The Caliphate Question The British Government and Islamic Governance

What does it mean to engage the Islamic world, and how can it be done effectively? Western governments considering how to do this cross-cultural work would do well to learn lessons from the past century. To that end, The Caliphate Question combines the disciplines of theology, history, and international relations in order to approach the complex and sensitive issue of how Western governments-specifically, the British-have historically engaged with foreign policy issues centered around questions of theology or faith. The British government's approach to policymaking in the field of Islamic governance from World War I through to the early Cold War is the case study for this book, both because of the extensive documentation that exists on the period and because of its relevance to the current geopolitical world.

Sean Oliver-Dee is associate research fellow at the London School of Theology, associate researcher for the Church of England's Representative to the EU Institutions, and fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society.