In his contribution to a web forum organized by the SSRC immediately following the attacks of September 11, 2001, Robert…
politics
The politics of secularism in international relations
From an interview with Elizabeth Shakman Hurd on her book, The Politics of Secularism in International Relations.
Beyond beliefs
Pollsters, sociologists and evangelical Protestants don't all agree exactly on who counts as an "evangelical." It is safe to say,…
On Turkish laicism
In a somewhat surprising move, Turkey's Constitutional Court announced today in a very close vote its decision to not ban…
Turkey’s coup by court
Running like a geological fault beneath Turkey is a long-standing split between the popularly elected government and the state. The…
The rise and fall of the AKP
Later this week, the Turkish Constitutional Court is expected to hand down a decision that will determine the fate of…
What we talk about when we talk about shari‘a
A few clarifying points are in order regarding an essay of mine in The New York Times Magazine that drew…
Why Shariah?
Noah Feldman prefaces his plea for the Shariah in his recent article for The New York Times Magazine ("Why Shariah?")…
The paradoxes of Pakistan
While pundits are busy debating who was responsible for Benazir’s tragic death, the larger tragedy of Pakistan’s political history should…
The death of secular democracy in Pakistan?
The first time I met Benazir’s father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, many years ago, I bought a new suit for the…