How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future - The Shia Revival

After reading several books, including the Koran, this is the book that made me understand the underlying differences between the Shia and Sunni from the beginning through today. They have been in battle since the death of Mohammed - or around 1400 years and both sides seem to remember ancient events like (a Greek tragedy) as if they happened last month.

As the U.S. has learned at a dear price, we cannot solve this problem and 1400 years of rulers has been unable to as well. Read this book for a clearer understanding of what we unleased and what most likely lays ahead.

The conflict between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in Iraq is characteristic of a centuries old battle for control of religious domination that has colored not only the country but the entire Middle East. Vali Nasr's The Shia Revival details both the history of the ideological conflict as well as the developing future of Middle East politics that the revival of Shi'ism will likely bring. Vali Nasr, though clearly partial and sympathetic to the Shia, details the history, evolution, commonalities and fracturing moments that have shaped both the ideological struggle as well as the power structure of the region. Many Americans, prior to September 11, 2001, failed to have even a basic understanding of Islamic identity and culture let alone the intricacies of the Shia-Sunni divide. Nasr attempts to illuminate a tremendously complex subject in a fashion that even those with a mere basic understanding could appreciate. Understanding the historical context of the how, what and when of the events that led to the splintering of a religion that dominates the lives of the millions of people of this vast land is vitally important to predicting its future.

I found Nasr's writing educational in a fashion more akin to the impartiality of a historical study rather than the seething bias of a political science analysis. Most likely a consequence of his understanding of the region, Nasr recognizes that attempting to impose your will, especially on those of the Middle East only serves to solidify and harden their position. The first hand objectivity that Nasr is able to convey is a necessary component to understanding the values that shape the identity of a people whose lives are determined by a existence very different from our own.

From the rise of Arab nationalism, to the ebb and flow of Arab influence throughout the world, Nasr details how events such as the Iran-Iraq war, the oil embargo of the early 1970's, the assassination of various political leaders and the Iranian Revolution have challenged and shaped the identity of a people whose attachment to history can be difficult to fathom by those whose existence is shaped more by the last five days than the last five centuries. Many times we assume that the factors that have shaped our lives have, in the same way, shaped the lives of people with a very different culture. This lack of objectivity or understanding creates many of the problems that we now face. Nasr's writings serve to dispel some of the misunderstandings that prejudices and myths create, the consequences of which have implications beyond anything we have likely experienced before.

Most importantly within Nasr's writings is how the Iraqi war has been exploited by those attempting to rally support for their cause. Attempting to understand the forces that shape Middle Eastern politics would not be complete without understanding the dynamics of its evolution. From the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the war in Chechnya and the divide between Sunni and Shia, the Iraq war has morphed into a conflict so distorted by competing forces that the original objective has been lost. Just as it is an oversimplification to claim that the U.S. Civil War was fought over slavery so too is it nearsighted to view the Iraq War as a war solely of philosophy. In much the same way that the U.S. Civil War brought the issue of slavery to a head so too has the war in Iraq hastened the inevitable confrontation between the competing ideologies that shape Islam. The disruption of a delicate regional balance of power between competing values and beliefs shifted from simmer to boil a conflict that raged below the surface long before the introduction of U.S. troops to the region.

The consequences of action as well as the lack of action in the region will have far reaching ramifications not only for the region but the future of Islam. Lacking the criticism and hindsight of many post Iraq invasion texts, Nasr seems to attempt to provide an understanding of the region's history while allowing the reader the opportunity to draw informed conclusions based on facts rather than emotional reaction.
While the complexities of Middle Eastern politics can leave even its native population bewildered, I found Nasr's historical portrayal an educational compliment to any serious study of the forces that have and will continue to shape the future of both the region and the world at large.

This book is one of the most important books written for understanding the current situation in the Middle East - both current and past. Many books about Islam do not even mention the differences between the Shia and the Sunni branches of Islam. This book give a consice history of Islam and the early division that broke apart these two branches that continues to divide people throughout the Middle East. It is the root cause of the conflict in Iraq and the lack of understanding of this great divide by the US government has led us into the quagmire we are in today. This piece should be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand Islam and the Middle East.

This is a fantastic book. I've often struggled to understand why exactly the Sunni and Shia seems to hate each other so much. I now have a more full understanding of the conflict between the two groups. The author teaches you about the history of the conflict (dating back to the time of Mohammed), its various manifestations through history, the current power dynamic between the two, who the major actors are, and in the last chapter he really breaks down his theory of how all this will shape the world. You can tell the author's bias towards the Shia at many points throughout the book. He tends to use aggrandizing adjectives when describing the Shia and their rituals and sometimes paints the Sunnis as ruthless thugs and tyrannical oppressors. However, if you are able to take things with a grain of salt this book will do you a lot of good. Very quick read, I read it in three days without trying. Four stars overall.

Nasr's book was an excellent source for detailed information on the origins of the Sunni-Shia divide, their significance, and the current state of the Muslim world relating to the split. All the topics were covered well and the argument the book builds towards is powerful. Unfortunately, while most chapters felt fairly neutral and academic, Nasr's Iranian roots feel like they're coming through in places - some chapters feel like they have a strong pro-Shia bias in their phrasing/explanations. This doesn't impact the quality of the work enough that I would not suggest it as an introduction to the topics of Sunni-Shia relations and how they tie to recent events though.

Vali Nasr shines a bright light on the Muslim sectarian conflicts in the Middle East, both as they existed in the past and as they exist today. Both our citizens and, particulary, our government representatives need such a light as we grope our way into the future.

In his concluding chapter Nasr writes, "The lesson of Iraq is that trying to force a future of its liking will hasten the advent of those outcomes that the United States most wishes to avoid."

Also, "The most salient threat from the extremist interpretation of Islam now wears Sunni garb...If the Shias are emerging from their dark years of ideological posturing, revolution, and extremism, the Sunnis seem to be entering theirs, or at least passing into a darker phase."

He looks to the future: The Shias and Sunnis are adjusting to a new balance of power, and "those forces that are most dangerous to Western interest and to the peace of the region are likely to thrive during this transition."

With hostilities subsiding in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Catholics, Christians look over their horizon and find few believers slaughtering each other. This is surely not the case with Muslims. Vali Nasr's book leads us through an understanding of sources of discord between Sunnis and Shias, which in a broad sense have parallels to Protestant and Catholic conflicts. The most important reason to read the book, however, is the help it provides in understanding current contests in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and indicating prospective ones. The book provides historical background, terminology and the cast of characters essential for that task.

On the historical side, following the death of the Prophet Muhammad, Sunnis (the people of tradition and consensus) developed a line of religious authority not dependent on the Prophet's family. Shia thinking required a family member to occupy this leadership role. This split solidified about fifty years after the Prophet's death when Sunnis massacred a rebellious grandson of the Prophet, who became the principal Shia martyr. Disputes followed involving political-theological-ritualistic-artistic issues in some ways familiar to Christians, not only between the sects but within them. Shias have been underdogs in these contests, representing only about 10% to 15% of the Muslim population, principally located in Iran and Southern Iraq, but with sizable populations in other Muslim nations and India.

Nasr reminds us the war between Iraq and Iran was essentially between Sunni and Shia. This war lasted from 1980 to 1988 and cost almost a million lives. Today's battles in Iraq seem primarily between Sunni and Shia. Sunni groups in Pakistan want to pass laws categorizing the country's Shias as non-Muslims. Syria is a powder keg with a Sunni majority (70%) questioning the Muslim legitimacy of the controlling Alawites, who rest their Muslim authority on Shias in Iran and Lebanon. The crazy quilt of Muslim conflicts include the rise and fall of Arab nationalism, the incandescence of Shia Ayatollah Khomeini - now burned out among Iranian intellectuals and elite, but still bright in the form of Hezbollah, the rise of Sunni extremism in the form of al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood and, of course, America's military involvement in Iraq. Nasr believes unleashing conflicts between Sunnis and Shias will be remembered as a "central legacy of the Iraq war."

In the author's view, "The Shia Revival rests on three pillars: the newly empowered Shia majority in Iraq, the current rise of Iran as regional leader, and the empowerment of Shias across Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and Pakistan." Eventually, this provides hope, Nasr says, because, "...if the region one day draws nearer to those U.S.-supported values....it will almost certainly do so in a distinctively Shia way."

If a hero emerges from the pages of Nasr's book, it is the Iranian born supreme leader of Iraq's Shias, the grand ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani. His efforts in Iraq promote as much separation of church and state as we are likely to see in a Shia society, with Islam providing a protective framework within which democratic forces are allowed to operate. Sistani's leadership in the Iraqi post-Saddam period suggests an admirable awareness of cultural-political-religious issues. All things considered, Sistani seems to have assisted developments aligned with America's interests, even when American authorities did not recognize it.

One event struck me as poignant in view of recent experience. Shias of Southern Lebanon welcomed Israeli forces into Lebanon in 1982 after the PLO had forced Shia cooperation in fighting Israelis in that area. In Nasr's words, "...the Shia greeted the invading Israeli army as liberators, with flowers and open arms."

Reading this book will provide you with a framework for a more informed opinion about the Middle East and enable better judgments about American politics. Thinking of George Bush leading the U.S. into the conflicts of this region reminds me of John Maynard Keynes describing Woodrow Wilson leading the U.S. delegation to the Versailles Peace Conference following World War I: "... this blind and deaf Don Quixote was entering a cavern where the swift and glittering blade was in the hands of the adversary...." (from "Economic Consequences of the Peace").

There is scant information available to the general public about the state of affairs in the region discussed in Mr. Nasr's book. Most of what we do know relates to how well or poorly the American effort in Iraq or the Israeli effort in Lebanon is going, and most of that info is filtered through a context that stretches back maybe 10 years. "The Shia Revival" takes the reader back to the beginning of the region's history as an Islamic stronghold. It examines the way in which the Shia and Sunni views on Islam determine its role in the everyday political life of believers, (and non-believers). The differences are quite stark and illuminating to the outsider trying to understanding why there are still sectarian battles going on in the "modern" world. He likens the struggle to that of the Catholic-Protestant struggle in Europe, i.e., a struggle between a hierarchical, symbolic tradition in which the church plays a strong role the the political arena, and a more "grass-roots" tradition in which the church plays more of an advisory role.

The author has a great deal of sympathy for both sides in the struggle, but clearly has a soft spot for the Shia. The main theme of the book, (aside from its pedantic efforts), is to point out one of the most important developments arising from the West's efforts in the middle-east: the rise of the Shia as a significant power in an otherwise Sunni dominated region. The most positive aspect of this change is that the Shia will now have the kind of political power they need to avoid being dominated by small minorities of Sunni, (think Hussein's Sunnis controlling the overwhelmingly Shia nation of Iraq). And because the Shia have been a long mistreated minority in the Islamic world, the hope is that they will be more inclined towards religious tolerance. The downside to all this is that Iran is now the center of Shia culture and religious doctrine. The author points out many reasons why the Iranian government has not had the influence it had hoped for, but also points out that that is changing fast.

Overall it is both an enlightening and frightening work that should be read by anyone hoping to get a grasp on what makes the region tick. It will go a long way towards making sense of the otherwise senseless violence and political struggles we see in the news every day.

The Shia Revival, How conflicts within Islam will shape the Future, Dr. Vali Nasr, W.W. Norton and Company, New York, 2006. ISBN 13-978-0-393-06211-3.

In spite of an obvious Shia bias, the author paints a rich picture of the historic conflict within Islam, which started 1,400 years ago with the succession following the death of the Prophet Mohammed in the year 632 C.E. Nasr, a scholar on near eastern politics and culture, guides the reader through the struggle pointing out the historic significance of places we hear in the news daily. Religious rites have their roots in these places and explain many of the passions we see played out in Iraq.

One such key event occurred in Karbala in the year 680 C.E. Soldiers of the second Caliph, Yazid I, massacred Ali's son Husayn and 72 of his followers following a six-day siege. A related amazing story is the tale of how a woman saved the sole male survivor of Karbala ensuring the survival of the Shia. The Shia Ashoura parades honor Husayn. This is a uniquely Shia event and is one of the signature divides between Sunni and Shia. This divide is both intense and long in duration.

President George H. W. Bush was warned by the Saudis not to upset the fragile power relationships in Iraq. His son did just that providing the fertile ground for a religious and cultural conflict. The US invasion unleashed an opportunity for the Shia majority in Iraq, long considered to be second-class citizens, to claim a leadership role. The largely Arab Sunni world is unlikely to allow that to occur without a struggle. The current sectarian violence in Iraq could well be the prelude to a regional conflict to adjust the center of gravity in the region.

The book is a must read.

Simplistic terms to educate those unaware of the political and religious ideals of two very different groups, the Shia and the Sunni people. Vali Nasr's, The shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future has been stated from a first hand point of view. Experienced through friends, "colleagues, statesmen, religious leaders, and average people throughout the Muslim" community, Nasr has given his readers an opportunity to learn that there are two sides to these very different groups and how Islamic extremism has played a very negative role in society. Overall, I feel this book is an easy read with some interesting viewpoints exposing the conflict between the Shias and Sunnis.

Nasr's book provides a very helpful and corrective context for understanding America's difficulty in establishing its goals in Iraq. Nasr points out that the real, the meaningful context for understanding not just Iraq but the entire Middle East is the centuries long struggle between the Sunni and Shia versions of Islam. It is not that the US will not have an impact on the Middle East, rather Nasr is clear that the real "history maker" in the Middle East is the struggle between the two old enemies and particularly the outcome of changes in the Shia community. Although both Sunni and Shia communities have been radicalized, Nasr believes that it is the new found political influence of the Shia that will most impact the future of the Middle East.

Although Nasr works hard to retain an neutral tone, his pro-Shia background and attitude does seem to show through at times and may have the unintended impact of distorting some of his conclusion.

Nevertheless, this book is a very good read and provides a very helpful context for events thoughout the Middle East. I would note, in closing, that the Sunni - Shia context is not often part of the analysis of most of the popular media and non-scholarly books - thus further enhancing the value of this book.

This is a complex rendition on the inner workings
of Shia and Sunni belief systems. The Sunnis had
Islam's Golden Age circa 632-661; wherein, 4 caliphs
guided the belief systems with the authority of
a Caesar or a Pope. These caliphs were Abu Bakr,
Umar, Uthman Ali and Rashidun. The Sunnis
believed that " better have a 60 year tyranny
than a single day of civil strife". Islam had
a continuous 1400 year struggle between the
Shia and Sunnis.

Shiism is popular in Persia, Azeris-Turks and the
Azerbaijan near the Caspian Sea. The Shia imams
are closer to the Iranians in the following areas:
o spreading cultural diversity
o gaining a foothold in Iran, N.Africa and Syria
o the older Shia in Egypt are on the decline

The Shia believe that the Prophet Mohammed had
special qualities was without sin and He could
divine religious teaching. The Sunnis were
preoccupied with civil order. They believe that
that religion helps the faithful to survive and
thrive. The Sunnis believe that the successor
of the Prophet is the principal leader of the
Islamic community and not a G-d or prophetic
calling.

The Shia did well in Iraqi elections creating the
first Shia state. They were real power brokers who
expanded to Iran which is now considered the
largest Shia country in the world. The Shia
want the USA to commit to political reform
across the region.

The book could be extremely helpful in negotiating
a peaceful conclusion to the hostilities in Iraq.
The remaining problem is stumbling upon a fair
methodology for accomplishing the political reform.
The negotiating basis is that the Shia want
political reforms and the Sunnis would like
a civil order and a minimum of internal strife.
These common needs may serve as the basis for a
meaningful negotiation between the parties.

This little book is beautifully written, solid history, and as clear an understanding of the shia-sunni divide in Islam that you will ever read. It has the advantage of being short, but complete, so it doesn't take long to read. The information is critically important to an American citizen's understanding why it is so unlikely that we will ever be able to orchestrate a resolution to the sectarian violence in Iraq.

Nasr makes a major contribution to the Western and non-Muslim world with his book The Shia Revival. He presents a good overall view of the geographic areas where Shi'ites are found and the conditions of their recent emergence as a power on the world scene. He is well informed about the complexity of Shi'ite Islam but presents it in a clear, understandable manner. The book is of value to both the specialist and the general reader who wishes to be better informed about the forces operative in the Middle East. If there is currently a general ignorance about Islam, the ignorance (and fear) about Shi'ite Islam is massive. Nasr's book goes a long way to overcoming both situations.

Good, quick overview of the history of Sunni-Shia differences and how those are playing out in the news today.

This book is the right length for people with a casual interest in knowing more than they can read in the newspapers. Readable and well-written.

Vali Nasr has gone to great lengths to explain history. I think a lot of research has gone int this book and in addition to history, Vali has covered recent times in light of Shia Sunni conflicts, stories and politics. The book is not an easy read, but hold you together with its interesting outlook. Although a bit pro Shia, the book rightfully does so in a manner which makes sense, explaing why ? what ? where ? when ? and how ?. Good book and a recommended read.

If you do not know the difference between Shia and Sunni Muslems- and what their sectarian conflicts might mean to you - Vali Nasr's The Shia Revival is the book to read.

Though a historical account, it is so well written that it is enjoyable, easy to follow and very interesting.

The Shia Revival ends with a chapter called The Battle for the Middle East which highlights the fact that the outcome of the current sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni will shape our future.

Which sect will win the oil? And what will be their attitude towards the US? Nasr's The Shia Revival provides the background to weigh the answers.

Keep this volume on the bedside table no matter what the U.S. does in Iraq. This is a clear and comprehensive explanation of the conflicts throughout the Middle East. Think of it as a "Cliff's Notes" which gives the historic background for the latest bombing or attack in Iraq and its environs. It's also really short--a "quick" read.

The Shia Revivial is must reading for anyone who wants to understand what is driving the sectarian violence in Iraq and in the Middle East. The issues between Shia and Sunni are presented in an easy to read manner. The chapters are organized so the reader can pick and chose to clarify specific subjects. I have given the book to several of my friends who agreed the information answered many questions for them. I only wish everone in the Bush Administration and the military who made decisions about U.S. involvement in Iraq had read it before the committment was made. I wish they would read it now.

The Shia-Sunni sectarian fighting seems to pop-up everywhere these days. Iraq still has its bombs, but there is also fighting in Yemen and Pakistan. This is still the best book to explain where this division came from and why it still matters. It is wonderfully written and is full of large and small facts, explaining the past and present in new ways. It is a classic that you do yourself service to read.

Understanding the religious, cultural, ethnic differences between the various branches of Islam and the hatred between the Shia and Sunni is essential to understanding the difficulty of the democratization efforts of the United States. Further, it leads to an awareness of the centuries old battle for supremacy between the Shia, Sunni and the West. Unless Shia and Sunni reconcile which appears impossible based on historical precedent, the Western nations are in peril. Discussing this subject intelligently requires a reading of this book. Respectfully, F.N. Astorinha

Mr. Nasr has written and outstanding book that provides both historical and on the ground context to this complex subject. I came away from this book with a much better understanding of the current status of the Shia in the world and within Islam, the conflicts within Islam that are shaping world politics. I am currently reading "Fiasco" by Thomas Ricks and wish that the Bush administration had understood the content of just the first 100 pages of this book before embarking on its Iraq adventure. The "Shia Revial" is also a good companion to "The War for Muslim Minds" by Gilles Kepel.

A lot of history and subject matter is covered; many sections are quite dense (the writing style though does make it easy to move along quickly). In other words, I had to frequently re-read passages to keep up with the different names, dates, towns, etc. The author covers a lot of material that will be new to most non-Muslims, so get out your highlighter and pen to take notes. It is well worth it and very important.

One of the most accessable books on Shia tradition and their place in current world events. This is an eye-opening book which explains many of the fallacies that are in the American media about the Iraq war.

The author's historical, religious and socio-political dissection and study of the fabric of Shia and its development in the Islamic world is absolutely magnificent.
If you need to understand what Shia is, its dogma, philosophy and importance on major political events, read this book.
I enjoyed this book and I recommend it in a heart beat!

Nasr understands the complexity and nuances at play in the Mid-East that have eluded the neocons and most of the American media. Understanding the middle east as much more than a clash between civilizations is essential for understanding and addressing the problems between the U.S. and the region.

Buruma describes a Europe that has failed to deal with the problems posed by Moslem immigrants from both North Africa and the Middle East. There are no easy solutions for the democracies, and what is even more threatening---there may be none. The author describes the problem: a second and third generation in the Netherlands that lives by a different set of standards and is wedded to a set of monolithic religious convictions which are in conflict with the established faiths.

Professor Nasri makes a major contribution to understanding a complexity most writers gloss over of the relationship between the Shia and Sunni Muslims. His key point is that the ultimate solution -- assuming that is a possibility -- must come from the settlement made between these two major Muslim sects. While only 10% of the total Muslim population, the Shia are strongly represented in the Gulf area, making that relationship critical. The rest of us at least can try to understand it, even if we can't control it.

This is a short, rather cumbersome (particularly the myriad of names that sounded so similiar) explanation of the Shia - Sunni conflict that is playing out with such tragic results in Iraq and other places. The author defines differences in Western terms: Shiites are the "Catholics" of Islam who accept authority only from Muhammed's bloodline. They have a plethora of saints, pilgrimages and believe in continued revelation and a top to bottom approach in Koranic interpretation. Sunnis, on the other hand, hold that each Muslim can interpret the Quran for themselves, practice local control, declare revelation ended with the Prophet and generally have an aversion to showy outward manifestations of faith.

The history of the conflict, the past grievances, is explained and these go a long way toward explaining current political problems. For centuries, Shiites have been reviled and persecuted, even having been declared "non Muslim" by the majority Sunnis. The author explains why Shiites were so supportive of nationalism and why it was such a failure in resolving the crisis.

Finally, we are asked to "understand" the conflict and act with that understanding. This is simultaneously nebulous and naive. How will understanding, even acknowledging past wrongs, make the parties accept their differences. For that matter, why should the West be forced to serve as any type of referee in this ancient battle. We don't ask Muslims to "understand" the various Christian sects for one reason - by and large, over time, they have learned to accept differences and live with these.

The failure of Islam to develop even a hint of pluralism lies at the heart of so many of the problems - from the fanatical hatred of Jews to the almost equal abhorance of other Islamic sects to the lack of separation of mosque and state. Iran, under the Shah, was relatively liberal in terms of pluralism with Bahai, Jews and Christians regarded as equal citizens. Yet underneath the facade, the people of Iran remained stubbornly wedded to the ancient. Modernity and openness will help this conflict more than any outside understanding will ever do.

This is an excellent and well written book about a complicated topic. It helped me understand the depth of rivalry between Sunni and Shia and the opportunities and pitfalls this now presents. As events are changing monthly this book should be updated for 2008. Again well worth the time for those with loved ones in Iraq or trying to fathom modern Iran.

I picked up this book after a friend recommended it. I went through it quickly. It is not only very informative but also very-well written. It changed my view of the Middle East. There is a lot of history here, but also Nasr describes current events very well. Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia are all treated from a new angle. It qualifies as a must read.

If you want to understand the Iraq/Iran situation and the rest of the middle east debacle for western nations not only now for for years/decades to come , then this book is a great reference tool. Hopefully the US policy makers have read or will read for a better under standing of what we are all dealing with in the Middle East.

This is just a biased one sided book, that states that all things wrong to the Shias have done by Sunnis. The author's claim are quite far fetched as to blame all the wrong things that happened to Shia's on Sunnis and their ulterior motives against Shias. However the larger problem that I have with the book is this. This book will only grow more divisions between people in this case muslims. The world doesnot need more dividers. The world needs unifiers who are woroking towards peace, harmony and unification between different faiths and different sub sects. T

The book was fascinating and informative. Unfortunetly the publisher lacks quality controls as the last chapter, # 9, was misssing and I had two chapter # 8's. I will have to wait until I find it in the library to finish the book.