I loved Robin Wright’s new book, Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion in the Islamic World. (And thanks to The Clash for inspiring the title!) The book couldn’t be more timely given current events. It is a smart, provocative and compelling read, and I recommend it for anyone who is interested in what happened across the countries of the Arab Spring, and how Wright analyzes what might happen in the future across the complex and diverse Islamic world. I especially was riveted by her accounts of events leading up to the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia and the rebellion in Iran. Her examination of the role of culture reflecting the desire for political and social change is remarkable. Wright argues that people throughout the Islamic world are rejecting extremism and al-Qaeda, which may in large part be true, but the weekly events in Afghanistan provide a counterpoint.
It’s a book that bears reading at least once, and can help all of us understand the monumental changes we’ve witnessed in the last year, and are sure to witness in the months and years to come.
