Excerpt of Review “The enemy of your enemy is your friend,” wrote the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, al-Hajj Amin al-Husaini, about his reverence for Nazi Germany that had fought his enemies, the (British) colonialists and the Zionists. While this may have been an understatement, it is common knowledge that the Palestinian Arab leader ruined his reputation by collaborating with the Nazis. The exact nature and extent of his collaboration and the solidity of its ideological foundations, however, … [Read more...]
Interview with Wolfgang G. Schwanitz, re Nazis, Islamists and the Making of the Modern Middle East
By May 18, 2021
Writer and historian Marshall Poe recently featured Wolfgang G. Schwanitz, co-author, with the late Prof. Barry Rubin, of the book Nazis, Islamists, and the Making of the Modern Middle East, on his weekly podcast highlighting historians with newly issued books. Poe writes, "This book tells a remarkable and–to me at least–little known but very important story. In Nazis, Islamists, and the Making of the Modern Middle East (Yale UP, 2014), Barry Rubin and Wolfgang G. Schwanitz trace … [Read more...]
Coming Soon: Nazis, Islamists, and the Making of the Modern Middle East
By December 4, 2020
"This book is a model of original research and the ultimate scholarly study of German Arab and German Muslim cooperation during the first half of the twentieth century, covering both World Wars. It is a major contribution in the field, a magnum opus."-Jacob M. Landau, Hebrew University of Jerusalem "This book presents an abundance of previously un or under examined material. It is most impressive and greatly advances our knowledge."-Jeffrey Herf, University of Maryland "In this hugely … [Read more...]
Nazis, Islamists, and the Making of the Modern Middle East
By November 10, 2020
During the 1930s and 1940s, a unique and lasting political alliance was forged among Third Reich leaders, Arab nationalists, and Muslim religious authorities. From this relationship sprang a series of dramatic events that, despite their profound impact on the course of World War II, remained secret until now. In this groundbreaking book, esteemed Middle East scholars Barry Rubin and Wolfgang G. Schwanitz uncover for the first time the complete story of this dangerous alliance and explore its … [Read more...]
Unlike Madonna, the Middle East Isn’t A “Material Girl”
By June 24, 2020
In my article, “How to Understand Islamism: Read What Its Leaders Actually Say,” I wrote about how Sunni Islamist leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi: “Does not talk about the need for urbanization, the equality of women, modern education, and greater freedom as the solution. Indeed, his view is totally contrary to a leftist or liberal or nationalist Muslim who would stress the need to borrow any ideas and methods other than purely technological ones, from the West in order to gain equality and … [Read more...]
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