As the Cold War faded into history, it appeared to have been replaced by a new conflict - between Islam and the West. Or so we are told. After the events of 9/11 and the advent of the 'war on terror', this narrative seemed prophetic. But, as Peter Oborne reveals in this masterful new analysis, the concept of an existential clash between the two is a dangerous and destructive fantasy.
Based on rigorous historical research and forensic contemporary journalism that leads him frequently into war-torn states and bloody conflict zones, Oborne explains the myths, fabrications and downright lies that have contributed to this pernicious state of affairs. He shows how various falsehoods run deep, reaching back as far as the birth of Islam, and have then been repurposed for the modern day. Many in senior positions in governments across the West have suggested that Islam is trying to overturn our liberal values and even that certain Muslims are conspiring to take over the state, while Douglas Murray claims in his new book that we face a 'War on the West'. But in reality, these fears merely echo past debates, as we continue to repeat the pattern of seemingly wilful ignorance.
With murderous attacks on Muslims taking place from Bosnia in 1995 to China today, Oborne dismantles the falsehoods that lie behind them, and he opens the way to a clearer and more truthful mutual understanding that will benefit us all in the long run.
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"'There is plenty of interesting material here. Most readers will probably not realise that the American navy was created as a response to the depredations of “Barbary” pirates in the early 19th century. The heart, however, of Oborne’s book...represents an admirable piece of sustained investigative journalism. For those interested in the malign impact of Islamophobia in Britain, [the book] genuinely breaks new ground and deserves to be widely read and debated.'"
— Dr Philip Lewis
'Oborne has taken up the unpopular cause of British Muslims, who feel misrepresented by politicians and the newspapers... The popular idea that there is a "clash of civilsations" between the West and Islam has resulted in failed wars abroad and shameful persecution at home... His analysis of the web of think tanks, politicians and journalists shaping the narrative around British Muslims is certainly eye-opening.'
— Sameer RahimBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Jamie Parker is best known for his roles in the films The History Boys and Valkyrie and the television drama Van Gogh: Painted with Words. He has also performed in the television series Foyle’s War, The Hour, Silent Witness, and Silk. He is the narrator of Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd and Under the Greenwood Tree for Naxos AudioBooks.