Tariq Ali is een Brits-Pakistaanse historicus en schrijver wiens werk zich voornamelijk richt op politieke en historische onderwerpen. Zijn romans en non-fictie geschriften kenmerken zich door scherpe analyses van hedendaagse wereldgebeurtenissen en een diepgaand begrip van historische contexten. Ali's stijl staat bekend om zijn kritische scherpte en zijn vermogen om complexe maatschappelijke verschijnselen te verbinden met persoonlijke verhalen. Zijn werken nodigen uit tot reflectie over de aard van macht, ideologie en internationale betrekkingen.
Set against the backdrop of political upheaval, this memoir chronicles the transformative journey of a young individual who becomes deeply engaged in revolutionary activities. It explores themes of identity, social justice, and the quest for change, detailing the personal struggles and ideological awakenings that shape the protagonist's beliefs. Through vivid storytelling, the author offers insights into the motivations behind activism and the impact of historical events on personal growth, making it a compelling read for those interested in the intersection of youth and political movements.
In response to the American administration’s attempt to isolate Cuba, Fidel Castro delivered a series of speeches designed to radicalize Latin American society. As Latin America experiences more revolutions in Venezuela and Bolivia, and continues to upset America’s plans for neo-liberal imperialism, renowned radical writer and activist Tariq Ali provides a searing analysis of the relevance of Castro’s message for today.
Tariq Ali tells us the story of the aftermath of the fall of Granada by narrating a family saga of those who tried to survive after the collapse of their world. Ali is particularly deft at evoking what life must have been like for those doomed inhabitants, besieged on all sides by intolerant Christendom. "This is a novel that have something to say, and says it well." --"The""Guardian"
The aerial attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, a global spectacle of unprecedented dimensions, generated an enormous volume of commentary. The inviolability of the American mainland, breached for the first time since 1812, led to extravagant proclamations by the pundits. It was a new world-historical turning point. The 21st century, once greeted triumphantly as marking the dawn of a worldwide neo-liberal civilization, suddenly became menaced. The choice presented from the White House and its supporters was to stand shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism or be damned.Tariq Ali challenges these assumptions, arguing instead that what we have experienced is the return of History in a horrific form, with religious symbols playing a part on both ‘Allah’s revenge,’ ‘God is on Our Side’ and ‘God Bless America.’ The visible violence of September 11 was the response to the invisible violence that has been inflicted on countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Palestine and Chechnya. Some of this has been the direct responsibility of the United States and Russia. In this wide-ranging book that provides an explanation for both the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and new forms of Western colonialism, Tariq Ali argues that many of the values proclaimed by the Enlightenment retain their relevance, while portrayals of the American Empire as a new emancipatory project are misguided.
Examines the increasing violence and political turmoil affecting Pakistan, the only Islamic state in possession of nuclear weapons and America's closest ally in its battle against terrorism, as well as prospects for peace and stability in the region.
Ali encourages the reader to take a fresh look at Lenin's choices in the
context of a repressive autocracy, the poverty and misery of the bulk of the
population under tsarism and the industrialised slaughter of the first world
war. What underpins his book is the view that October was an 'innocent and
utopian birth' that was subsequently 'twisted' into Stalinism by three
devastating years of civil war. -Daniel Beer, Guardian [The Dilemmas of Lenin]
aims to rescue Lenin from both liberal caricature and Soviet hagiography by
recovering the realism and dynamism of his political thought. -David Sessions,
New Republic Reading this book on your vacation will make your life better and
your mind broader. -Branko Milanovic A powerful tool for those wanting to
understand the real Lenin and therefore the real politics behind those
revolutionaries who fought so hard but ultimately failed in their goal.
-Lindsey German, Counterfire An incredibly powerful, panoramic, and insightful
study of the central revolutionary figure of the twentieth century ... The
Dilemmas of Lenin helps attentive readers comprehend something of what
happened in history, the realities of our time, and how the future could
unfold if we approach it with understanding and commitment. -Paul Le Blanc,
International Socialist Review
The Book of Saladin is the fictional memoir of Saladin, the Kurdish liberator of Jerusalem, as dictated to a Jewish scribe, Ibn Yakub. Saladin grants Ibn Yakub permission to talk to his wife and retainers so that he might present a full portrait in the Sultan’s memoirs. A series of interconnected stories follows, tales brimming over with warmth, earthy humor and passions in which ideals clash with realities and dreams are confounded by desires.At the heart of the novel is an affecting love affair between the Sultan’s favored wife, Jamila, and the beautiful Halina, a later addition to the harem. The novel charts the rise of Saladin as Sultan of Egypt and Syria and follows him as he prepares, in alliance with his Jewish and Christian subjects, to take Jerusalem back from the Crusaders. This is a medieval story, but much of it will be uncannily familiar to those who follow events in contemporary Cairo, Damascus, and Baghdad. Betrayed hopes, disillusioned soldiers and unrealistic alliances form the backdrop to The Book of Saladin .
