BOOKS REVIEWS
Navigating the divide
MIDDLE EAST
TARIQ MIR is impressed by a detailed examination of the schism between the two major branches of Islam and its impacts on the political landscape of the Middle East
The Caliph and the Imam: The Making of Sunnism and Shiism by Toby Matthiesen OUP, 944 pages, £25
News media, political pundits and even presidents have often explained away the contemporary political climate in the Middle East as the natural consequence of centuries of deeply rooted sectarian conflicts. The truth is, of course, far more complicated. In his new study, Toby Matthiesen embraces this complex history and argues that the prevailing narratives about the relationship between Sunni and Shia Islam – a sectarian division frequently cited as a major contributor to political instability in the region – has hindered our comprehension of the real issues at play. Only by delving deeply into the history of the schism, Matthiesen argues, can we gain a more nuanced picture of the Middle East’s complex political, cultural and religious history.