| Submit your comments on this article |
| Fifth Column |
| Bush's historian |
| 2006-05-02 |
| The tributes to Bernard Lewis, the man who coined the term 'clash of civilisations', fail to convey how controversial he is. The US vice-president, Dick Cheney, headed a select list of guests yesterday to celebrate the 90th birthday of Bernard Lewis, the White House's favourite historian and the man who coined the term "clash of civilisations". An article in the New York Sun says Prof Lewis is "considered the world's foremost historian of Islam and the Middle East". It quotes a former student as saying that his book, The Muslim Awakening of Europe, is "one of the best history books ever written" and adds that "even his rivals acknowledge his intellectual power". The Wall Street Journal has a similarly glowing tribute ("A sage in Christendom"), as does the Times ("A pillar of wisdom in the great Islamic debate"). None of these articles really convey what a controversial figure Bernard Lewis is. He seems to be revered by many Americans (especially those who don't know much about Islam) but his views are far less influential elsewhere. Among academics specialising in the Middle East (including many in the US), the praise is mainly for his early work. He hasn't travelled much in the Arab countries and his area of greatest expertise is Turkey - not the most typical of Muslim countries. Although he has a track record of coming up with interesting - if debatable - ideas, in recent years his ideas have been based less and less on solid research, and directed more and more towards providing a scholarly veneer for the Bush administration's Middle East policies. His track record in that area is pretty bad. He was one of the key figures promoting the invasion of Iraq and, presumably drawing on his knowledge of Turkey, he argued that his chum Ahmad Chalabi, the convicted fraudster, could become an Iraqi version of Ataturk. More recently, he has had some batty thoughts about an Islamic takeover of Europe by the end of the century - a prediction that is now "widely accepted" according to at least one fear-mongering American commentator. For more sceptical appraisals of Lewis's work, readers may like to peruse the following: Alain Gresh: Malevolent fantasy of Islam Oliver Miles: Lewis gun Shahid Alam: Scholarship or Sophistry? Bernard Lewis and the New Orientalism This article calls out for a full Rantburger drawing and quartering. Unfortunately, I have to go to work, so I can't join in the fun. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #8 "...the man who coined the term 'clash of civilisations" Lewis also coined the term "political-cum-ideological Judeophobia". You can have him. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2006-05-02 20:16 |
| #7 The self-proclaimed intellectual elite at its typical. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-05-02 13:24 |
| #6 Of the references: Alain Gresh: Malevolent fantasy of Islam Says nothing. Oliver Miles: Lewis gun "Poor fellow, doesn't know as much as we reporters do. US policy is the great culprit." Shahid Alam: Scholarship or Sophistry? Bernard Lewis and the New Orientalism His hatred for Lewis is venomous, and his attack is ugly. On the other hand, his is the only article actually worth reading, since he tries to refute Lewis by bringing up aspects of history other than the Palestinians. About half the time he makes Lewis' point without realizing it. If you can stomach it. . . |
| Posted by: James 2006-05-02 13:17 |
| #5 I don't know if it's been posted here, but here's a decidedly different (and much better written) prespective on Lewis. |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2006-05-02 12:42 |
| #4 In this case, it seems more professional jealousy. Bernard Lewis is a well respected professor and popular author, whereas Brian Whitaker is just the dweeb Middle East editor for al Guardian. A short look at Lewis's life (ht: Wikipedia) explains the antipathy. The most prominent reasons are bolded: Born to middle-class Jewish parents in London, Lewis graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, performed post-graduate studies at the University of Paris, returned in 1938 to the University of London as an assistant lecturer in Islamic History, once again at SOAS. During the Second World War Lewis served in the British Army in the Royal Armoured Corps and Intelligence Corps, before being seconded to the Foreign Office. After the war he returned to SOAS and taught there until 1974, when he accepted a position at Princeton University, becoming an emeritus professor there upon his retirement in 1986. He has been a naturalized citizen of the United States since 1982. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-05-02 12:11 |
| #3 it's sad, their obscessive compulsive addiction to Bush Bashing with silly little pieces of trash like this one. Such a waste of good writing talent. This current political climate will one day pass and all that these types will have to show for their work will be childish natterings at their favorite whipping boy. Ironically, Bernard Lewis' work will last a bit longer. Maybe they are just jealous cause they know that's true. |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-05-02 10:57 |
| #2 The batty part is the end of the century. More like 2050. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-05-02 09:47 |
| #1 "More recently, he has had some batty thoughts about an Islamic takeover of Europe by the end of the century..." "Batty"? What the hell's so "batty" about it? Seems rather self-evident to me that all one has to do is open his eyes and look at the present situation, and where things are headed, and an eventual Islamisation of Europe becomes a real possibility. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2006-05-02 08:56 |