Book Review: Islam Under Siege – Winter/Spring 2006
Review of Professor Akbar Ahmed’s book, “Islam Under Siege” The cataclysmic event of September 11 has inspired a torrent of books and articles examining Islam’s role in the contemporary world. All 19 of the hijackers who slammed civilian planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, two...
Book Review: Speaking with One Voice – June 30, 2002
The political language of Islam by the well-known scholar, Bernard Lewis, consists of a series of lectures originally delivered by the author at the University of Chicago in 1986. The current edition has been reprinted for sale in South Asia only. Although Lewis’ lectures were delivered more than a...
Book Review: Why This Decline – May 10, 2002
WHAT went wrong in the decline of the Islamic world from its pre-eminent position in the Middle Ages to its current status of virtual political and economic servitude to the West, is the theme of the book under review. Lewis’ insights can be read with profit by the specialist...
Book Review: What Globalization is Doing to Us – May 19, 2002
THE book Globalization and development studies — challenges for the 21st century consists of a series of papers read at a workshop organized in November 1997 by the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Frans Schuurman, a senior lecturer at the Institute, has edited...
Book Review: Telling Them the Truth – October 20, 2002
Reviewed by S. Azmat Hassan Gore Vidal the eminent American essayist and novelist in his latest book Perpetual war for perpetual peace opines that two dates will be remembered in US history: April 19, 1995 and September 11, 2001. On the first, Timothy McVeigh, a much decorated former...
Afghan Sanctions Deserve Review by New President – January 3, 2000
A recent joint U.S-Russian initiative in the United Nations Security Council has slapped a series of sanctions against the Taliban regime of Afghanistan, making it a virtual pariah in the international community. The sanctions are meant to coerce the Taliban to give up Osama bin Laden, the erstwhile Saudi...
The ‘Global Village’ Offers Hope of Erasing Inequalities in World – July 28, 2000
The 20th century has witnessed enormous technological change, the pace of which has been dizzying at times. Compared to the placid way life was ordered 100 years ago, planet Earth is a different and, in many ways, unrecognizable place. At the forefront of change has been the communications revolution....
Don’t Blame Palestinians for Stubborness over Jerusalem – August 2, 2000
Seldom has so much effort been expended in sustained and intense negotiations as that witnessed at Camp David last week. President Clinton deserves high credit not only for bringing the Israeli and Palestinian leaders together in the bucolic surroundings of Camp David, but also for his personal involvement and...
Clinton’s Trips to Africa Boost Chance that Democracy will Develop – September 6, 2000
The recent visit of President Clinton to Nigeria at the head of a large delegation was a manifestation of support to the most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa, as it tries to adjust to a democratic dispensation after the depredations of military rule. Nigeria, with a population of around...
War and Killing in Kashmir Continue, but Hope Remains – August 23, 2000
For a few tantalizing weeks last month it appeared that a breakthrough in the 50-year-old Kashmir conflict may be in sight. The optimism was caused by the surprise announcement of the Hizbul Mujahidin, a major guerrilla group in Indian-administered Kashmir, to offer an unconditional cease-fire and talks with the...
Afghan Vacuum Led to Buddha Destruction – March 18, 2001
Ever since they commenced destroying statues belonging to Afghanistan’s pre-Islamic Buddhist past, the Taliban militia, who have ruled Afghanistan since 1996, have been roundly condemned by the international community for this spectacular act of cultural vandalism. The two statues of Lord Buddha around 170 feet and 120 feet high,...
It’s Time for More U.S. Involvement – May 7, 2002
There has been a regrettable escalation in the fighting between the Israelis and the Palestinians in the past few days that has eclipsed for the time being the Arab League Summit decision to establish normal relations with Israel in return for withdrawal by Israel from the territories it had...
The First Anniversary of the American-led Invasion of Iraq is Later this Month – May 7, 2004
The first anniversary of the American-led invasion of Iraq is later this month. It might be a good idea to do some stock-taking and to see what lies in store for the Iraqi people, for the United States and its allies, and for Iraq’s neighbors. Such an exercise would...
Assad’s Sudden Death Likely to put Middle East Peace Process on Hold – June 21, 2000
ASSAD’S SUDDEN DEATH LIKELY TO PUT MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS ON HOLD BY S. AZMAT HASSAN A perceptive observer of the Middle East opined a few years ago that there could be no war in the Middle East without Egypt and no peace without Syria. The essential validity of...
To stop terror, we must understand its motives – November 26, 2004
To stop terror, we must understand its motives The “war on terrorism” is both a buzz phrase and an unsettling metaphor of our times. It is important to realize that counter-terrorism activity is only half the battle. The trauma of 9/11 has prevented a deeper debate in the...
U.S. improves its image in Muslim nations with the response to Pakistan’s Disaster – October 21, 2005
U.S. improves its image in Muslim nations with the response to Pakistan’s Disaster The earthquake in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir has caused unprecedented devastation and loss of life. Entire towns and villages have been destroyed. While the international community was quick to respond with relief assistance – President Bush weighing in...
Some Reflections on Pakistan – Home and the World: South Asia in Transition
KEYNOTE ESSAY SOME REFLECTIONS ON PAKISTAN HOME AND THE WORLD: SOUTH ASIA IN TRANSITION AMBASSADOR S. AZMAT HASSAN, (RET.), JOHN C. WHITEHEAD SCHOOL OF DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, SETON HALL UNIVERSITY This piece concerns Ambassador S. Azmat Hassan’s response to Dr. Shashi Tharoor’s Opening Keynote for the...
Monograph on Tamil Tigers for the EastWest Institute
Monograph on Tamil Tigers for the EastWest Institute – Download
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