Andrew F. March (Yale): Political Islam: Theory. Dalibor Rohac (Cato): Understanding Political Islam. Naser Ghobadzadeh (ACU): Electoral Theocracy: A Study of an Islamic Hybrid Regime. From SCTIW Review, Vernon James Schubel reviews Theorizing Islam: Disciplinary Deconstruction and Reconstruction by Aaron Hughes; and Ian Almond reviews Islam, Orientalism and Intellectual History: Modernity and the Politics of Exclusion since Ibn Khaldun by Mohammad R. Salama. Douglas H. Garrison reviews Islam and the Foundations of Political Power by Ali Abdel Razek. From Global Post, Caryle Murphy on Islam, Wahhabism, and reform in Saudi Arabia (in 5 parts). David Kirkpatrick on how ISIS’ harsh brand of Islam is rooted in austere Saudi creed. Muslim scholars tell Islamic State: You don’t understand Islam. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on the intellectual battle against ISIS. Are we fighting a just war against the Islamic State? G.D.Blunt investigates. Gerard Russell on the Islamic State's dire threat to ancient faiths: Some of the world's oldest religions are under attack, including the Yazidis, the Shabak and the Druse. Hakan Topal on Islamists and the perpetuity of catastrophe (and part 2). From The Conversation, Milad Milani on the truth about whether Islam is a religion of violence or peace; and on how cultural Muslims, like cultural Christians, are a silent majority. Basem Al Atom (JUST): Examining the Trends of Islamophobia: Western Public Attitudes Since 9/11. Zara Zimbardo (CIIS): Thinking Twice: Uses of Comedy to Challenge Islamophobic Stereotypes. Christopher Ingraham on how Ben Affleck and Bill Maher are both wrong about Islamic fundamentalism. Peter Beinart on Bill Maher's dangerous critique of Islam. Yes Bill Maher, Muslims win Nobel Peace Prizes too. Yes, Bill Maher is boorish — but we shouldn't be afraid to criticize Islam (and more). Fareed Zakaria: “Let’s be honest, Islam has a problem right now”.
