Mohammed Ayoob’s 12th book, released this month, focuses on the United States’ foreign policy toward the Muslim world.
Ayoob, a professor of international relations, gained inspiration for his most recent book, “The Many Faces of Political Islam: Religion and Politics in the Muslim World,” from one of the courses he teaches.
“(Islam and World Politics is) an upper-level undergraduate course cross-listed between (James) Madison College and political science (that) I began teaching soon after (Sept. 11, 2001), and have taught for several years,” he said. “While there are many good studies of individual countries, there wasn’t a study written for an undergraduate audience that I could send the students to. I wasn’t satisfied with what was available. I decided I would write one.”
While Ayoob’s primary audience is his students, he said he hopes the book will appeal to policy makers.
“I hope that it will be read in the policy-making community. The publisher, University of Michigan Press, is promoting it as both an academic book and also as a general trade book that is of significance to the policy-making community,” he said.
Norman Graham, an associate dean and professor at James Madison College, said he received his copy of “The Many Faces of Political Islam” on Jan. 9 and plans to read it soon.
“One of the biggest services this book does is … to show that Islam and world politics is a very complex subject. (Ayoob) makes his point quite eloquently,” Graham said.
Graham said Ayoob’s Islam and World Politics course is part of a popular, growing specialization in which 60 students have enrolled.
“I suspect the students will be impressed by the fact that some of the ideas they’re learning in class are going to be developed further by a substantial university press,” he said.
“(Students will) be intrigued to find authors around the world responding to (the book). I’d be really surprised if the book doesn’t attract some attention.”
Geography professor Kyle Evered also has yet to read Ayoob’s book, but plans to this semester.
“I want to make sure I’m familiar with everything that comes out in my field, so I do plan to look it over,” he said.
Evered also said he advocates professors writing their own textbooks.
“(Writing your own textbook) is really important to do, especially if you’re dealing with topics like (Islam and world politics) that are rapidly changing,” he said.
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