Overview

Examines the causes of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and also provides a reasoned approach as to what the future may hold. As the dust settled around the devastation of the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon on 11 September 2001, a host of questions emerged surrounding the attacks, the motives behind them and their future implications. In Two Hours that Shook the World Fred Halliday expands on the many socio-cultural, religious and political problems that have plagued the Middle East and Central Asia in the last half-century. Much has been written about 'global terrorism' and the need to eliminate it but also about the divide between East and West, the 'clash of civilisations'. Halliday dispels the idea that the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds are poised for conflict. He explains the causes and rise of Islamic fundamentalism, how terror became an instrument of political and military conflict, and why seemingly well-educated and sane individuals are taking drastic actions to voice their desperation. The burden of history is also invoked, as with the Palestinian-Israeli situation, the festering malaise at the heart of Middle Eastern consciousness and identity. While Halliday's book examines the causes of what has happened, it also provides a reasoned approach as to what the future may hold.

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9780863563829

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Reviews

'By far the best book on the catastrophe of 11 September.' The Observer 'Cuts the proverbial ice.' Daily Star 'Sober and balanced.' John Gray, The New Statesman 'To understand 11 September we need a broader context and Halliday is up to the task ... He reveals his true calibre.' Ziauddin Sardar, The Independent 'I agree with the analysis in Fred Halliday's excellent book.' David Aaronovitch, The Independent

'By far the best book on the catastrophe of 11 September.' The Observer 'Cuts the proverbial ice.' Daily Star 'Sober and balanced.' John Gray, The New Statesman 'To understand 11 September we need a broader context and Halliday is up to the task ... He reveals his true calibre.' Ziauddin Sardar, The Independent 'I agree with the analysis in Fred Halliday's excellent book.' David Aaronovitch, The Independent

Author Information

Fred Halliday is professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and author of numerous books, including The World at 2000, World Politics and Hundred Myths about the Middle East. A leading authority on superpower relations, development issues, the Middle East and IR theory, he is a prolific lecturer and broadcaster, and writes regular columns for opendemocracy.net.

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