Sunnis and Shi'a: A Political History

A compelling history of the ancient schism that continues to divide the Islamic world

When Muhammad died in 632 without a male heir, Sunnis contended that the choice of a successor should fall to his closest companions, but Shi'a believed that God had inspired the Prophet to appoint his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, as leader. So began a schism that is nearly as old as Islam itself. Laurence Lou r tells the story of this ancient rivalry, taking readers from the last days of Muhammad to the political and doctrinal clashes of Sunnis and Shi'a today.

In a sweeping historical narrative spanning the Islamic world, Lou r shows how the Sunni-Shi'a divide was never just a dispute over succession--at issue are questions about the very nature of Islamic political authority. She challenges the widespread perception of Sunnis and Shi'a as bitter enemies who are perpetually at war with each other, demonstrating how they have coexisted peacefully at various periods throughout the history of Islam. Lou r traces how sectarian tensions have been inflamed or calmed depending on the political contingencies of the moment, whether to consolidate the rule of elites, assert clerical control over the state, or defy the powers that be.

Timely and provocative, Sunnis and Shi'a provides needed perspective on the historical roots of today's conflicts and reveals how both branches of Islam have influenced and emulated each other in unexpected ways. This compelling and accessible book also examines the diverse regional contexts of the Sunni-Shi'a divide, examining how it has shaped societies and politics in countries such as Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon.

Author: Laurence Louër
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 02/04/2020
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.40w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9780691186610


Review Citation(s):
Choice 10/01/2020

About the Author
Laurence Louër is associate professor at the Center for International Studies (CERI) at Sciences Po in Paris. She is the author of Shiism and Politics in the Middle East, Transnational Shia Politics: Religious and Political Networks in the Gulf, and To Be an Arab in Israel. She lives in France.