Militant Islam in Southeast Asia: Crucible of Terror

Customer Reviews:

Mini-Review: "Militant Islam in Southeast Asia - Crucible of Terror" by Zachary Abuza .......2006-07-19

I acquired this book, "Militant Islam in Southeast Asia," in order to do some background research for a novel I am writing. My book is a long-term project with no projected publication date as yet. It is a rather ambitious undertaking - a retelling of "The Odyssey" set as an Al Qaeda terrorist story that takes place partly in Indonesia! So, in preparation for an eventual fact finding trip to Indonesia, I have been doing some reading about terrorism and Southeast Asia.

Zachary Abuza is on the faculty in the Political Science and International Relations Department at Simmons College in Boston. He has traveled extensively in researching this book, which has received enthusiastic praise from many quarters.

W. Scott Thompson of Tuft's University's legendary Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy had this to say about Abuza's work:

"Showing an astonishing persistence in tying together the threads of the terrorist threat, Abuza has come up with a dazzling display of Al-Qaida at work. It is rare that a book comes out with so deep and thoughtful analysis of a contemporary subject - this may well become the standard reference on everything happening in the Southeast Asian theater of the world terror crisis."

Barnett, in "The Pentagon's New Map," and in his recent "Blueprint for Action," makes it clear that Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, will play a pivotal role over the next several decades in impacting the balance of power among the leaders of what Barnett calls "the Core" and the "New Core." Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world, and will play a significant part in determining the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world. Therefore, Abuza's seminal work becomes a very helpful tool in understanding how terrorism in general - and Al-Qaeda in particular - may serve as a crucial factor in determining how the relationship between the West and the worldwide Muslim may evolve.

Using painstakingly well-documented and footnoted research, Abuza traces the growing influence of Al-Qaeda in Southeast Asia - from Afghanistan and the jihad against the Soviets to the bombing in Bali and beyond. His basic premise follows a logical chain of events. Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, many zealous Southeast Asians who had fought as mujahadin returned to Asia to use their skills and battlefield experiences to bring the passion of jihad to several local struggles to establish autonomous Muslim states through Southeast Asia. These struggles included the secessionist movements in Mindanao, East Timor, Sulawesi and the Malukus and Aceh - among others. Once the U.S. attacked Afghanistan to topple the Taliban and neutralize the command and control of Bin-Laden's team, Al-Qaeda was forced to flee from its lair in Afghanistan and scatter among a handful of safe havens - many in Southeast Asia. At first, these safe havens - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand - were used as a convenient "back offices" for Al-Qaeda to conduct training, money-laundering, weapons acquisition and coalition building. Al-Qaeda also funded and co-opted many local insurgents and gave them a vision of taking part in a global jihad against the "savage intervention of the American Crusade Armed Forces and their allies [who are involved] in the Muslim cleansing scheme. . . as a `harsh reprimand' to Jews and Christians led by American heathens in oppressing and tainting the Islamic holy land, where the Revelation of the Prophets descended." (Pages 166-167).

Eventually, the terrorists took advantage of lax security and political dissent in these nations to launch terrorist attacks on soft targets within these host nations - the bombing in Bali being the most spectacular and deadly among these incidents.

For anyone who wants to develop a more comprehensive understanding of where Al-Qaeda is heading in its long-term strategy and short-term tactics, this book as a valuable resource.

Al

Frustrating work.......2004-11-05

This is a frustrating work. You read the glowing blurbs (none of them experts on Southeast Asia, to my knowledge) and you expect a great book. The book does not, alas deliver: it is good in some ways, not in others.

At one level, the book is quite good. Abuza manages to tie together a wide variety of facts into a coherent narrative. The book reads reasonably well, although there is clear evidence of haste (e.g. misspelled names). If you knew little about Islam or Southeast Asia, you'd probably come away with the impression that this is a crackerjack book.

But what if you *do* know something about Islam or Southeast Asia? Alas, here the book is irritating. Take this howler: "Because Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, it is easier for radicals and terrorists to fit in." (p. 123). That is an absurd statement. (On the same page, Abuza opines about former PM of Malaysia Mahathir's "insecurity about being a Muslim Malay" -- who knows what he is talking about?)

Abuza, to his credit, usually avoids such bizarre claims. But he resorts to a formulation all too common on "terrorism" experts: that there is something called "moderate" Islam in SEA and then radical or extremist (which he identifies with "Wahhabis" or Salafis).

If you know anything about Salafis, you know that Saudi Arabia is full of them, some of them probably seeing themselves as Salafis committed the 9/11 attacks . . . BUT that the vast majority of them do not embrace terrorism! No matter. Abuza paints with a broad brush and thus smears all Salafis without explaining what, exactly, in their beliefs makes them terrorists. This is intellectually lazy. It explains nothing.

The use of terror is a TACTIC. It is a tactic used by weak non-state groups of all sorts of backgrounds. What we really need to know is why, at this particular time in history, a tiny percentage of Salafis have decided that it is the tactic to use.

One last point: Abuza seems to like "moderate" Muslims. WEll, almost all Indonesians are Muslims. Some of these so-called moderates (e.g. NU, the military leadership) engaged in the killings of 1965-66 that left about 500,000 civilians dead. Some of these "moderates" killed East Timorese (over 100,000). But just as I would never use this as proof that "moderate" Muslims are bloodthirsty thugs BECAUSE OF THEIR ISLAM, so I don't think that individuals are terrorists because of their
Islam. Islam contributes a world view, and many Salafis are rigid and uncompromising in their beliefs. . . one might want to argue that Salafis are more *predisposed* to the use of terror . . . but Abuza does not even make that more nuanced argument.

My advice: read this book for the story of the different networks of terrorists in SEA. Take some of its claims with a grain of salt: after all, who really respects the Philippine intelligence services, who provide some data to Abuza. But discount Abuza's explanations on Islam.

sloppy and pandering.......2004-03-20

This book is rubbish. Abuza uses weak secondary sources with third rate results. He does not know the relevant languages to do substantive research (Indonesian, at least) and has cobbled together a text that panders to the most paranoid of policymakers. He's part of the fear-mongering industry and his work should be read with great skepticism, if read at all.

Superb Book, Shows what OPEN Sources Provided, Great Speaker.......2004-01-25

I have the advantage, in reviewing this book, of having heard the author present his views in a superb illustrated briefing that held 150 government intelligence professionals glued into their seats and fixated on the author's rapid-fire compelling presentation.

This man is a brilliant scholar who has returned to the almost lost art of combining persistent field work with foreign language open sources (both printed and oral), and thoughtful analysis.

Across the board, from his narrative to his footnotes to his bibliography to his index, this book is as good as it gets. This is a world-class contribution to our understanding in three areas: 1) what can be known about terrorism and militant Islam from open sources of information (but is being largely ignored by the so-called professional intelligence agencies that are obsessing on secret sources and methods; 2) what governments in Southeast Asia are and are not doing about it (in many cases, abusing American naiveté or being put off by American arrogance; and 3) where militant Islam is going in this area--be afraid, be very afraid.

If all academics were this good, we would not need spies. This book and this author represent the very best scholarship that one could ask for. The author is the Program Director for East Asian Studies and associate professor of international politics at Simmons College. Goggling him yields a fine selection of interviews and Congressional testimony.

Essential Reading.......2004-01-05

This is a fascinating book that examines the Southeast Asian terrorist network in chilling detail. It is highly readable, yet filled with data and information. It is essential reading for all those interested in Southeast Asian terrorism,and to understand how Al Qaeda has morphed.

Voices of islam in Southeast Asia: A Contemporary Sourcebook

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Much interesting information

Voices of islam in Southeast Asia: A Contemporary Sourcebook

Manufacturer: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A History of Modern Indonesia

ASIN: 9812303685

Book Description

The Muslim communities of Southeast Asia are diverse, complex and increasingly influential in the broader Islamic world. However, the extraordinary breadth of practices and views across the Muslim world is not widely understood outside the region, often because of the difficulty of locating and putting in context the material produced by Muslims themselves. This is the first sourcebook to present a wide selection of contemporary materials on Islam in Southeast Asia, most of which have not previously been available in English. The material covers six broad themes: personal expressions of faith; Islamic law; state and governance; women and family; jihad; and interactions with non-Muslims and the wider Muslim world. The book looks at the ideological and doctrinal content of Islam in Southeast Asia in all its facets, while also exploring the motivations underlying different interpretations and viewpoints. This is an essential book for anyone seeking to understand the concerns, language and objectives of the main Muslim groups in Southeast Asia.

Customer Reviews:

Much interesting information.......2007-05-16

Islam was introduced to Southeast Asia through the Indian Ocean shipping routes. The spread was not uniform, and typically incorporated local practices, giving these practices a new meaning within the context of the new faith. Local laws and customs evolved to incorporate Islamic interpretations into their cultures. One effect of nationalism was to bring different groups together as citizens, or split a group across national boundaries. This change, along with Islamic revival movements in the twentieth century, have given rise to unique interpretations of Islam that could be strikingly similar to those found in other Southeast Asian countries, or co-exist with dramatically different ones in the same country.

The first chapter is an introduction that summarizes Islamic tenants, and this book's objective to accurately reflect the richness and diversity of interpretations practiced in Southeast Asia. Part I summarizes the political developments in Southeast Asian countries since the end of colonialism, and tightly focus on how political developments and organized Islamic groups influenced each other.

Part II consists of text excerpts organized under six themes (chapters): personal expressions of faith, Sharia (Islamic law), Islam state and governance, gender and the family, jihad, and interactions: global and local Islam, Muslims and non-Muslims. Each chapter starts with an introduction, which serves to define that chapter's scope. A commentary precedes each extract providing readers with the appropriate contextual references. Here one can find texts defining women's role exclusively in the domestic sphere along side with those promulgating equal participation of men and women in all spheres of human endeavor; texts that advocate armed jihad alongside those that interpret jihad in terms of spiritual struggle; and texts that debate the scope of Shaira law. The background and contextual references are this book's strength as they help the reader appreciate the complex and diverse attitudes of Southeast Asian Muslims.

This book through translated texts represents the rich heritage of more than 200 million Muslims in Southeast Asia, who speak a number of different languages, and have diverse cultures and practices. As the texts are rendered in English, no prior knowledge of Southeast Asian languages is required.

Armchair Interviews says: A good sourcebook for those interested in the attitudes of contemporary Southeast Asian Muslims

Sultans, Shamans, and Saints: Islam and Muslims in Southeast Asia

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Sultans, Shamans, and Saints: Islam and Muslims in Southeast Asia
Howard M. Federspiel
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0824830520

Book Description

By the fourteenth century the Islamic faith had spread via maritime trade routes to Southeast Asia where, over the next seven hundred years, it would have a continuing influence on political life, social customs, and the development of the arts. Sultans, Shamans, and Saints looks at Islam in Southeast Asia during four major eras: its arrival (to 1300), the first flowering of Islamic identity (1300-1800), the era of imperialism (1800-1945), and the era of independent nation-states (1945-2000). Ranging across the humanities and social sciences, this balanced and accessible work emphasizes the historical development of Southeast Asia's accommodation of Islam and the creation of its distinctive regional character. Each chapter opens with a general background summary that places events in the greater Asian/Southeast Asian context, followed by an overview of prominent ethnic groups, political events, customs and cultures, religious factors, and art forms.

As Islam gained acceptance and influence, it became part of birth and childhood rites and marriage and death ceremonies, usually to sanction customs that were non-Islamic. For a considerable time Arabic-language literature transmitted via Persia and India dominated the arts, though this faded with the rise of new indigenous and Western forms in the twentieth century. More recently modernization and Westernization have changed the region, and Islam has undergone a corresponding transformation. Muslims today give considerable attention to political and social organization and to reaching an accommodation with the new political systems that have arisen in Southeast Asia. A deepening emphasis on faith, propelled by a wave of revivalism, has shaped contemporary Muslim behavior into forms much more compatible with Sunni standards than what existed earlier, and this has focused more attention on Islamic scriptures, teachings, observances, and conduct. Islam, this work concludes, developed in the Southeast Asian context in a way that allowed its followers to be guided by principles shared by Muslims in other lands while preserving a unique outlook on the world.

Book Description

This book provides an overview of the evolution of political Islam in South-east Asia. It analyzes the sources of religious radicalism and assesses the regional terrorist and radical networks. It describes how secular democratic institutions can be strengthened, and how moderate and tolerant
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Jihad in Paradise: Islam and Politics in Southeast Asia (East Gate Books)

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Good snapshot of jihadi developments in Asia
Confronting Realities -Danger and Utopia
Southeast Asia After Sept. 11

Jihad in Paradise: Islam and Politics in Southeast Asia (East Gate Books)
Mike Millard
Manufacturer: M.E. Sharpe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0765613360

Customer Reviews:

Good snapshot of jihadi developments in Asia.......2004-10-19

As an Australian who lived in Southeast Asia previously and who had followed the developments of the nefarious Jemaah Islamiya, I found this book an excellent read on the rise of a small group of deviant Muslims in Southeast Asia who believe in the use of violence to overthrow their secular governments. Millard's book is easy to read and understand, but yet it credibly gives a snapshot of the complexities involved in deciphering how jihadi sentiments can grow in affluent Southeast Asian states like Malaysia and Singapore. Chapters 2 (Sources of Jihad), 3 (Terror in Singapore) and 4 (To Bali and Back) are particularly insightful in highlighting how the Jemaah Islamiya is not necessarily a fictitious bogeyman like some cynics have depicted.

Confronting Realities -Danger and Utopia.......2004-05-09

In recent years there has been much discussion about the harsh realities, particularly in terms of socio-political contexts, facing the ASEAN countries. With the impending threat of Islamic fundamentalism rearing its head, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia, observers are keen on noting any event, personality and occurence which might indicate movements either towards or away from this broad-based fear.It is interesting that several academics have put forward all manner of argument to underline the crucial role of religious freedom in the context of the multi-cultural scenarios found in SouthEast Asia.

Mike Millard's excellent book, JIHAD IN PARADISE, takes you on an expoloratory journey starting from Singapore (or Japan, really, from which this fascinating writer seems to have come!)to Malaysia. But this is only geographical ground: much of the book is centred on a larger journey - the author's personal journey as he chooses to make Singapore his home and as he confronts some hard truths in making this choice/decision.Being American, Millard is very aware of the implications, consequences and meanings of 9/11, and being in a region where the majority religion is Islam makes him think seriously of the associated realisations.So some tough issues are brought up, especially about Singapore where religious freedom is delicately balanced with inter-religious tolerance/harmony.Millard does well to interview some of the key people involved in determining, in varying degrees,the current Singaporean ethos as well as the future trends which will, invariably, help bring about basic changes in this tiny Island-Republic.

JIHAD IN PARADISE is an easy read, though what it covers requires sustained engagement, for the themes brought up and scrutinsied are exacting.Millard does not mince his words, nor do the many intellectuals he meets and talks with -and this, for this reader, is the great strength of the book: straightforward narrative without unnecessary apology or diplomacy.They say tough times require tough leaders; well, we can also say, pressing times require direct writers. Millard's style is broadly conversational, his narration and anecdotes sprinkled with wit and his insights encompassing wide reading and shrewd observation.This is a *must read* -not only for thsoe who worry about Islam in SEAsia but for anyone wanting to know more about the very complex nature of the geopolitics of SEAsia, particularly the complex driving forces of tiny Singapore.
- A Reader from Singapore

Southeast Asia After Sept. 11.......2004-05-02

One of the first things that struck me while reading Jihad in Paradise was how I felt I was on the same journey as the author as he travelled through Southeast Asia - from the neighbourhoods of metropolitan Singapore, to the east coast and villages of peninsular Malaysia and the tranquil beaches of Bali - in search of answers after Sept. 11.
While Jihad in Paradise is not a travelogue per se, it does bring you on a journey of sorts - exploring the intricacies of the politics of Islam in this corner of the world. Millard delves into the challenges facing governments in the region as terrorism and religious extremism threatened decades of peace that have been established in these multi-racial and multi-cultural Shangri-Las.
A good part of this book is the author's analysis of Singapore. The reasons behind the decision to make this island his home for a time, of the extremists who lurked in the shadows and the omen of unrest, the possibility of a select few unravelling what the government had taken decades to establish - peace among all the racial groups. Millard also attempted a glimpse into the country's future, of the need for the island to ensure its survival in a new and ever-changing world by taking more risks instead of depending on that well-trodden path.
The last three years were a turbulent time in Southeast Asia and Millard in his book speaks to several of the prominent newsmakers of the time. This is THE book to read if you want to know the politics of a region that has not escaped unscathed from the scourge of terrorism since Sept. 11.

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Shari'a Law and Society: Tradition and Change in South Asia
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Pakistan: Social and Cultural Transformation (Routledge Contemporary South Asia Series, 1)

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Pakistan: Social and Cultural Transformation (Routledge Contemporary South Asia Series, 1)
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Malay Muslims: The History and Challenge of Resurgent Islam in Southeast Asia

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Interesting subject but disappointing book.
It's not a brilliant book, but for other reasons.
Real Bad

Malay Muslims: The History and Challenge of Resurgent Islam in Southeast Asia
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Customer Reviews:

Interesting subject but disappointing book........2005-02-24

After a good short history of the coming of Islam to Malay peoples in what is now Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines there are a few brief bright spots, otherwise the book is disappointing.

The title is misleading when the author's special interest is Christian relations in, especially, the Philippines. "Resurgence" here is pre "terrorism" but is covered superficially after the first useful step of identifying its several strains. The discussion of "Fundamentalism" and roles of modern and traditional intellectuals is curtailed.

Much is superficial: no analysis of the ways in which made converts were made should now omit processes of discourse and adaptation, the central role of places like Acheh and Malacca, the myth and facts behind the Wali Songo of Indonesia. Nor can discussion of resurgence and modern thought miss so much of the very active Islamic debate in Indonesia where the author denies the importance of Islamic parties (Indonesia has the two largest in the entire Islamic world and elected as President the head of one just after this book was published).

Complaining about policies restricting Christian conversion efforts in Malaysia the author condemns policy with no understanding of how British "hands off" policy regarding Islam led to a very great impact from importing Chinese and Indians in considerable numbers effectively handicapping Malays in their own country. Whether or not continuation is legitimate the Malaysian policies have been "affirmative action" to offset this dire aspect of British colonial rule.

Even talking about his forte, religion, McAmis leaves much to be desired. His attempts at good will (welcome and all too rare of late) still leave him terribly judgmental about Islam and he imports older sources calling it "Mohammedanism" (both insulting and misleading) without comment. The importance of practice over belief - orthopraxy over orthodoxy - is neglected. Differences in ideas of original sin, redemption, and the institutional differences as well as the importance of these is missed. This is part of a pattern of being somewhat out of date despite an appended biography that attempts to list more recent sources. There is no "Southeast Asia centric" causation here (a focus since the 60's); one might mistake Dutch conquest as completed nearly two hundred years before this was so; local trade and its continuing important roles are ignored. Much of the more recent work on Indonesia by the likes of Bowen, Hefner, Woodward, Siegel, and others is ignored. The picture of Malaysian Islam is simplistic. Despite some historical notes of Islam's former strength, the discussion of the Philippines is almost as much about Christians and ecumenical attempts without appreciating the Muslim case for autonomy after a long and bitter history of Christian forces.

It's not a brilliant book, but for other reasons........2004-07-09

The above review by Mr Lim is fundamentally wrong. Historically, Malays are one coherent group sharing the same origins, same culture and largely the same history. Any serious research cannot ignore large groups of Malays just because they happen to end up on one side or the other of colonial boundaries.

Malaysia was named Malaya, later Malaysia, by the British and the name has stuck. That does not make large groups of Sumatra Indonesians less Malays. In fact, most of them proudly speak about themselves as Malays and acknowledge that Bahasa Indonesia derives from Bahasa Melayu.

Likewise, 16-18th century kingdoms like that of Johor-Riau can, according to Mr Lim, not be studied, since its territory is now split between three states, Johor (Malaysia), Singapore and Riau (Indonesia). The influential religious capital of this kingdom was on the Riau island itself, and the regicide of 1699 is one of the most important events in Malay history ever.

The very name 'Malay' comes from Sungai Melayu, which was a river system between Jambi and Siak. Namewise, the Orang Laut of this river system were the original 'Malays'.

Real Bad.......2003-03-17

I had looked forward to reading this book. Alas, there is something that is not quite right with it. First of all, McAmis' definition of Malay is quite misleading. His definition is a bit too liberal and too broad. Malay first and foremost in today's terminological use refers to Malays in Malaysia. While some Malays in Malaysia are likely to see Southern Filipinos, Indonesians, etc as their distant kinsmen, they're not very likely to call them Malays. 'Malay' is very strictly defined in legal terms in Malaysia. To broaden this definition as McAmis does is akin to saying that Vietnamese, Thais, Cambodians, Laotians are all 'essentially' Chinese. Apart from that, McAmis' research into Islamism in SEA isn't too illuminating. Judith Nagata has, in her essays, done a much better job. She has written about the dakwah movement and given such details that I am, as a Malaysian, completely amazed by how much she managed to ferret out of these communities.

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