Tariq Ali

Tariq Ali (born 1943) is an author, filmmaker, and historian. He was born and grew up in Lahore, now part of Pakistan, into a communist family. While studying at the Punjab University, he organized demonstrations against Pakistan's military dictatorship. His wealthy parents sent him to England to study at Oxford because they feared for his safety because of his connections to radical movements.

As one of the "brown sahibs" left by the British Empire, Tariq Ali distinguished himself a spokesman for anti-imperialism. His extensive knowledge of history and his dedication to the ideals of the Enlightenment made him a popular figure in the radical chic of 1960s and early 1970s.

His reputation began to grow during the Vietnam War, when he engaged in debates against the war with such figures as Henry Kissinger and Michael Stewart. As time passed, Ali became increasingly anti-American and anti-Israel, and emerged as a figurehead for leftist anti-Americanism across the globe.

His most recent book, Clash of the Fundamentalisms (ISBN 185984457X ), puts the events of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks in historical perspective, covering the history of Islam from its foundations until today.