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Forces of Fortune: The Rise of the New Muslim Middle Class and What It Will Mean for Our World Audio CD – CD, 29 September 2009
by Vali Nasr (Author), Arthur Morey (Reader, Contributor)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (20)
Renowned Middle East expert Vali Nasr's bestselling book The Shia Revival profoundly transformed the debate about the Iraq War by unveiling how the Sunni-Shia rift was driving the insurgency. Now, in Forces of Fortune, Nasr presents a paradigm-changing revelation that will transform the understanding of the Muslim world at large. He reveals that there is a vital but unseen rising force in the Islamic world--a new business-minded middle class--that is building a vibrant new Muslim world economy and that holds the key to winning the cold war against Iran and extremists. Nasr's groundbreaking analysis will utterly rewrite the wisdom about how the West can best contend with the threat of Islamic extremism, as well as about the future we can expect of the Muslim world. The great battle for the soul of Iran, the Arab world, Pakistan, and the entire region will be fought not over religion, Nasr reveals, but over business and capitalism. With a deft combination of historical narrative and eye-opening contemporary on-the-ground reporting from his constant trips to the region, Nasr takes us behind the news, so dominated by the struggle against extremists and the Taliban, to introduce a Muslim world we've not seen--a Muslim world in which the balance of power is being reshaped by an upwardly mobile middle class of entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, and avid consumers, who can tip the scales away from extremist belligerence. His insights into the true situations in Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the crucial bright spots of Dubai and Turkey provide a whole new way of thinking about the troubles and prospects in the region. Drawing on his in-depth knowledge of the Muslim world's tortured history, Nasr offers a powerful reassessment of why extremism and anti-Americanism took hold in the region--not because of an inevitable "clash of cultures" or the nature of Islam, but because of the failure of this kind of authentic middle class to develop in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, largely due to the insidious effects first of colonialism and then of top-down dictatorial regimes, often supported by the West. He then shows that the devoutly Islamic yet highly modern Muslims of what he calls the "critical middle"--in Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and the stealth force behind the extraordinary growth of aggressively capitalist Dubai--are finally the middle class the region has desperately needed. They are building a whole new economy, as the middle classes did in both India and China, and their distinctive blending of Islam and capitalism is the key to bringing about lasting reform and to defeating fundamentalism. They are people in the region the West can and must do business with. Forces of Fortune offers a transformative understanding of the Muslim world and its possible future that is sure to spark lively debate and to play a vital role in bringing about a sea change in thinking about the conflict with Islam.
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Review
Vali understands the region's past, present, and future and masterfully articulates his argument through comprehensive research and vivid reporting.-- "Senator John Kerry"
About the Author
Born in Iran, Vali Nasr is a professor of international relations at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University, an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and a senior fellow of the Dubai Initiative at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. His book The Shia Revival was a New York Times bestseller. He has contributed to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Time, and he has appeared on Anderson Cooper 360, The Situation Room, The Today Show, and Charlie Rose.
Arthur Morey has recorded over two hundred audiobooks in history, fiction, science, business, and religion, earning a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards and two Audie Award nominations. He was an editor at two publishers and taught writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed. Arthur attended Harvard and the University of Chicago.
Product details
ASIN : B08Y4GYKYN
Publisher : Tantor Audio
Publication date : 29 September 2009
Edition : Unabridged
Language : English
Print length : 1 pages
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From other countries
黒羽夏彦
5.0 out of 5 stars イスラム世界の動向を見るにはミドルクラスに注目せよ
Reviewed in Japan on 7 March 2011
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
本書の要点は、経済活動の活発化によってミドルクラスが成立・安定化すれば、イスラム世界においても民主主義や資本主義は適合的なシステムになるという主張にある。ただし、それは欧米の近代化論者が考えがちな宗教色を薄めたモデルではない。むしろ、資本主義の進展と共にイスラム圏の人びとは心の拠り所を伝統的価値に求めるようになるが、経済的に安定したミドルクラスは過激主義に走ることはないし、進歩的な思想も受け入れる。それは矛盾するどころか両立する点でイスラムにおける民主主義や資本主義にとって世俗主義は絶対の要件とは言えないと指摘、こうした観点からイスラム圏各国の情況が検討される。
反イスラム・西洋的近代化志向の世俗主義者は権威主義体制によるトップダウンの行き過ぎにより国内におけるミドルクラス形成に失敗、貧富の格差が拡大し、社会的不安定をもたらしてしまった。世俗主義者の失敗に対する不満の受け皿となったのがイスラム主義勢力である。社会的不公正や貧困が原因なのだから、良好な統治さえ実現できればこうしたイスラム主義も急進化することはない。この点でモデルとして注目されるのがトルコのAKP（公正発展党）政権である。AKPはイスラム政党に出自を持つが、経済政策をうまくハンドリングし、政治的多元化も推進していると指摘する。
現在進行形の一連の中東政変でも各国それぞれの社会的背景の相違によって進行状況も大きく異なっているようだ。指標の一つとしてミドルクラスの有無も考慮すべきであろうが、そのための見通しが本書では整理されており、興味深く読んだ。
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Andy "Alpha 3"
5.0 out of 5 stars A Critical Analysis of the Re-emerging Muslim World
Reviewed in the United States on 21 February 2010
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
The author, Vali Nasr, explores the recent political history of the Muslim world and the probable direction it is moving. He explores a wide range of issues affecting Muslims globally to include: the changing role of women, desire for democracy, the root causes of extremism, growing convergence of Islam with modernity taught in madrasahs (schools), and dealing with shariah (Islamic law). He provides the reader with perceptive observations of many Muslim world countries with a greater emphasis on Turkey and Iran. His realistic thesis is that once people have economic opportunities they will acquire a vested interest, hence seek to maintain their improved way of life. I did think Nasr tended to treat the Shah a little too kindly. This was further evidenced in the total omission of any reference to Iran's hated and feared secret police during the Shah's reign. Aside from that, a realistic and encouraging assessment.
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Lars Lofgren
4.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Overviews of the Middle East
Reviewed in the United States on 13 September 2010
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In his new book, Vali Nasr provides an overview of the broad, societal trends that have shaped the Middle East over the last century. Each chapter serves as an overview of the popular topics of the region including Iran, Dubai, Pakistan, Turkey, fundamentalism, and the popularity of state control over the economy though Kemalism. Anecdotes are used throughout the book with engaging writing to absorb the reader in his discussion of the historical trends in the region. Nasr also makes a point to address popular misconceptions of events in the Middle East, providing a clear and thoughtful overview of many heavily debated topics. Throughout this discussion, Nasr exemplifies the importance of the middle class in fostering democratic norms, reducing tensions, and developing an economically vibrant region. If the West hopes to achieve long term reform within the region, it must promote economic reforms that support the moderate Muslim middle class. Only then will secularism, human rights, and democracy begin to gain prominence.
Response:
Nasr's thesis of empowering the middle class of the Middle East to spur democratic reform throughout the region depends on a single assumption: the adoption of a neoliberal world view. Neoliberalism is a perspective within international relations that states economic interdependency and the adoption of democratic norms will reduce conflict throughout the globe. This is essentially Nasr's argument. As the middle class of the Middle East is allowed to progress economically, political reform will follow and tensions between the Middle East and the West will decline.
There are numerous counters to this perspective. For example, Japan and the United States were highly integrated economically before World War II yet this did not prevent them from going to war. Realism, the other dominant world view in international relations, would assert that states are inherently self-interested since there is no global power that can monopolize force. Even though the middle class of the Middle East may spur economic development, these states will persistently pursue their self interest. Since the survival of any given country is never assured, national interests are built on a foundation of increasing one's relative power compared to other states.
The answer is most likely somewhere between the two perspectives. Nasr's policy perspectives will most likely decrease conflict within and from the region. However, conflict should not be expected to be completely negated. There are no foundational "peace" theories within international relations, and for every model of peace, there is contrasting examples of that model leading to war. In short, Nasr's policy recommendations are likely to increase long-term development, consolidate democratic norms, and reduce tensions, but they cannot be expected to bring complete stability and peace to the region.
Bottom Line:
Vali Nasr presents an incredibly informative book. Forces of Fortune is, hands down, one of the best primers on the Middle East. While there are numerous topics not discussed like the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Nasr focuses on the underlying dilemmas within the region that underpin today's tensions. Anyone that has an interest in the Middle East must read this book. For those that have already studied the Middle East at depth and are familiar with the concepts of neoliberalism, this book won't provide much in the way of new insights however.
For more reviews and an in-depth summary of Nasr's book, find us at Hand of Reason.
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Alexandra Hopkins
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Informative Book!
Reviewed in the United States on 6 March 2011
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I enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it about the Arab world. It has particular meaning at this time when the New Muslim Middle Class truly is rising in countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning more about Islam and the Arab world of today.
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Kindle Addict
2.0 out of 5 stars Round Hole, Square Peg
Reviewed in the United States on 17 January 2010
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Vali Nasr attempts to prove his thesis, that commerce and modernity are the keys of development of the Muslim community, specifically in the Middle East. He argues if the west focuses on working with and integrating the Muslim middle class in the global economy, the threat of extremism will be diminished.
Although he provides some examples to support his main contention (countries, movements) he fails to prove out his thesis.
1. Modernity and Terrorism - Bin Laden, Omar Sheikh (the killer of Daniel Pearl), Dr. Zawahiri, the underwear bomber, the 911 hijackers, the Sayyid Qutb, etc all came from middle-class to wealthy families. They were exposed to and integrated in upper levels of society and had all the opportunities anyone could want.....yet all turned to terrorism. If modernity is the answer Mr. Nasr needs to address this point more directly.
2. Weak Proof Points - Mr. Nasr points to Turkey, Dubai, and a civil movement in Pakistan (and others) all as proof points that the majority of the middle-east muslim community yearns for the stability that a prosperous middle class provides. But the book feels like it's trying to substitute the limited successes or examples of modernity as a wave that is sweeping across the muslim community.
Dubai is barely a country and can hardly serve as a model for how a country should be governed due to its size. Other small countries like Bahrain or Qutar may take notice and glean some "key learnings", but the success of Dubai hardly applies to larger countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan etc.
3. Data - there is very little in the way of data to support his thesis. On the ground, anecdotal evidence is always good, but supporting data is needed. Is the incredible amount of money flowing through the Middle East lifting a lot of people out of poverty, or just a select few (GDP per capita)?
This book and a host of others have signaled that we are entering a new era, where the "rest rise up" and America's unipolar moment is on the decline. But to it's hard to discern if the rise in fortunes of Turkey (and to a lesser extent Dubai) are due to globalization and are exceptions to the Middle East....or of they are a proxy to a rise of a muslim middle class.
If it is the latter, this book falls short in making that a convincing argument.
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StaMara
3.0 out of 5 stars Out of date
Reviewed in the United States on 24 November 2013
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I needed this book for a graduate class and while much of the text is worthwhile, it needs to be updated to take into account the Arab Spring. Much has changed since this publication (while much has not) and it can be frustrating to read about Gaddafi and Ahmadinejad as if they were still in power.
There are a few editing issues, as well, which I found surprising- improper tenses drive me mad and are not infrequent.
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FK
5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT ANALYSIS SUGGESTING A FRESH VIEW TO DEAL WITH MUSLIM WORLD'S YOUNG POPULATION
Reviewed in the United States on 21 January 2010
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Vali Nasr has very coherently developed his thesis that the youth of the Muslim World(more than 50% of 1.7 Billion)are an avid consumer group who can be positively motivated by an improvement in their economic life. This will save them from falling in the hands of extremists and their destructive ideology.
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Senior consumer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good new book on the Middle East
Reviewed in the United States on 17 October 2009
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Forces of Fortune, by Vali Nasr (son of Seyyed Hossein Nasr), is an important contribution to our understanding of what is actually happening in the Muslim Middle East, as opposed to what Arab, Iranian, and Israeli propagandists are claiming. Strongly recommended.
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F M Sula
2.0 out of 5 stars Western point of view
Reviewed in the United States on 24 December 2012
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Very western point of view of an author of eastern origin. Informative for the western reader about what happened and is happening in the muslim world in terms of economics and local politics. Concentrated on Iran, Pakistan and Turkey triangle but did not discuss oil-rich Arabic countries.
The book implicitly claims that there is only one alternative to "Islamic terrorism" which is the enrichment of the middle class in the muslim countries. The west should concentrate on this and try to help liberate the market and political environment of these countries. Shortly, the west should do its best to make those islamic countries as capitalist ones. One may easily doubt that this idea is supported by the muslim intellectualism who bases its political outlook onto Koranic principles and sees capitalism as non-islamic. There are ideas for bringing peace to the region and to the whole world without having to resort terrorism or capitalism.
It needs a major update after the Arap Spring that took place in the last two years. There are some clues of the Arab Spring but I am not sure that events happened as predicted in the book.
Surprised to see some factual errors. For Turkey example, name of the political party of Erbakan is not correct (i.e. Selamat for Saadet.) Welfare Party is wrongly introduced as the first step of National Outlook although it was the third. I hope this is limited to the Turkish case. Guess the whole book needs a careful revision.
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Kelly Peeler
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book on the rising business class in the middle east
Reviewed in the United States on 7 November 2012
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Vali Nasr gives a great overview of MENA history and why the emerging business class will drive politics moving forward.
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