Fall 2007

Nicholas Gossen

Does the Price of Watermelons Matter? Economic Performance and Political Legitimacy in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Despite lackluster economic performance in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the political legitimacy of the regime remains intact, suggesting strong non-economic bases of support. Download Article PDF

Geoffrey Gresh

The Rise of Islamic Banking and Finance in Central Asia

The former Central Asian republics of the Soviet Union are undergoing expansive socio-economic changes since the disintegration of the USSR. The legacy of Soviet central planning held back substantial development in the countries until the rise of Islamic banking and finance among the six Muslim republics of the former Soviet Union. As a result, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan are undergoing an accelerated pace of development today. Download Article PDF

Matan Chorev

Iraqi Kurdistan: The Internal Dynamics and Statecraft of a Semistate

Semistates inhabit the central conflict fault-lines of Southwest Asia's strategic landscape at the dawn of the twenty-first century. This case study of Iraqi kurdistan seeks to advance analytical frameworks for comprehending the internal dynamics and statecraft of these entities in order to contribute to the design of effective conflict management approaches. Download Article PDF

Casey Johnson

Charisma in Modern Islamic Revolutionary Movements: The Case of Ahmad Shah Massoud

Though it is clear that charisma plays an important role in leadership, particularly with regards to revolutionary movements, the nature of this role, how it is cultivated and how it evolves is not well understood. This study examines the particular role of charisma in modern Islamic revolutionary movement, with a particular look at the case of Ahmad Shah Massoud. Download Article PDF

Rebecca Hekman

Review of The Price of Fear: The Truth Behind the Financial War on Terror by Ibrahim Warde

A review of the recent publication of leading Islamic Finance Scholar, Ibrahim Warde, The Price of Fear: The Truth Behind the Financial War on Terror. Warde skillfully reveals the many paradoxes and problems with the other 9/11-inspired war, the so-called war on terrorist financing. Download Article PDF

Michael Mylrea

Interview with Itamar Rabinovich: Walking the Tightrope of Middle East Diplomacy

An interview with Itamar Rabinovich, Isreal’s former Ambassador to the United States and chief negotiator with Syria. Rabinovich reflects upon the current attempts at peace by the Bush Administration and the general climate for peace in the Middle East. Download Article PDF