Book Review ‘National Defense Intelligence College Paper: A Muslim Archipelago: Islam and Politics in Southeast Asia - Islam in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia’

Abstract

Written by Progressive Management, National Defense Intelligence College Paper: A Muslim Archipelago: Islam and Politics in Southeast Asia - Islam in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia has spent years in preparation as described by the author in his preliminary chapters, although he wrote most of the actual texts of his year as a Senior Research Fellow with the Strategic Intelligence Research Center. He has for years been Dean of School Intelligence Studies at Joint Military Intelligence College. While this book seems likely to have been written by any good historian or Southeast Asian regional expert, this work is a result of the three decades of authoritative service in the National Intelligence Community. Its regional expertise is often used for special assessments for the Community. With deep knowledge of Islam and determining how this religious goal can be played in places far from the focus of most policy-makers, the author has taken advantage of this opportunity to envision the Intelligence of the Community and the wider readership with a region's strategic appreciation in reconciling secular and religious power. Southeast Asia continues to use policymakers and scholars to revisit its history despite evaluating books, deconstructive or otherwise. The significant presence of Muslims in the region, and especially in the rise of 9/11, has always attracted the attention
of foreign forces addressing the problem of violence and focusing on the destruction of radical Islamic groups associated with al-Qaeda. Dr. Max Gross has written an impressive account of the role of Islam in Southeast Asian politics, founded by a strong historical perspective and touches on current affairs. The result is a post 9/11 book detailing the origins of the Jemaah Islamiyah and its relationship with al-Qa'eda carefully. Unlike most post-9/11 Islamic world analysis, Dr Gross's research has succeeded in placing the phenomenon of violence in a larger perspective. While acknowledging that al-Qa'eda's influence on regional terrorism networks remains unclear, regardless of the nature and extent of its relationship, to deny violence as a serious threat to security is a mistake. The Muslim archipelago is a very large Islamic territory, and the Jemaah Islamiyah is only a fraction of this reality. Dr. Gross's attention is directed to ABIM in Malaysia, and the movement of civil Islam in Indonesia. Those who do not understand the background and role of the traditional Islamic PAS party in Malaysia and the movement of Darul Islam in Indonesia will find that writing is very useful. MNLF, MILF, Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines, as well as various Islamic movements in southern Thailand are also carefully described.