Lianne Vostermans has produced a masterful, deeply nuanced and highly accessible account of the Lebanese civil war. Simultaneously balancing a deep appreciation for theory while drawing on rich and painstaking fieldwork to illuminate lived experiences, she offers a compelling and profoundly human portrait of one of the region's most challenging and intractable conflicts. A tour de force.

John Horgan, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Georgia State University, US

In this extremely interesting and excellent book, Lianne Vostermans presents a meticulous and compelling analysis of the many factors that played a role in the Lebanese civil wars from 1975-1990. She goes into the failing government, the struggle for power, the tapestry of religious, national and group identities, the dynamics of conflict and violence, the political and religious rhetoric and the role of external forces and thus shows what can happen when identities whether religious or secular are politicized. A must read for everyone who wants to understand conflict dynamics not just in Lebanon.

Alette Smeulers, Professor of International Crimes, University of Groningen, the Netherlands

Beyond Faith and Fury is a welcome addition to sociological studies of the Lebanese Civil War. By drawing on interviews and memoirs by religious leaders and militiamen, Vostermans provides a fresh look at the role of religion in the war and in Lebanese society.

Sune Haugbolle, Professor in Global Middle East Studies, Roskilde University, Denmark