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Sectarianism and sectarian de-escalation

Los cinco mitos sobre el sectarismo en el islam en el Medio Oriente contemporáneo

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Payam Mohseni y Mohammad Sagha*

Traducido al español por Mateo Toquica y Alejandra Londoño

Desde el cambio de siglo y el creciente enfoque global en el Medio Oriente y el mundo islámico, muchos académicos se han apresurado en reconocer la gran brecha de conocimiento y comprensión del islam en Occidente, incluso en los Estados Unidos. Si bien se han hecho algunos progresos hacia un mejor entendimiento de la religión, cuando se trata de diversidades culturales y sociales dentro del islam, vemos con mayor recurrencia las generalizaciones problématicas y malentendidos con respecto a las dos principales sectas del islam (sunismo y chiísmo) así como el sectarismo en el mundo islámico. Estas narrativas problemáticas impregnan el análisis general sobre el Medio Oriente y postulan, por ejemplo, una división rígida y eterna entre “chiítas y sunitas” que fundamenta el conflicto en la región. Este entendimiento básico de que existen diferentes sectas y denominaciones dentro del islam alimenta narrativas falsas y simplistas de la antigua violencia sectaria en el mundo islámico.... Read more about Los cinco mitos sobre el sectarismo en el islam en el Medio Oriente contemporáneo

Five Myths of Sectarianism within Islam in the Contemporary Middle East

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By Payam Mohseni and Mohammad Sagha*

Since the turn of the century and the increased global focus on the Middle East and Muslim world, many scholars have been quick to recognize the wide gap of knowledge and understanding of Islam in the West, including in the United States. While some progress has been made in better understanding the religion, when it comes to cultural and social diversities within Islam, we see the major ongoing recurrence of problematic generalizations and misunderstandings regarding the two major sects of Islam (Sunnism and Shi’ism) as well as sectarianism in the Muslim world. These problematic narratives pervade mainstream analysis on the Middle East and posit, for instance, a rigid and eternal “Shi’a-Sunni” divide that subsequently is behind conflict in the region. This elementary understanding—that there exists different sects and denominations within Islam– thus can and does feed into false and simplistic narratives of ancient sectarian violence within the Islamic world.

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Political Mobilization in Bahrain: A Historical Overview and Future Prospects

Bahrain’s unique position in the Persian Gulf offers an interesting case study of how political mobilization is possible for citizens who live under strict minority rule. Unlike its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners, Bahrain consists of a 70% primarily Twelver Shi’i majority. While it is not accurate to place recent political events in Bahrain exclusively within the context of the ongoing Iran-Saudi Arabia rivalry, it is difficult to understand the sectarian nature of the ruling regime towards its Shi’i citizens without considering the events of 1979 (and 2003) and its implications on the wider relationship between Sunnis and Shias in the region and globally.

Bahrain

By: Will Crass and Juliana Rordorf

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The Bektashi Shi’as of Michigan: Pluralism and Orthodoxy within Twelver Shi’ism

Project Associate Mohammad Sagha writes on the Bektashi Shi'a community based in Michigan, USA for the Visions Blog. He explores debates on orthodoxy and heterodoxy within Islam and the need to examine the diversity and pluralism within modern Shi’ism which is often overlooked in larger debates of Islam and the Muslim world.

By Mohammad Sagha

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Geopolitics in Iran and Iraq

In this series, the VISIONS blog will post excerpts from the Report on Engaging Sectarian De-Escalation based on the "Proceedings of the Symposium on Islam and Sectarian De-Escalation at the Harvard Kennedy School."

Sistani meeting with Rouhani and Zarif

Moderator

José Antonio Sabadell

Panelists

Heidi E. Lane, Muhamed H. Almaliky, Hassan Ahmadian, Lukman Faily

Summary

This panel, entitled Geopolitics in Iran and Iraq examines the evolution of the geopolitical relationship between Iran and Iraq in addition to the nature of the Middle East dialogue between the United States, Iran, and Iraq.... Read more about Geopolitics in Iran and Iraq