Al Qaeda and the Modern Age

Many see Al-Qaeda's fundamentalism as a throwback to the Middle Ages. John Gray, however, shows that Al-Qaeda is a typical phenomenon of modern times. Much more than with the medieval way of thinking, today's fundamentalism is related to the modern ideals of the Enlightenment and positivism.
From this controversial position John Gray develops a revolutionary view on international politics after September 11, 2001. With Al-Qaeda and the Modern Era he has once again written a razor-sharp and stimulating book: profound in its philosophical and political implications, clear and accessible in its style. It offers challenging reading for many readers who feel involved in the current social debate.
John Gray is Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics. He is the author of several books, which have been translated into many languages. In Dutch he published Strohonden, Vals ochtendlicht and Provocaties.
'Gray really makes you think - a breath of fresh air.' - NRC Handelsblad
'A hugely provocative book, which exposes the paradox at the heart of al-Qaeda: a movement bent on destroying the global civilisation that cooked it up.' - The Observer
'A powerful and challenging polemic. A razor-sharp book that comes closer to the truth than many other books.' - Financial Times