Cracks in Tradition - by Mansoor Moaddel (Hardcover)

About the Book

Cracks in Tradition is a bold, data-driven account of the rise of liberal values in the Middle East.

Book Synopsis

A remarkable transformation is taking place in the Middle East. As old ideologies from nationalism to fundamentalism falter, many people are embracing a new vision grounded in secularism, gender equality, and individual freedom. Cracks in Tradition is a bold, data-driven account of the rise of liberal values in the Middle East, revealing the depth and breadth of a movement with the potential to change the course of world politics.

Drawing on more than 70,000 face-to-face interviews and in-depth qualitative insights from Egypt and Tunisia, Mansoor Moaddel rigorously analyzes real-world attitudes and trends. He provides a nuanced portrait of a region in flux, where liberal ideas are gaining strength despite the enduring power of fundamentalism and authoritarianism. Challenging entrenched assumptions and longstanding biases, Moaddel demonstrates that liberalism has emerged organically from within Middle Eastern societies, driven by local social, cultural, and historical dynamics. His groundbreaking model of ideological change shows how key domains of social life--governance, gender, and personal autonomy--are being reshaped by new systems of meaning, spurring the spread of liberal values. Provocatively argued and empirically rich, Cracks in Tradition provides a fresh, optimistic perspective on the future of the Middle East and global democracy.

Review Quotes

An important contribution to our understanding of present-day normative and ideological currents in the Muslim Middle East. Grounded in a rich foundation of public opinion data, Cracks in Tradition is guided by thoughtful attention to the problematic ways others have often studied the region and by Moaddel's own original and insightful theorizing.--Mark Tessler, University of Michigan

Moaddel has written an authoritative and illuminating book that documents the recent rise of liberal values across the Middle East. Anyone interested in shifts in cultural values across time, especially as they pertain to the Middle East, should pay attention to this important work.--Amaney Jamal, Princeton University

In this compelling study, Mansoor Moaddel reexamines Islam and liberalism in the Middle East, revealing a discernible shift toward secular politics, gender equality, and individual autonomy. This important contribution shows how liberal aspirations arise endogenously, shaped by lived experience, political contestation, and a persistent quest for dignity and freedom.--Ricardo René Larémont, SUNY Binghamton

Grounded in a wealth of empirical evidence, Cracks in Tradition traces a significant and politically consequential shift of values away from Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East over the past two decades. The book will be of interest to scholars and policy analysts in the fields of Middle East studies, democratization, and public opinion survey research.--Ali Banuazizi, Boston College

About the Author

Mansoor Moaddel is a professor of sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park. His many books include The Clash of Values: Islamic Fundamentalism Versus Liberal Nationalism (Columbia, 2020).