What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East [Paperback]

Bernard's Lewis's discussion about two different Middle Eastern approaches to the West deserves close attention. One of them is blaming the West for the increasing gap between the two worlds. The other is to make self-criticism in asking 'what did we wrong'? These two different and clashing perspectives, in fact, can be channeled into two mainstream movements in the Islamic world/Middle East; reactionary factions and positive activists. While the first always blames the West, the latter envisions a modernized and developed world in keeping peace with both the West and the Middle Eastern/Islamic values.

B.Lewis's book has an important shortcoming. Lewis is by and large biased toward the West and he ignores the significant importance of Western colonialism-dominance over the Islamic World vis-a-vis the Middle Eastern response to the West. This shortcoming is, however, a great obstacle to have a thorough analysis of Islam-West relations.

In general, the book is by and large about history rather than current politics. One important note dealing with Lewis's work is that the book does not cover anti-Western or anti-American movements within the Islamic World during the twentieth century. It is also not about the September 11. In fact, as the author suggests, the core of the book is composed of series of three public lectures given in Austria in September 1999.

Although this was written prior to 9/11, it could not be timelier. This is a timely read if you want if know about the culture that expanded from its roots in Mecca and Medina to one that ruled the Mid East, northern Africa, Spain, and Portugal and finally knocked at the gates of Vienna, not once, but twice. It is a history that we are dealing with today. Bernard Lewis presents a compelling argument that as military failures occurred, one explanation that took root in the Islamic world was that God was displeased because Muslims were not leading lives in accordance with God⤙s wishes. Religious leaders became more powerful, and culture became more insulated. They seem to have been disinterested in Europe.

This is a timely read, if you want to know about the culture that saw no rights for slaves, infidels, and women in the 7th century, and sees not need to change that stance even in the 21st century.

This is a timely read if you want to understand just what questions are being asked and answered. Is the question ⤽What went wrong?⤠or is it ⤽Who did this to us?⤠One answer leads to taking corrective actions and implementing change, the other answer leads to blaming others. I think that Professor Lewis does address what went wrong. What he does not do is this⤠he does not present us with a solution of how to fix it. He does not tell us how we can survive together⤠or even if we can.

I highly recommend this book.