What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East (review)

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What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East (review)

I heard about this book a few years ago and finally had a chance to get a copy and start reading it on a business trip to Palo Alto.

At the height of the Islamic invasions, a Moorish army controlled most of Spain, and a later Turkish army banged at the gates of Vienna (twice). After that, it was all down hill – why?

This book doesn’t try to answer the question, but instead surveys the descent into lesser status from the pinnacle of science and military heights, and then includes commentary by Islamists illustrating their own recognition of that collapse. “According to a World Bank estimate, the total exports of the Arab world other than fossil fuels amount to less than those of Finland, a country of five million inhabitants.” (p. 47)

One result of this collapse:

The relationship between Christendom and Islam in the sciences was now reversed. Those who had been disciples now became teachers, those who had been masters became pupils, often reluctant and resentful pupils.

It may be this resentment and refusal to accept non-Islamic help that has reduced the Arab world to it’s present state – perhaps the same thing happened to China when it stopped sending out treasure fleets.

Perhaps most ominously, “if the peoples of the Middle East continue on their present path, the suicide bomber may become a metaphor for the whole region, and there will be no escape from a downward spiral of hate and spite, rage and self-pity, poverty and oppression, culminating sooner or later in yet another alien domination….” (p. 159)

Lewis writes with an engaging style including enough details to satisfy but not to bore. The book is relatively slim and reasonably easy to read. In these days of the Islamic Spring, this book is a good read.

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3 Comments

  1. purplehayz (purplehayz)
    4:00 pm on May 30th, 2011

    Post: What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East (review) http://is.gd/kCFIpC

  2. thelkgeek (Ch Goldblatt)
    4:04 pm on May 30th, 2011

    RT @purplehayz Post: What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East (review) http://is.gd/kCFIpC

  3. saudiqueenbee (My real name.)
    4:08 pm on May 30th, 2011

    RT @purplehayz: Post: What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East http://is.gd/kCFIpC

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