Europe, the USA and Political Islam : Strategies for Engagement

This book provides a study of the attempts by the US and EU to develop meaningful political relations with Islamist movements in the Middle East and Balkans. The contributors draw on extensive research on Islamist parties and movements and Western policy towards them over the past decade. A study of the attempts by the US and EU to develop meaningful political relations with Islamist movements in the Middle East and Balkans. The contributors draw on extensive research on Islamist parties and movements and Western policy towards them over the past decade. Much attention has been paid to the question of whether Islamist movements are truly committed to democracy. Indeed, there has been an increasing focus on so-called 'moderate' Islamists with whom the West can engage. Although there is a lot of debate about the need to bring Islamists into a dialogue about democracy, very few efforts have been devoted to ideas about what this would mean in practical terms: Who are the most appropriate actors on both sides to take part in any engagement strategy? What issues should be prioritised in discussions? And indeed, what can EU and American policymakers do if Islamists themselves are unwilling to engage? The contributors of this volume take to task the 'nuts and bolts' of engaging Islamists. Theoretical and overview chapters are balanced by case studies of Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Albania, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. The chapters draw on extensive research on Islamist parties and movements and Western policy towards them, over the past decade or more Much attention has been paid to the question of whether Islamist movements are truly committed to democracy. Indeed, there has been an increasing focus on so-called 'moderate' Islamists with whom the West can engage. Although there is a lot of debate about the need to bring Islamists into a dialogue about democracy, very few efforts have been devoted to ideas about what this would mean in practical terms : Who are the most appropriate actors on both sides to take part in any engagement strategy? What issues should be prioritised in discussions? And indeed, what can EU and American policymakers do if Islamists themselves are unwilling to engage? The contributors of this volume take to task the 'nuts and bolts' of engaging Islamists. Theoretical and overview chapters are balanced by case studies of Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Albania, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. The chapters draw on extensive research on Islamist parties and movements and Western policy towards them, over the past decade or more.--Résumé de l'éditeur The EU, US and Political Islam: Strategies for Engagement: an Introduction-- M.Pace A Critical Analysis of EU Democracy Promotion: The Case of Egypt-- A.Norval & A.Abdulrahman Consolidation of Democracy or Polarisation of Society? The impact of EUrope on Turkey-- E.Akcali Democratization in Iran: A role for the EU?-- S.J.Holliday Challenging Preconceptions: Women's Experiences of Islamic Resistance Movements in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories-- M.Holt Democracy Promotion in the Context of an Occupied Nation? The Case of Palestine-- M.Pace The Islamism Debate Revisited: In Search of 'Islamist Democrats'-- A.El-Affendi The Politics of 'Religious Tolerance' in Post-Communist Albania: Ideology, Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration-- O.Barbullushi America's Freedom Dilemma: National Interests and the Pursuit of Middle Eastern Democracy-- O.Hassan Europe, the US and Political Islam: Strategies for Engagement: Conclusion-- S.J.Holliday Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Notes on Contributors......Page 7 1 The EU, US and Political Islam: An Introduction to Strategies for Engagement......Page 12 2 EU Democracy Promotion Rethought: The Case of Egypt......Page 21 3 EU, Political Islam and Polarization of Turkish Society......Page 51 4 Democratization in Iran: A Role for the EU?......Page 69 5 Challenging Preconceptions: Women and Islamic Resistance......Page 90 6 Democracy Promotion in the Context of an Occupied Nation? The Case of Palestine......Page 113 7 The Islamism Debate Revisited: In Search of ‘Islamist Democrats’......Page 136 8 The Politics of ‘Religious Tolerance’ in Post-Communist Albania: Ideology, Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration......Page 151 9 America’s Freedom Dilemma for the Middle East: Interests or Democracy?......Page 172 10 Conclusion......Page 203 Index......Page 215