Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

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This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a Conversation with History. I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our guest today is Professor Vali Nasr, who is Professor of Political Science at the University of San Diego. He's the author of several books on political Islam, most recently The Islamic Leviathan: Islam and the Making of State Power.

1. Background ... learning about Islam: religion, culture, diversity ... experiencing the Iranian Revolution ... separating politics from religion
2. Political Science and the Study of Islam ... drawn to political analysis of fundamentalism ... political theory's blind spot vis-a-vis religion and culture
3. Islamic Fundamentalism ... as political ideology ... a political blueprint for Muslims ... using religion to serve political ends
4. Pakistan ... as a case study ... Jamaat-e-Islami ... pluralist environment and moderate Islam ... political culture rooted in British tradition and weak state ... Maududi's intellectual fundamentalism ... moderate Islam in politics ... impact of Saudi foreign policy ... fundamentalist view of government ... evolution toward moderation ... Zia rides the tiger ... impact of the Soviet invasion and the war in Afghanistan ... Kashmir ... how to demobilize a jihad army
5. U.S. Foreign Policy and Islamic Fundamentalism ... three key events: Iranian Revolution, Afghan war, Saudi oil wealth ... U.S. policy toward Pakistan ... 9/11 and beyond ... refuting Huntington's theory

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