In this extraordinary book one of the world's leading authorities on Islam explains what is happening in the Muslim world today and assesses the underlying causes.

Part 1: Introduction 1. Models and Method 2. Waziristan 3. History as an Expression of Agnatic Rivalry Part 2: Observation 4. Strategy and Conflict in Waziristan 5. Order, Ideology, and Mortality in Waziristan 6. Economic Development and Reinforcement of Ideology in Waziristan Part 3: Participation 7. The Anthropologist as Political Agent 8. The Political Agent as Anthropologist 9. Islam and the Segmentary Societies

Akbar S. Ahmed is the former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britain. He is now Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies and Professor of International Relations at the American University in Washington, DC.