Islam in the balance : ideational threats in Arab politics / Lawrence Rubin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rubin, Lawrence, 1973- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Islam and politics--Middle East.

Islam and politics.

Threat (Psychology).

Middle East.

National security--Middle East.

National security.

Egypt--Politics and government--1981-2011.

Egypt.

Politics and government.

Saudi Arabia--Politics and government--1982-.

Saudi Arabia.

Iran--Foreign public opinion, Arab.

Iran.

Sudan--Foreign public opinion, Arab.

Sudan.

Middle East--Foreign relations--1979-.

International relations.

Middle East--Politics and government--1979-.

Threat (Psychology)--Political aspects--Middle East.

International relations--Psychological aspects.

Physical Description:

ix, 189 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Stanford, California : Stanford Security Studies, an imprint of Stanford University Press, 2014.

Summary:

Islam in the Balance: Ideational Threats in Arab Politics is an analysis of how ideas, or political ideology, can threaten states and how states react to ideational threats. It examines the threat perception and policies of two Arab, Muslim majority states, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, in response to the rise and activities of two revolutionary "Islamic states," established in Iran (1979) and Sudan (1989). Using these comparative case studies the book provides important insight about the role of religious ideology for the international and domestic politics of the Middle East and, in doing so, advances our understanding of how, why, and when ideology affects threat perception and state policy. Rubin makes clear that transnational ideologies may present a greater and more immediate national security threat than shifts in the military balance of power; first because ideology, or ideational power, triggers threat perception and affects state policy; second because states engage in ideational balancing in response to an ideological threat. The book has significant implications for international relations theory and engages important debates in comparative politics about authoritarianism and Islamic activism. Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction

The ideational security dilemma, ideational power, and ideational balancing

Ideational projection after the Iranian Revolution

The power of a weak state : Sudan's relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Indirect power projection and ideational balancing after Khomeni

Conclusion : balancing the Brotherhood.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780804790796

0804790795

OCLC:

863695415