The Political Ideology of Hamas: A Grassroots Perspective (Library of Modern Middle East Studies)

Hamas is best-known to outsiders as a military organisation. Its political wing has received less attention, and it is often assumed that the schools, hospitals and universities it runs are merely instruments for the dissemination of a jihadist ideology. Following its surprise victory in the 2006 Palestinian elections, it is more important than ever to understand its politics. How serious is its commitment to democracy? Did people vote for Hamas in spite of or because of its Islamic agenda? Drawing on extensive fieldwork in Gaza, Michael Irving Jensen addresses these questions, and offers the first multidimensional portrait of this complex organisation. Based on interviews with the leadership, the rank-and-file, and ordinary Palestinians, Jensen shows how Hamas's officially stated goals relate to the social and political realities of the West Bank and Gaza. In doing so he lays the groundwork for a more accurate way of understanding the organisation, and the direction in which its war with Israel is travelling. Drawing On Extensive Fieldwork Conducted Inside Hamas-affiliated Civil Society Institutions In The Gaza Strip, Michael Irving Jensen Addresses A Number Of Questions, And Offers The First Multidimensional Portrait Of This Complex Organisation. Based On Interviews With The Leadership, The Rank-and-file, And Ordinary Palestinians, Irving Jensen Shows How Hamas Operates Within Civil Society And How Its Officially Stated Goals Relate To The Social And Political Realities Of The West Bank And Gaza. In Doing So He Lays The Groundwork For A More Accurate Way Of Understanding The Organisation, And The Future Of The Israeli-palestinian Conflict.--jacket. Islamism In Palestine And The Quest For The Sound Muslim -- The Context: The Development Of Palestinian Islamism And The Relationship With The Palestinian Authority During The 'old Order' -- The Islamists' Understanding Of Islam: Their View Of History And The Need To Engage In Civil Society -- Football And Islamism In The Gaza Strip -- The Islamic University Of Gaza, The Students And Islamism -- Conclusion. Michael Irving Jensen ; Translated From Danish By Sally Laird. Originally Published In Danish, Hamas I Gazastriben In 2002. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [183]-195) And Index. "Hamas is typically portrayed in the West as nothing more than a terrorist organisation. Yet as Michael Irving Jensen discovers, it also provides medical clinics, kindergartens, schools, elderly care and football training to the population of the West Bank and Gaza. Using a combination of interviews and participant observation, Jensen examines how these forms of social engagement relate to the organisation's official ideology, which is still characterised by extremism and violence. "The Political Ideology of Hamas" is the first attempt to provide a multidimensional picture of this organisation by looking at how it is perceived by the leadership, the rank-and-file, and the ordinary Palestinians who come into contact with it. By comparing the rhetoric of the leadership with the social reality, Jensen opens up new ways of understanding Islamist movements in general."--Bloomsbury publishing. Contents......Page 6 Preface and Acknowledgements......Page 8 Abbreviations......Page 12 1. Islamism in Palestine and the Quest for the Sound Muslim......Page 14 2. The Context: the Development of Palestinian Islamism and the Relationship with the Palestinian Authority during the 'Old Order'......Page 24 3. The Islamists' Understanding of Islam: Their View of History and the Need to Engage in Civil Society......Page 60 4. Football and Islamism in the Gaza Strip......Page 74 5. The Islamic Universality of Gaza, the Students and Islamism......Page 110 6. Conclusion......Page 154 Appendix: Notes on the Fieldwork and Methodology......Page 166 Notes......Page 174 Bibliography......Page 196 Glossary......Page 210 Index......Page 214