Strange Rebels

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Few moments in history have seen as many seismic transformations as 1979, a year that marked the rise of revolutionary Islam as a political force, the onset of market revolutions in China and Britain, and the beginnings of resistance movements in Eastern Europe and Afghanistan that contributed to the Soviet Union's collapse. This pivotal year heralded the economic, political, and religious realities that shape the twenty-first century. Veteran journalist Christian Caryl illustrates how the world we live in today began to take form during this time, highlighting a series of counterrevolutions against the progressive consensus of the postwar era. The upheavals of 1979 represented a conservative challenge to communist and socialist systems globally, transforming politics and economics. In China, market-oriented reforms initiated this year propelled the nation into an economic powerhouse. Pope John Paul II's visit to Poland reignited the Catholic faith, confronting communism in Eastern Europe. Iran's Islamic Revolution swiftly established a theocracy, while Margaret Thatcher's rise in Britain signaled a return to free-market capitalism, paving the way for Ronald Reagan in the US. Additionally, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan sparked an Islamic holy war, influencing the rise of al-Qaeda and contributing to the fall of communism. This gripping narrative weaves together these events and movements, illustrating their collective imp