Book Reviews

Abstract

73 Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Vol. XXXVII, No.2, Winter 2014 Book Reviews Edited by Nadia Barsoum Middle East and North Africa SEXUAL POLITICS IN MODERN IRAN by Janet Afary, published by Cambridge University Press New York 2009, pp.423. This book charts the history of gender and sexuality in Iran from the nineteenth century to today. The author concludes, which forms the basis of a still unfinished sexual revolution taking place in Iran today, one that is promoting reforms in marriage and family laws, and demanding more egalitarian relations. A CALL FOR HERESY: Why Dissent is vital for Islam and America by Anouar Majid published by the University of Minnesota Press 2007, Minneapolis, pp.290. This book is both an attempt to treat Islam over and beyond the confines of the familiar extremist/moderate dichotomy and an extension of my reflections on ways to divert Muslim and other cultures toward more progressive’s formulations. Majid invites the readers to ponder whether we have misdiagnosed our ills and miscalculated our priorities. AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC LAW by Wael B. Hallaq published by Cambridge University Press 2009, pp209. The author guides the students through the intricacies of the subject. The first half of the book is devoted to a discussion of Islamic law in the pre-modern natural habitat. The second part explains how the law was transformed and ultimately dismantled during the colonial period. This work will be the first stop for those who wish to understand the fundamentals of Islamic law. PSYCHOANALYSIS AND THE CHALLENGE OF ISLAM by Fethi Bensalama translated by Robert Bononno, published by the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 2009, pp.258. Bensalama in his book demystifies both Islam and Western ideas of the religion by addressing the psychoanalytic root causes of the Muslim world’s clash with modernity and subsequent turn to fundamentalism. 74 BOURDIEU IN ALGERIA: Colonial Politics, Ethnographic, Practices, Theoretical, Developments edited by Jane E. Goodman & Paul A. Silverstein, published by the University of Nebraska Press pp.282. This volume, the first critical examination of Bourdieu early fieldwork and its impact on his larger body of social theory represents an original and much-needed contribution to the field.. Its six essays reappraise Bourdieu original research in light of contemporary process and make substantial contributions to the ethnography of North Africa. AFTER THE WELFARE STATE edited by Tom G. Palmer published by published by Students for Liberty and Atlas Network 2012, pp.180. The essays in this volume are presented in the hope that they will stimulate more thought, more study, and more, and more soul searching on the subject. Accordingly, some are presented in a more academic style and some are presented in a more journalistic style. It is hoped that they will offer something of value to every reader. LINEAGES OF POLITICAL SOCIETY: Studies of Postcolonial Democracy by Patha Chatterjee, published by Columbia University Press, New York 2011, pp.278. Chatterjee using the example of Postcolonial societies and their political evolution, particularly communities within India, the author undermines the certainty of liberal democratic theory in favor of realist view of its achievements and limitations. BANGLADESH: Politics, Economy and Civil Society by David Lewis published by Cambridge University Press, New York 2011, pp.233. The book explains how Bangladesh is becoming of increasing interest to the international community as a portal into some of the key issues of our age. The author offers an important corrective to the view of Bangladesh as a failed state and also sheds light on the lives of new generations of its citizens. CULTURAL CRITICISM IN EGYPTIAN WOMEN’S WRITING by Caroline Seymour-Jorn published by Syracuse University Press, Syracuse 2011, pp. 182. This volume was written prior to January 25, 2011, revolution deal with many of the issues and concerns that brought about that revolution. These writings explore the results of widespread poverty, the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor, inflation, un- and underemployment , and the housing crisis. The stories discussed the lack of personal and political freedom. THE 1971 INDO-PAK WAR: A Soldier’s Narrative by Major general Hakeem Arshad Qureshi, published by Oxford University Press 2002, pp.325. As a...