Activist, journalist, and theorist, Eqbal Ahmad
(1934–1999) was admired and consulted by revolutionaries and activists
as well as policymakers and academics. In articles and columns published
in such journals as the Nation, New York Review of Books, Monthly Review,
and newspapers in Pakistan and Cairo, Ahmad inspired new ways of
thinking about global issues. Whether writing on the rise of militant
Islam, the conflict in Kashmir, U.S. involvement in Vietnam, or the
cynical logic of Cold War geopolitics, Ahmad offered incisive,
passionate, and often prophetic analyses of the major political events
and movements of the second half of the twentieth century.
This work is the first to collect Ahmad’s writings in a single volume. It reflects his distinct understanding of world politics as well as his profound sense of empathy for those living in poverty and oppression. He was a fierce opponent of imperialism and corruption and advocated democratic transformations in postcolonial and third-world societies. A uniquely perceptive critic of colonialism and U.S. foreign policy, Ahmad was equally vigilant in his criticisms of third-world dictatorships.
Like few other writers, Ahmad’s life experiences shaped his political views. He grew up amidst the turmoil of postcolonial India, worked alongside the Algerian FLN in their fight against the French occupation, and later became a prominent spokesperson for peace between Israel and Palestine.
