Cultural Forces in World Politics - Ali A. Mazrui
There is nobody who delights more in the power of culture than Professor Mazrui. The words of these essays move people to argument and agreement, to fury and delight. They beg attention.
Professor Mazrui, Reith Lecturer and presenter of BBC1's 'The Africans', makes us reconsider the realities of power in world politics. He argues that the emphasis continues to be on the arms, on resources, and on strategic calculations. Moreover, the importance of culture has been grossly underestimated.
Professor Mazrui's mind is a cultural crossroads. Because he can give Islamic insights to the Western audiences about The Satanic Verses, whereby he also relates the Beijing Spring to the Palestinian Intififadah, and also, he compares the effects of Zionism and Apartheid. He puts together Muhammad, Marx, and market forces and goes on to tell the Americans that their attitude to the Third World is a 'dialogue of the deaf', due to misunderstandings rooted in cultural differences, as explained in Boydell and Brewer. Other citations include AbeBooks. where he makes a post-colonial equation of gender and power.
In Cultural Forces in World Politics, Ali A. Mazrui explores the often overlooked role of culture, for instance, in shaping global political dynamics. Mazrui challenges the traditional focus on military power, resources, and strategic interests, arguing that cultural forces play a critical role in world politics. His book illustrates the interaction of cultural, religious, and ideological perspectives in shaping global events, from Western views on Islam to comparisons between Zionism and apartheid.
Available related books consist of The Politics of Knowledge and the Sociology of Power in Africa, Church and Marriage in East Africa, and Unlocking the Mysteries: Understanding African Spirituality and Belief Systems .
This book emphasizes that understanding cultural forces is essential for addressing global conflicts, particularly in post-colonial and developing regions. It remains a vital resource for those studying international relations with a cultural lens.