In The News

Attracting the Adults

Hicham Safieddine October 28, 2005
As the threat of terrorism, too often conflated with Islam itself, continues to dominate Western consciousness, it is instructive to note instances in which US, and Arab culture overlap. One such instance is the Arab television network MBC’s plan to popularize the classic US cartoon The Simpsons in Egypt. The idea of marketing The Simpsons to an Egyptian audience presupposes a certain shared...

Toward a Virtual Caliphate

Peter Mandaville October 27, 2005
What does globalization mean for the politics of authority in the Islamic world? Talk of transnational Islamic movements challenging the status quo of Muslim nation-states often brings to mind the destructive extremism of al-Qaida. Peter Mandaville, however, reports that transnational networks of religious scholars – led by figures such as Qatar-based Yusuf al-Qaradawi – have sought in recent...

Vers l’etablissement d’un Califat virtuel?

Peter Mandaville October 27, 2005

English Butler Leads China's Latest Cultural Revolution

Jonathan Watts October 26, 2005
The austere refinement and discreet assistance long associated with a traditional English butler is now a commodity available globally. In the past decade, Robert Watson has taken his business – training aspiring manservants in ettiquette, wine-tasting, table-dressing and other skills – to numerous continents. Watson's latest expansion is in the Far East, where Chinese authorities have...

China, India Superpower? Not so Fast!

Pranab Bardhan October 25, 2005
Every day, countless commentators prophesize the ascendance of the world's next superpowers, China and India, the two "Asian giants" shaking off their ancient slumber and rising to the call of the 21st century. According to popular punditry, their place in the firmament of globalization's success stories is already guaranteed. Yet economist Pranab Bardhan argues that a much...

Erasing the Image of the Ugly American

William J. Holstein October 25, 2005
WalMart and McDonald's business may be booming around the planet – but their prevalence doesn't necessarily make them welcome guests. In an interview published in the New York Times, Keith Reinhard, president of Business for Diplomatic Action, warns of the United States' waning popularity amongst the international community. Recent polls reveal that a significant portion of the...

Islam Dot Com

Injy El-Kashef October 20, 2005
Internet real estate has a growing niche market, one that stands to transform the nature of religious dialogue the world over. Websites devoted to the study and discussion of Islam have increased in numbers in the last two decades. From humble beginnings at the start of the internet boom, today, sites like Ramadan.co.uk and Islamicity.com feature reminders and tips for religious holidays, modern-...