Reddit reviews What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East
We found 9 Reddit comments about What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
In short, because we keep bombing them. Everyone we kill is someone's brother, son, sister or daughter.
The long answer very complex but boils down to centuries of imperialism, and the dismantling of the once prosperous Ottoman empire.
This is a good read on the subject: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0060516054?pc_redir=1410585737&robot_redir=1
There is an entire book by scholar Bernard Lewis that deals with this very question in depth. It's called What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East. It is about 10 years old by now and Lewis is not uncontroversial but I found it fascinating.
Lewis does accept your premise - that the Islamic world was once ahead of the West economically and militarily and now is not. Obviously there are nuances around what is meant by the Islamic world but I am trying to be brief.
He notes also that its NOT simply a West vs the Rest issue - he notes that at this point Islamic countries are being surpassed by Eastern countries (e.g. South Korea) as well.
As for the answer, it's been a while so it's difficult for me to summarize, but my recollection is slavery, individual rights, close relationship between religion and state, and higher status of western women (even in the 18th century) were identified as factors. The church/state separation is big - in the west, even with the Crusades and witch burnings, religion remained a distinct entity from the state. Not so in Islam, if I recall correctly
What Went Wrong by Bernard Lewis
There was also the problem that the Muslim world for the longest time felt that because they were the technological superiors of Europe / the middle east (Which they were at the time) That they would both stay the technological superiors, and that they had nothing to learn from what they saw as backwards Europeans.
Between the 1660s and the 1690s the Ottoman Empire started losing a lot of battles against the Europeans and Russians due to the European's use of organized rifle regiments and battle tactics. While the Ottomans certainly had guns themselves, they hadn't bother to learn how Europe was using them and the improvements their neighbors to the north had created in modern combat and tactics. The Ottomans also didn't really know how to negotiate when they lost as they simply hadn't really majorly lost in the recent past, so Europeans took some pretty heavy prizes from the negotiations. This is considered by some the start of the fall of the middle-east's fall from power to now play second fiddle to European super-powers.
The book "What Went Wrong?" by Bernard Lewis covers this exact topic rather succinctly, covering how Islamic world went from the military and technological masters of the world to... well where they are today.
Of course I support the freedom and rights of women. What kind of question is that? Isn't that a standard facet of Western culture in general? There's a great book called What Went Wrong about how Islam used to be the world leaders in science and culture, and how today they are backward and almost primitive by our standards. One of the main conclusions of the book is the middle East and Islamic areas have ignored women and essentially kept them from learning and contributing to society. The fact that Western culture has embraced women's contributions, from at least Marie Curie going forward, is part of the reason why we are where we are today.
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As a red blooded, passionate male I am very much in favor of birth control. Not sure what you mean by "access for women and young girls who otherwise couldn't get it." Are you asking do I think all women should get the pill for free? Are you asking do I think minors should get the pill without parental consent? Those are tough questions. Here's one back, do you want to pay for it? I pay a hell of a lot in taxes already.
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I used the free health clinic when I was in high school to get STD tested and got a few free condoms too. I'm good with those public social establishments the same as I'm good with public libraries, public schools and public interstates and roadways. I'm also highly in favor of free hospitals for US military veterans. These are current social programs I, as a conservative, am in favor of. Your question makes me wonder what you must think of conservatives. Do you really believe we are all ignorant, racist, women hating but Christ loving Nazis that the media tells you to believe?
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How do YOU show your support to your fellow women? I just treat them as people and friends and enjoy their company.
I've only read one book (What Went Wrong? Bernard Lewis) that touched on the lack of innovation and Lewis proposed it was the Islamic faith itself that was the reason for it. Any thoughts on that?
edit: Thanks for the answers!
Ah, that is difficult. Middle Eastern conservative conspiracy theorist parents are the most convinced that everyone outside the Middle East is the "enemy". It becomes very hard. They sometimes even believe in many Jewish conspiracies, and may even pretend it has nothing to do with their religious beliefs but it does.
He believes this because he thinks Muslims are incapable of committing evils if they "truly believe in his Islam" (his being his own beliefs). This is very common, even among secular Muslims.
The only way to combat this thoroughly, is if they can read in English, buy them books by Sam Harris (to undo his religious indoctrination from childhood upbringing; and he specializes in understanding Islam better than most), Bernard Lewis (to undo his historical indoctrination, as Arabs are very historically-aware people and they love to cite history. Bernard Lewis can also explain the positive sides of Westernization and how due to religion, Muslims try to explain every fault in the Muslim world, by blaming external enemies).
These guys know the Middle East and Islam better than any westerner. I tell you this as an ex-Muslim. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise as there are people who think that criticizing Islam is wrong but criticizing an idea is NEVER wrong. Criticizing people who believe strongly in an idea stubbornly, is also never wrong.
As a side note, I believe your father can indeed be convinced. However, it will take a monumental effort on your part to flood him with information to undo his Islamic-Arab indoctrination. He could even be an atheist Arab currently, but that Islamic indoctrination is hard to undo. It makes them biased to be sympathetic to Middle Eastern governments/peoples.
Because books are difficult for someone to read and finish...
I might suggest some other options:
Bernard Lewis:
Neither Sam Harris nor Bernard Lewis disrespects Islamic peoples or the Middle Eastern ethnic groups. They simply have a higher level understanding that criticizes the negative aspects and calls it for what it is.
Bernard Lewis book:
Sam Harris book:
I highly recommend this stuff, because it will get to the root issue of WHY your father believes in conspiracy theories like 9/11 stuff. The 9/11 conspiracies are motivated by arab nationalism and religious indoctrination in particular for Arabs. They may not be nationalist or religious; but they still have those childhood indoctrination that affect their way of thinking.
You know what's funny is that the people who have lived in the Middle East, the people who have been Arab nationalists or Arab Muslims, and are now NOT anymore; are usually better able to respect the works of Sam and Bernard, than people who've never been to the Middle East.
The Middle East is f'd up because of Islam. Islam started with bloody conquest and pillage and when it could no longer flourish through murder it began to decay. Islam's brief period of supposed glory took place when the people in charge weren't fanatics but people who realized that Jews and Christians and other minorities were contributing more than most Muslims.
What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East
I agree with many of the comments shown here. I took a class on answering exactly this question. The Middle East technological advance plateaued due to Islamic law/text restricting various ways of life. This ultimately hindering progressive technical advancements the West had enjoyed. There is a great book by Bernard Lewis that highlights much of what is discussed here:
http://www.amazon.com/What-Went-Wrong-Between-Modernity/dp/0060516054