslim communities. In November 2015,…
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When “Women’s Rights” Justify Racism: Collective Punishment after Cologne
Women’s bodies should not be loci of political and moral debate and, yet, here we are. The recent string of sexual assaults in Cologne have understandably triggered backlash – but not against patriarchy or even sexual assault, mind you, but against refugees and non-white foreigners in general. Sexual assault is, without question, disgusting and reprehensible…
