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Introducing: Brumberg on Islam and the West
Recently I agreed to become a regular contributor to washingtonpost.com's provocative blog on religion and politics: “On Faith.” My mission: to elucidate the intricate mysteries of Islamist politics. Something about my reputation for scholarly honesty and objectivity-- I was told--bolstered by my work with Arab democratic activists, suggested that I could make a compelling addition to the On Faith team! Who was I to argue?
And so like the ponderous academic that I am, I pondered the subjects worth tackling, such as: “Shariah (Islamic law) in Theory and Practice,” “What Makes Iran’s Ahmadinejad Tick?” (excuse the expression!), “The Ins and Outs of Islamist and Secular Parties in Pakistan.” What an opportunity!
But then I thought: “Wait a minute! Won’t Post readers wonder who is this guy…and why should we care what he has to say?” Even worse, they might ask: “Why should we trust Dan Brumberg?”
Not bad questions, in fact. And not easily answered by the short bio posted a click away from my photo. And so I am NOT going to begin with a standard analytical piece. Instead, I am going to tell you something about where I have been, what I have said and written, and what I have felt. I am going to spill my intellectual and emotional guts a little, so that your interest will be tweaked-- so that you will come back to see why a government professor with a distinctly non-Islamic name might just have the impulse, the skills and the will to transcend the usual debates, polarities and slogans that surround (and confound) the issue of Islamist politics.
For starters, I lead a double professional life. A Georgetown University Government Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Democracy and Governance Studies program, I have worked hard to be the objective, studious scholar rather than the preacher, the activist or the advocate. Like others of my generation –and like many of the new generation of political scientists who study the Middle East-- I come to this region from the perspective of a “comparativist,” that is, a scholar whose scope of analysis reaches far beyond the supposedly unique features of Islam or its political manifestation in contemporary Islamism.
Rather, I view Islamist politics through a wider conceptual angle—the angle of Third World political change writ large. Go to my book on Ayatollah Khomeini’s legacy, or my writings on authoritarianism in the Middle East, and you will see that I have no patience for distracting dogmatic disputes about whether Islamists are good or bad, or whether my or anyone’s scholarship will or will not promote democracy, Muslim-Western understanding, or world peace. Academia is not a Miss World beauty contest.
But then again, I am Acting Director of the United State’s Institute of Peace’s Muslim World Initiative, where I must think, write and speak with the head and the heart of an advocate and an activist. This doesn’t mean giving up the scholarly side. But it does require a tricky balancing act whereby I point whatever scholarly instinct and skills I have towards advancing such lofty goals such as conflict resolution, peace processes and the like.
Indeed, I’ve been doing peacenik work for decades—as an early adviser to a host of democracy promotion outfits such as the National Endowment for Democracy and the National Democratic Institute, and as a partner with, or adviser to, democracy advocates in the Middle East and wider Islamic world. I have served as an international election observer in Palestine and Indonesia, and I have attended –of often helped organize -- conferences on democracy or human rights in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Indonesia and Iran. Yes indeed, in Tehran I told an audience of clerics and lay intellectuals that former President Khatami’s call for a “dialogue of civilizations” would mean nothing until that very dialogue began in Iran itself. Chutzpah!
I could tell you much more about Dan Brumberg—a native Washingtonian (I am talking about the city here folks, not Manassas!) who dabbled –with some momentary success-- in stand-up political satire while a graduate student at the University of Chicago, the son of a prominent Polish-Jewish intellectual and specialist on Eastern Europe who, sadly-- very sadly-- just passed away. A speaker of Arabic, French and a somewhat outdated Hebrew who has lived and studied in Egypt and Israel, I am happy to say that my work commands the respect—and sometimes the resentment – of both Arab and Jews.
So, I am going to mobilize the two Brumbergs –scholar and activist-- to give our readers a take on Islamist politics that is both intensely personal and deeply dispassionate. That is not an easy balancing act. But in a city as polarized as Washington, and as we move towards a national election that has put the issue of U.S.-Muslim relations at the center of our foreign policy debates, this kind of synthesis is worth a try.
By Daniel Brumberg |
March 1, 2008; 3:25 PM ET
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Posted by: sam | March 9, 2008 12:35 PM
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Hi Dan,
I enjoyed reading this. I like your style of writing--a good and easy flow to it. I'm proud of all of your accomplishments.
Love,
Your Sis-in-Law
Posted by: Allison MacDonald | March 9, 2008 12:19 PM
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"Yes indeed, in Tehran I told an audience of clerics and lay intellectuals that former President Khatami’s call for a “dialogue of civilizations” would mean nothing until that very dialogue began in Iran itself. Chutzpah!"
Chutzpah? Nope- you just went meshuganner..
Posted by: michel | March 8, 2008 7:43 PM
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Very interesting Article.
Posted by: Admirer | March 7, 2008 12:50 PM
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This balance is precisely what we need now both for enlightenment and for guidance in policy making.
Posted by: Marvin Zonis | March 7, 2008 12:44 PM
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Welcome, Mr. Brumberg! A balanced voice that can speak of the diversities within Islamic politics will be welcome indeed.
Merry Meet, Jihadist! As you know, the comments will run from those for whom Islam will never please, to those for whom nothing but Islam will please, through all the rest of us, wandering around somewhere in the middle.
Posted by: wiccan | March 7, 2008 11:56 AM
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wowa:
Thank you for commenting.
Your comment has been received and held for approval by the blog owner.
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'JO'-ZE-'VZ'-Not Allowed Anymore:
'SH'-IL-OH'-Not Allowed Anymore: means PEACE!
WHY EdiTor Of WAPO , et al WHY?
Posted by: < ?: +)/ | March 7, 2008 11:25 AM
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Mr. Daniel Brumberg,
Welcome to On Faith, You are a very brave man to be here to try to talk on Islam and Muslims:)
I will read you blog and especially the ensuing thread on the reactions of non-Muslims readers to what you wrote.
Thank you and best wishes
"J"
Posted by: Jihadist | March 6, 2008 10:46 PM
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Please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of your father. He was a man of great wisdom and knowledge. We wish you and your family long life.
Posted by: mia | March 6, 2008 8:07 PM
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I'll say it's worth a try Mr. Brumberg.
Really i think it's quite brave of you to be so forthcoming about your personal history as it could (and likely will) invite criticisms based upon your identification, rather than your points.
I think it's a very good sign that you draw both resentment AND respect from both Arabs AND Jewish people.
A little balanced observation would be a welcome event here. I look forward to reading your posts.
peace
Posted by: VICTORIA | March 6, 2008 10:09 AM
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Your reputation proceeds your knowledge. There's no such thing as an "Islamists." You need to learn about Islam and Muslims and ponder prior to throwing around your ignorance. You and the media is an a very vehement enemy of Islam.