The Battle for the Soul of Islam

James M Dorsey, 21 May 2025 14.00 BST Online

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

A battle is underway between major Middle Eastern and Asian Muslim-majority states to control the definition of Islam in the 21st century. The outcome of this battle will significantly empower the winner, or winners, to wield religious soft power, secure leadership of the Islamic world, and project strategic influence worldwide.

The result of the rivalry between countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia will determine which notions of a ‘moderate Islam’ will prevail including the degree to which these notions embrace religious and political pluralism, tolerance, gender equality, secularism, and human rights.

Ultimately, the battle for the soul of Islam will significantly impact how Muslims worldwide understand and practice their faith. Waged in diverse arenas across the globe, this complex religious and geopolitical struggle will play a significant role in determining the prospects for peace and security in Asia and globally.

James M Dorsey is an award-winning journalist, acclaimed scholar and Adjunct Senior Fellow at Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. James has reported from all corners of the Islamic world and lived in multiple Muslim and non-Muslim countries as a foreign correspondent for major media, including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and The New York Times.

The Battle for the Soul of Islam: Defining the Muslim Faith in the 21st Century
“In this well-documented and engaging book, James M. Dorsey presents Indonesia (with its 90-million-strong movement, Nahdlatul Ulama) as a competitor of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Türkiye. It successfully analyses various aspects of this global competition -history, theology, political economy, and foreign policy.” – Ahmet T. Kuru, author of Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment: A Global and Historical Comparison