Good Muslim, Bad Muslim by Mahmood Mamdani

Review by Emily Moran and Sarah Erickson

The short:

Good Muslim, Bad Muslim written by Mahmood Mamdani begins to bring attention to the characterization of Muslims who are from the west and more secularized as good and people who live in the Middle East and follow Islam as bad. By bringing awareness to these two identities that have surrounded the way people look at and understand Islamic identity attempts to remove them. Mamdani also argues that Islamic extremism comes from the west’s continued attacks and their power over Middle Eastern nations.

The long:

Ugandan Scholar Mamdani starts by dispelling the idea of "good" (secular, westernized) and "bad" (premodern, fanatical) Muslims, pointing out that these judgments refer to political rather than cultural or religious identities. This book argues that political Islam emerged as the result of a modern encounter with Western power, and that the terrorist movement at the center of Islamist politics is an even more recent phenomenon, one that followed America's embrace of proxy war after its defeat in Vietnam. He argues that America will need to recognize that it is not fighting terrorism but nationalism, a battle that cannot be won by occupation.

Mamdani connects the Nixon Doctrine to the rise of Al Qaeda through his discussion of the United States using non US military personnel in order to fight wars for them. Mamdani discusses how in South Africa and Afghanistan the US employed civilians from each area a tactic they took from the Vietnam War. 

The US instead of deploying their own military worked closely with and trained civilians in these countries to fight their battles for them. In Afghanistan, the United States trained, provided advisors, and high grade weaponry to the mujahideen. The Central Intelligence Agency even chose Osama Bin Laden to lead this group and made sure they were well prepared to wage war against the USSR. The Nixon Doctrine which was meant to provide aid and support without ground troops allowed for the US to wage war against its enemies without American casualties. 

Due to the fact that the US armed and formed a group to fight against its enemies without risking their own people led to this group becoming Al-Qaeda. Mamdani also does not forget to include the distinction between “good westerners” and “bad westerners” as well. If a difference exists in the Muslim identity then it must also exist in the western one.

To read or not to read:

100% read the book will shock you and give you an entirely new perspective on the origins of Islamic extremism. The book is also must read for students studying Middle Eastern/Islamic studies. Good Muslim, Bad Muslim is provocative, important, and will likely change your understanding of the relationship between Islam and politics (especially if you’re American). This is a pivotal and understandable text regarding the demonization of Muslims globally. It is definitely helpful for newcomers to the MENA region and helps to dispel many harmful myths.