Book review: Islam, authoritarianism, and underdevelopment: a global and historical comparison, authored by Ahmet T. Kuru

Islam and Islamic civilizations encompassing religious and rituals, socio-economic and political, cultural pluralism and multilingual including varied geo-demographical locations and temperaments are complex issues and these attributed to the followers of the faith and religion makes them the most misunderstood in mundane life. Ahmet T. Kuru's work, Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment: A Global and Historical Comparison is a thought-provoking examination of the complex interplay between Islam, authoritarianism, and socioeconomic underdevelopment in Muslim-majority countries. Kuru's meticulous analysis challenges conventional explanations that attribute these issues solely to Islam or Western colonialism. Instead, he delves into historical and sociopolitical factors that have shaped the contemporary landscape of Muslim societies. The book comprises two insightful parts. In Part-one, the author examines contemporary issues in the Muslim world, addressing violence, authoritarianism, and socioeconomic challenges through a nuanced lens across three chapters. Part two takes readers on a historical journey, unveiling the achievements and crises of the Muslim world from the seventh to the nineteenth centuries within four chapters.