Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 482 7 M Q U P S P R I N G 2 0 1 7 How is the Qurʾan organized? Does its structure convey meaning? Why did the Islamic tradition neglect the study of the Qurʾan’s unusual configuration until the twentieth century? In The al-Baqara Crescendo, Nevin Reda introduces a bold new avenue of research: the poetics of Qurʾanic narrative structure. Focusing on Surat al- Baqara, the longest and most challenging of the suras, she uncovers the beauty and rationale behind the Qurʾan’s unusual organization. Reda argues that the sura – often dismissed by Muslim traditionalists and Orientalist critics as a baffling collection of disjointed material – can be appreciated as a coherent composition if it is approached as an oral text. Calling attention to oral orga- nizational techniques such as repetition, this book’s repertoire of figures showcases Surat al-Baqara’s ingenious layout and pinpoint the sophisticated meanings that are embedded within it. Incorporating insights from literary theory and Biblical studies, the author advances inclusivity and intercultural bridge-building in the study of scripture. In an engaging narrative that is bound to captivate and challenge the reader, Reda communicates a deep love and thorough command of her subject, all while presenting a significant new development in Islamic hermeneutics. Nevin Reda is assistant professor of Muslim studies at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. On issues pertaining to women and girls, Stephen Harper’s federal govern- ment positioned Canada as a “beacon of light” in the world. Programs were developed in relation to women’s maternal health and the protection of the girl child, but other actions point to an ambiguous and even contradictory approach that failed to address gender inequality. In Obligations and Omissions, contributors examine Canada’s equivocal – and diminished – role in working toward gender equality in the period be- tween 2006 and 2015. Using a critical feminist lens to document, analyze, and challenge Canada’s relations with the Global South, chapters explore the extent to which matters of gender equality have been erased or exploited under the Harper government and the factors that explain these policy shifts. While the contributors document successes in Canada’s approach to some issues facing women and girls around the world, they also show many prob- lems with the ways that agenda was framed and implemented under the Conservative government. Drawing on rich theoretical investigation, empirical research, and discourse analysis, Obligations and Omissions reveals a complex picture of diverse prac- tices, underscoring the implications of these actions for communities in the Global South, for Canada’s image in the international community, and for future governments in the pursuit of a renewed gender equality strategy. Rebecca Tiessen is associate professor in the School of International Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa. Stephen Baranyi is associate professor in the School of International Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa. The al-Baqara Crescendo Understanding the Qurʾan’s Style, Narrative Structure, and Running Themes nevin reda A study of the poetics and hermeneutics of the Qurʾan’s narrative structure, focusing on Surat al-Baqara. R E L I G I O U S S T U D I E S • I S L A M I C S T U D I E S Obligations and Omissions Canada’s Ambiguous Actions on Gender Equality edited by rebecca tiessen and stephen baranyi A critical examination of government practices concerning gender. P O L I T I C A L S T U D I E S • I N T E R N AT I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T S P E C I F I C AT I O N S Advancing Studies in Religion March 2017 978-0-7735-4886-2 $32.95A CDN, $32.95A US, £27.99 paper 978-0-7735-4885-5 $110.00S CDN, $110.00S US, £95.00 cloth 6 x 9 264pp 14 tables eBook available S P E C I F I C AT I O N S McGill-Queen’s Studies in Gender, Sexuality, and Social Justice in the Global South June 2017 978-0-7735-5024-7 $34.95A CDN, $34.95A US, £29.99 paper 978-0-7735-5023-0 $110.00S CDN, $110.00S US, £95.00 cloth 6 x 9 360pp 8 tables, 13 diagrams eBook available