Reports by Sarah Marusek
Public Interest Investigations, Jun 2015
Books by Sarah Marusek
What kind of decolonial possibilities exist in today’s world? Exploring the rise of Islamic activ... more What kind of decolonial possibilities exist in today’s world? Exploring the rise of Islamic activism in Lebanon and the Middle East, and drawing transnational parallels with other revolutionary religious struggles in Latin America and South Africa, Sarah Marusek offers a timely analysis of the social and political evolution of Islamic movements.The growing popularity of Islamic movements means that many groups, which emerged in opposition to Western imperialism, are now also gaining increasing economic and political powers. Based on more than two and a half years of ethnographic fieldwork in Lebanon, Marusek paints a picture of how resistance is lived and reproduced in daily lives, tracing the evolution of the ideas and practices of the charities affiliated with Hizbullah and the wider Islamic resistance movement. Adopting a dialectical approach, Faith and Resistance discusses the possibility for resistance groups to reconcile acquiring power with their decolonial aspirations. In doing so, the book acts as a guide for liberation struggles and those engaged in resistance the world over.
Based on extensive empirical research, this chapter looks at the American personalities and found... more Based on extensive empirical research, this chapter looks at the American personalities and foundations funding the 14 most influential organisations peddling Islamophobia in the United States, Europe and Israel (many of which share personnel or advisors). Out of the 60 US-based funders I uncovered, which donated almost $41 million to Islamophobia between 2009-2013, my research shows that 45 of them also finance pro-occupation groups and illegal Israeli settlements, giving almost $169 million during the same five years - all tax exempt. Furthermore, the five largest donors all give generously to Republican causes. Although the transatlantic Islamophobia network is wealthy and wields great power, this chapter shows how a minority of wealthy right-wing conservative voices are controlling the debate.
Based on more than two years of ethnographic fieldwork, this chapter focuses on the work of the c... more Based on more than two years of ethnographic fieldwork, this chapter focuses on the work of the charities affiliated with the resistance movement in Lebanon. Using a Gramscian framework, I analyze how these charities are challenging Western secularism by re-mystifying liberal economic principles as a means to strengthen the resistance community—a process that is full of internal contradictions. Thus I conclude with some critical thoughts on ‘the resistance’ as a social project in Lebanon today.
Papers by Sarah Marusek
British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 2020
The Arab uprisings ushered an unrealistic level of euphoria across the Middle East and North Afri... more The Arab uprisings ushered an unrealistic level of euphoria across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); however, ten years on, most of the same dictatorships continue to rule and reactionary forces have only become more powerful. For many, the Arab street has become a more dangerous, even dystopic, place. With democracy curtailed and economic prosperity an unlikely possibility in the near future, some writers and artists in the MENA region are turning away from the nightmares of the present towards the futuristic lands of science fiction and fantasy, imaginary places where they have the freedom to openly reflect upon their predicament. Indeed, it is reported that dystopian literature in Arabic fiction has proliferated in recent years. The same trend can be seen in art: a 2016 exhibition in London billed itself as 'a dazzling journey into the future of Palestine-through both utopian and dystopian visions of what lies ahead'. In this article, I first briefly detail the recent oppression in Egypt and Palestine-what I call the dystopian present-including against artists and writers. I then look at the contemporary role of art and literature as social critique.
American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, 2018
While many scholars have focused on questions of non- or post-secularity vis-à-vis the “modern na... more While many scholars have focused on questions of non- or post-secularity vis-à-vis the “modern nation state,” fewer have asked what kind of decolonial redemption is possible under global neoliberal capitalism today. This is precisely the question I seek to address in this article by analyzing the contemporary ideas and practices of the charities affiliated with what is collectively known as the Islamic resistance movement in Lebanon. Based on almost two and a half years of ethnographic fieldwork in Lebanon on the charities affiliated with the three main Shi'i activist movements loosely comprising the Islamic resistance movement—Hizbullah, al-Mabarrat Association, and Imam al-Sadr Foundation—I describe how all three are selectively resisting some aspects of secular liberalism while accepting others. However, by employing a decentered approach to my analysis, I also highlight how their negotiation with secular liberalism is on their own terms, thus ultimately presenting a challeng...
American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (AJISS), 2018
Arab Revolutions and Beyond, 2016
Based on more than two years of ethnographic fieldwork, I will focus on the work of the charities... more Based on more than two years of ethnographic fieldwork, I will focus on the work of the charities affiliated with the resistance movement in Lebanon. Using a Gramscian framework, I analyze how these charities are challenging Western secularism by re-mystifying liberal economic principles as a means to strengthen the resistance community—a process that is full of internal contradictions. Thus I conclude with some critical thoughts on ‘the resistance’ as a social project in Lebanon today.
Critical Studies on Terrorism, 2017
The transatlantic Islamophobia industry, emboldened by US intelligence efforts to entrap Muslims,... more The transatlantic Islamophobia industry, emboldened by US intelligence efforts to entrap Muslims, appears to have helped to increase permissible levels of Islamophobia across the US, as illustrated by the fiery anti-Muslim rhetoric during the 2016 presidential campaign. In this article, I first look at five key leaders of the Islamophobia industry who also claim to be "terrorism experts" and have links to US and Israeli intelligence. I then describe US law enforcement's mass surveillance of Muslims and its invention of terrorists, including a map of the "successful terrorist prosecutions" claimed by the US Department of Justice, most of which were tried only as criminal cases. And finally, I explore in-depth the case against the Holy Land Foundation, a Muslim charity based in Texas that was run by Palestinian-Americans and targeted by both the state and the Islamophobia industry for its dubious links to "terrorism," helping to legitimate the Bush W. Administration's "War on Terror". I argue that this nexus of intelligence and Islamophobia has empowered anti-Muslim voices that were formerly marginal.
Disclaimer Views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual contribut... more Disclaimer Views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of Public Interest Investigations. Order copies This report is available for download free of charge via: www.spinwatch.org | www.europalforum.org.uk Acknowledgements This report is based on research by a variety of Public Interest Investigations researchers and by the authors. The authors would like to acknowledge the following people who have advised and helped in the production of this report. We thank colleagues at Spinwatch including Tamasin Cave, Will Dinan, Eveline Lubbers and Andy Rowell, but especially Melissa Jones for editorial assistance. For research, advice and other help,
ion Fund n/a 0 6,490 0 0 n/a 6,490 Somekh Family Foundation 0 0 0 3,245 3,245 n/a 6,490 Koret Fou... more ion Fund n/a 0 6,490 0 0 n/a 6,490 Somekh Family Foundation 0 0 0 3,245 3,245 n/a 6,490 Koret Foundation 0 0 1,298 1,298 0 n/a 2,596 Michael Koss Charitable Foundation 0 325 325 0 0 n/a 649 Income accounted for 0 8,325 208,113 286,369 561,528 388,190 1,452,524 Percentage of income accounted for 0 2.60% 25.50% 28.10% 42.80% n/a n/a Total income 97,531 320,694 814,977 1,020,659 1,313,126 n/a n/a Table 1. HJS known donors and total income, listed in order of known donation amounts in £ Sterling454 THE HENRY JACKSON SOCIETY AND THE DEGENERATION OF BRITISH NEOCONSERVATISM 62 Figure 7 shows a comparison of the scale of the funding from each donor to selected recipients. Many of these donors also contribute towards a variety of social welfare, education and other religious or humanitarian causes, which are not reflected here. However, the recipients we have identified reflect the most significant overlap between donors among more political causes. The United Jewish Israel Appeal is a major...
British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 2020
The Arab uprisings ushered an unrealistic level of euphoria across the Middle East and North Afri... more The Arab uprisings ushered an unrealistic level of euphoria across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); however, ten years on, most of the same dictatorships continue to rule and reactionary forces have only become more powerful. For many, the Arab street has become a more dangerous, even dystopic, place. With democracy curtailed and economic prosperity an unlikely possibility in the near future, some writers and artists in the MENA region are turning away from the nightmares of the present towards the futuristic lands of science fiction and fantasy, imaginary places where they have the freedom to openly reflect upon their predicament. Indeed, it is reported that dystopian literature in Arabic fiction has proliferated in recent years. The same trend can be seen in art: a 2016 exhibition in London billed itself as 'a dazzling journey into the future of Palestine-through both utopian and dystopian visions of what lies ahead'. In this article, I first briefly detail the recent oppression in Egypt and Palestine-what I call the dystopian present-including against artists and writers. I then look at the contemporary role of art and literature as social critique.
While many scholars have focused on questions of non- or post-secularity vis-à-vis the “modern n... more While many scholars have focused on questions of non- or post-secularity vis-à-vis the “modern nation state,” fewer have asked what kind of decolonial redemption is possible under global neoliberal capitalism today. This is is precisely the question I seek to address in this article by analyzing the contemporary ideas and practices of the charities affiliated with what is collectively known as the Islamic resistance movement in Lebanon. Based on almost two and a half years of ethnographic fieldwork in Lebanon on the charities affiliated with the three main Shi'i activist movements loosely comprising the Islamic resistance movement—Hizbullah, al-Mabarrat Association, and Imam al-Sadr Foundation—I describe how all three are selectively resisting some aspects of secular liberalism while accepting others. However, by employing a decentered approach to my analysis, I also highlight how their negotiation with secular liberalism is on their own terms, thus ultimately presenting a challenge to Western hegemony. These charities employ multiple conceptions of rationality, including religious rationality and a range of liberal and even neoliberal economic principles; but by centering their project on faith, Islam, and resistance, these charities reproduce what I call “resistance subjectivities,” allowing the Islamic resistance movement to present unique challenges to Western secular modernity.
The transatlantic Islamophobia industry, emboldened by US intel- ligence efforts to entrap Muslim... more The transatlantic Islamophobia industry, emboldened by US intel- ligence efforts to entrap Muslims, appears to have helped to increase permissible levels of Islamophobia across the US, as illustrated by the fiery anti-Muslim rhetoric during the 2016 pre- sidential campaign. In this article, I first look at five key leaders of the Islamophobia industry who also claim to be “terrorism experts” and have links to US and Israeli intelligence. I then describe US law enforcement’s mass surveillance of Muslims and its invention of terrorists, including a map of the “successful terrorist prosecutions” claimed by the US Department of Justice, most of which were tried only as criminal cases. Finally, I explore in-depth the case against the Holy Land Foundation, a Muslim charity based in Texas that was run by Palestinian-Americans and targeted by both the state and the Islamophobia industry for its dubious links to “terrorism”, helping to legitimate the Bush W. Administration’s “War on Terror”. I argue that this nexus of intelli- gence and Islamophobia has empowered anti-Muslim voices that were formerly marginal.
Book Reviews by Sarah Marusek
TRT World Research Centre , 2020
This book aims to interconnect perspectives, expressions, thought, struggles, processes, and prac... more This book aims to interconnect perspectives, expressions, thought, struggles, processes, and practices of decoloniality that are emerging in and from different corners of the globe. The book also highlights the urgency of these times, encouraging delinking from the colonial matrix of power and its "universals" of Western modernity and global capitalism, and engages with arguments and struggles for dignity and life against death, destruction, and civilizational despair.
ReOrient: The Journal of Critical Muslim Studies, 2018
Uploads
Reports by Sarah Marusek
Books by Sarah Marusek
Papers by Sarah Marusek
Book Reviews by Sarah Marusek