Women and Peace in the Islamic World: Gender, Agency and Influence

Description

How realistic is the prospect of peace in the Middle East? This question is the predominant focus for global analysis in the area, but its debate frequently ignores the cultural and social complexity of the Muslim world, reducing the region to a system of states and major figures. This book addresses such a failing by exploring how the everyday interactions of women, in accordance with Islamic personal ethics, can offer the world a new interpretation of peace. Drawing upon original research from different parts of the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, including Iran, Afghanistan, Egypt and Sudan, the authors offer a refreshing new look at Muslim women as peacemakers, challenging any assumptions of Islam as an inherently violent religion. Such a timely work provides a new and important perspective on the role of Muslim women in forging new pathways of peace in the contemporary world.