- Lewis, Bernard.
What Went Wrong?
New York: Perennial, 2002. ISBN 0-06-051605-4.
-
Bernard Lewis is the preeminent Western historian of
Islam and the Middle East. In his long career, he has
written
more than twenty volumes (the list includes
those currently in print) on the subject. In this book he
discusses the causes of the centuries-long decline of Islamic
civilisation from a once preeminent empire and culture to
the present day. The hardcover edition was in press when the
September 2001 terrorist attacks took place. So thoroughly does Lewis
cover the subject matter that a three page Afterword added in October
2002 suffices to discuss their causes and consequences. This is an
excellent place for anybody interested in the “clash of
civilisations” to discover the historical context of Islam's
confrontation with modernity. Lewis writes with a wit which is so
dry you can easily miss it if you aren't looking. For example, “Even
when the Ottoman Turks were advancing into southeastern Europe, they
were always able to buy much needed equipment for their fleets and
armies from Christian European suppliers, to recruit European
experts, and even to obtain financial cover from Christian European
banks. What is nowadays known as ‘constructive engagement’ has a
long history.” (p. 13).
April 2005 