How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future with Vali Nasr
In The Shia Revival, Vali Nasr offers an analysis of the ancient struggle between Shias and Sunnis for the soul of Islam. The book sheds light on historic moments of Shia/Sunni competition over power, as well times of collaboration between the two sects against outside oppressors. Nasr believes that the sectarian divisions between Shia and Sunni, and the historic marginalization of Shias throughout the Islamic world, will come to play a large part in determining our collective future. Nasr believes Westerners have too often conceived of the Middle East through a Sunni perspective, and that in these changing times the Western world must now learn to understand the history, motivations, and philosophy of the Shia as well.
The World Affairs Council was founded in 1947 out of the interest generated by the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945. With over 10,000 members, they are the largest international affairs organization on the west coast.
Bio
Vali Nasr
Vali Nasr is Senior Adjunct Fellow on the Middle East for the Council on Foreign Relations.
Additionally he is Professor of Middle East and South Asia Politics and Associate Chair of Research at the Department of National Security at the Naval Postgraduate School.