A World Without Islam

by Graham E. Fuller

Book Overview

Fuller, former vice chairman of the National Intelligence Council at the CIA, delivers a brilliant and provocative thought-experiment that imagines a worldin which Islam has never existed.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031604119X
• ISBN13: 9780316041195
• Release Date: August 2010
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Taking out the heat of the religion

Some of the reviewers did their best to summaries the book, and many of their claims are actually true. Though, the book is an educational tour in many ways, did get boring some times but, is a tremendous intellectual exercise of stimulus, I disagree with some of his conclusions, though, I did like it a lot. He did go with India and Islam, China and Islam, Islam and Russia, and so on, to show his hypothesis when they can live normal with others -religions and cultures -,and how they can fight among themselves, work inside another culture with the non muslim majority and so on. The last chapters are contrary to critics, some of the best parts, although no doubt highly unlikely policy prescriptions. What the author actually did try to do I think and did its just take out some of the heat out of the religion, - something that we desperate need, slow tensions with a billion and a half - and he did it.

The Real Causes of "Religious Violence"

Fuller is former Vice Chairman of the National Intelligence Council of the CIA. This should provide an experienced perspective from Graham's practical experience. He also writes in a scholarly manner, but using clear, common English to provide his evaluation of the current world situation in regard to radical Islamist movements. Fuller proves himself a competent communicator and analyst as he discusses in great detail and clarity the role of Islam as a social and cultural phenomenon in the world's cultures. He provides historical perspective, and also relates the current militant phenomenon of radical Islamist terrorism with the politics and military hegemony of the west since the Middle Ages. Fuller analyzes historical and ethnic factors in each part of the world, and concludes that with our without Islam, or other major religions, the same types of conflicts would have occurred because of other reasons. He concludes that what is commonly thought of as "religious violence" really has its causes in underlying ethnic and political forces and dynamics. Religion simply becomes the vehicle of protest and the frame in which ethnic or political protest and resistance is developed. He shows quite convincingly that it is in times of oppression and provocation that religious banners are taken up by various resistance movements in different cultures. For instance, the primary stated targets of of Islamic Jihadists are Arab and other Muslim governments. It is well-known -- and Fuller's research confirms this -- that al-Qaeda's primary target has been the government of Saudi Arabia and other Arab and Muslim countries. The United States fell into the line of fire through their alliance with Saudi Arabia, and especially the presence of US troops on Saudi ("Muslim") soil. This is an example of the type of provocation that leads to attack on the west, which are not the stated target of al-Qaeda and other movements originally. Individual Muslims admire the freedom and openness of society in the US. These values of personal liberty and human rights seem to be contradicted in US policy in operation around the world. Fuller points out that US domination behavior around the world provokes support for Islamic terrorist groups. These groups use religious rhetoric to stir up emotions, and emotionally charged Muslims join their ranks, believing the rhetoric, which has a different underlying power agenda. Meanwhile, religious leaders throughout the Muslim world condemn their activities. I have observed that these Muslim voices opposing and condemning the Islamists rarely get a hearing in the popular western press, which prefers crisis language to get viewers and often plays upon fear. Every American should read this book!

A good start to a conversation

This book is a great start to a very needed discussion that needs to take place in the U.S. about our relationship to Islam and Muslims. While I think the author would agree that his work is not the definitive, last word in this conversation, it is a great start. Mr. Fuller has brought his extensive experience and considerable knowledge to create a very cogent discussion of where the East and West are coming from which leads to where we are today. His arguments are well founded, and he does a great job backing up his ideas with historical data. In the end this author is basically saying that the conflict between East and West cannot be broken down into one all encompassing factor, but is instead rooted in a myriad of factors that are interconnected. The author makes very good arguments against Islam being the single or even a major factor in this clash. What is pointed out though is that Islam tends to provide a unifying affect for its adherents. So when Muslims confront an issue Islam becomes an easy banner for which to rally around, but just because religion may be a unifying force does not mean that religion is the motivating factor. This is true of any religion. What this book does well is to show the reader that the issues that confront the West,as regards the East, are based in culture, history and a general misunderstanding of each sides narrative (among many others), and the attempt to compartmentalize these issues and focus exclusively on religion is a gross oversimplification that only obscures the real problems. While much more time consuming and complex, the only way to understand the problem is to look at it as a whole. Sloganeering may be much simpler but it doesn't lead to any greater understanding. This book is an attempt to break through the rhetoric and look at the issues. The book is a short easy read that gives the reader a great perspective. One can't get the definitive work on East/West relations in 300 pages, but what you can get is a very good start. It is an easy read that is well written. I highly recommend this book.

Must Read Fabulous book!!! TEN stars

This is a book every adult American would be advised to read, although few will, sadly. Also admit I kept thinking, what would happen if the title was A World Without Christianity. Since the book deals a great deal with Islam's beginnings, conflict with Christianity, the Great Crusades (1095-1272) , the Protestant Reformation and Islam. If more Americans knew the history perhaps they would have a better understanding of Islam as well as why so many Muslims dislike and distrustt the west. Some of my favorite chapters are Islam and China, where the reader is reminded that there are more Muslims in China than many Muslim countries. That Muslims in China date back to 651 CE. On a side note the Library of Congress has letters from President Washington and other founding fathers where he writes of the Muslims here in America who would be welcomed at his home. In chapter 12 Colonialism, Nationalism, Islam, and the Independence Struggle we are reminded of how the United States has played a huge role in trying to topple leaders in other countries. From Korea in the early 1950's, Iran in 1953 which gave us the Shah or Iran who himself was toppled by Iranians in the early 80's. And how Washington funded the Muslim Brotherhood opposition to Nassar in Egypt in the late 1950's and engaged the Saudi Arabian leadership to do the same. And this support extended according to some, to Indonesian Muslim groups. Its chapter 14 What to Do? Toward a New policy with the Muslim World is key to understanding what the United States must do if one is to see any major change toward some type of peace with Muslim extremists. The author wisely notes that the world has never seen trust peace the religious extremists and never will. Kept thinking of the adage that one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. And how the United States reaps the effects of bad choices, often decades later. How one cannot expect the poor Muslim in Saudi Arabia and other countries who have gotten billions in aid from the United States, who having never seen any aid from this money, but instead has seen the corrupt leadership get richer, while the United States turns a blind eye and deaf ear to the people whom the aid was actually intended for. Bearing in mind most Muslim countries now have a population made up of citizens under the age of 30. Many whom are under or uneducated, and unable to buy much more than food daily. These young adults are the ones the terrorists aim to convert to their cause. On page 289 the author writes of the contemporary Muslim world, including the entire developing world. The author discusses three conditions under which the use of political violence becomes arguable: change or overthrow of despotic regimes , struggle for national liberation, and armed resistance against foreign occupation. The later being #1 concern with every Muslim I know. The author notes '#1 Overthrow the despotic regimes. The Muslim world has a high proportion of despotic regimes, man

More Than I Ever Expected to Learn

What if Islam had never arisen? Would we still have East-West tensions? Terrorism? Would "they" still hate America? Would a 9-11 have been possible? The answer, according to author Graham Fuller is, most probably yes. He doesn't arrive at this conclusion lightly, but after an amazing, broad and enlightening study of history. After tracing the origins and relationships of the three Abrahamic religions, he studies the Roman Empire, its breakup into Eastern and Western Empires, and the subsequent splitting of the church into Eastern and Western churches. There's a long history of mutual suspicion and hatred between East and West; throw in religion and the mix becomes incendiary, especially when religion is joined to the state, any state, and becomes a vehicle for state control. A painful look at the Crusades and their still powerful reverberations follows. The author then takes a hard look at the world of Islamic culture, once pre-eminent, then in a steep decline, now trying to revive its former glory. There's a lot more in the book as well. Finally, after this exhaustive survey, Fuller takes a look at current American policies in the Islamic world and sees much to be questioned. This may be the hardest part of the book for some readers, for he finds much of American policy counter-productive, pouring kerosene on the flames of local and regional grievances. Author Graham Fuller is a good writer, who makes his vast scholarship easily accessible. It's not light reading but it's tremendously enlightening. You may not agree with everything he says, but you will learn more than you ever expected to know. I recommend this one highly. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.