The Politics of Islamism: Diverging Visions and Trajectories (Middle East Today)

This book offers a nuanced and muti-layered approach towards comprehending the possibilities of democratization or likelihood of authoritarian resilience in the Muslim world. The volume highlights the complex diversity within Islamist movements and parties— characterised by internal tensions, struggles and contestations. The very existence of this diversity within and among Islamist movements, and their general willingness to partake in mainstream politics, signals an important transformation in the Muslim world over recent decades. It demonstrates that the Muslim world has gravitated from the simplistic focus on the compatibility or incompatibility of Islam and democracy. Islamist movements and parties embody the multiple manifestations and trajectories within political Islam. The granular case-studies and theological analyses in this volume draw attention to the policy refinements, socio-political reforms and ideological transformations engendered by Muslim intellectuals and Islamist movements and ideologues. The diverse political landscape in the Muslim world is inextricably linked to the socio-political and theological shifts within Islamism—in particular, the yearning for greater social, economic and political justice, a yearning that lies at the core of an inclusive __wasatiyyah__ Islam. This book offers a nuanced and muti-layered approach towards comprehending the possibilities of democratization or likelihood of authoritarian resilience in the Muslim world. The volume highlights the complex diversity within Islamist movements and parties-- characterised by internal tensions, struggles and contestations. The very existence of this diversity within and among Islamist movements, and their general willingness to partake in mainstream politics, signals an important transformation in the Muslim world over recent decades. It demonstrates that the Muslim world has gravitated from the simplistic focus on the compatibility or incompatibility of Islam and democracy. Islamist movements and parties embody the multiple manifestations and trajectories within political Islam. The granular case-studies and theological analyses in this volume draw attention to the policy refinements, socio-political reforms and ideological transformations engendered by Muslim intellectuals and Islamist movements and ideologues. The diverse political landscape in the Muslim world is inextricably linked to the socio-political and theological shifts within Islamism--in particular, the yearning for greater social, economic and political justice, a yearning that lies at the core of an inclusive wasatiyyah Islam. John Louis Esposito is University Professor, Professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, USA. Lily Zubaidah Rahim is Associate Professor in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney, Australia. Naser Ghobadzadeh is Research Fellow at the Institute for Social Justice at the Australian Catholic University in Sidney, Australia The Granular Case-studies And Theological Analyses In This Volume Draw Attention To The Policy Refinements, Socio-political Reforms And Ideological Transformations Engendered By Muslim Intellectuals And Islamist Movements And Ideologues. The Diverse Political Landscape In The Muslim World Is Inextricably Linked To The Socio-political And Theological Shifts Within Islamism?in Particular, The Yearning For Greater Social, Economic And Political Justice, A Yearning That Lies At The Core Of An Inclusive Wasatiyyah Islam. Introduction: Theological Contestations And Political Coalition-building / John L. Esposito, Lily Zubaidah Rahim, Naser Ghobadzadeh -- Islam And Democracy: Perspectives From Reformist And Traditional Islam / Mohsen Kadivar -- Democratisation Of Islamic Political Theology / Naser Ghobadzadeh -- Tunisia's Ennahda: Islamists Turning The Learning Curve Of Democracy And Civic Habituation / Larbi Sadiki -- From Moderation To De-moderation: Democratic Backsliding Of The Akp In Turkey / Menderes Cinar -- Negotiating Popular Mandate And The Sovereignty Of God In Iran / Shahram Ikbarzadeh And James Barry -- Careful What You Wish For: Salafi Islamisation And Authoritarian Governance In Malaysia / Lily Zubaidah Rahim -- The Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, Democratisation And The Dilemmas Of Internal Organisational Reform: Seeking Unity, Finding Division? / Paul M. Esber -- The Dilemmas Of Dual Resistance: Hamas And Political Learning In Gaza / Martin Kear -- Transformations And Prospects / John L. Esposito, Lily Zubaidah Rahim, Naser Ghobadzadeh. John L. Esposito, Lily Zubaidah Rahim, Naser Ghobadzadeh, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction: Theological Contestations and Political Coalition-Building (John L. Esposito, Lily Zubaidah Rahim, Naser Ghobadzadeh)....Pages 1-22 Islam and Democracy: Perspectives from Reformist and Traditional Islam (Mohsen Kadivar)....Pages 23-45 Democratisation of Islamic Political Theology (Naser Ghobadzadeh)....Pages 47-85 Tunisia’s Ennahda: Islamists Turning the Learning Curve of Democracy and Civic Habituation (Larbi Sadiki)....Pages 87-125 From Moderation to De-moderation: Democratic Backsliding of the AKP in Turkey (Menderes Çınar)....Pages 127-157 Negotiating Popular Mandate and the Sovereignty of God in Iran (Shahram Akbarzadeh, James Barry)....Pages 159-178 Careful What You Wish for: Salafi Islamisation and Authoritarian Governance in Malaysia (Lily Zubaidah Rahim)....Pages 179-216 The Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, Democratisation and the Dilemmas of Internal Organisational Reform: Seeking Unity, Finding Division? (Paul M. Esber)....Pages 217-241 The Dilemmas of Dual Resistance: Hamas and Political Learning in Gaza (Martin Kear)....Pages 243-266 Transformations and Prospects (John L. Esposito, Lily Zubaidah Rahim, Naser Ghobadzadeh)....Pages 267-273 Back Matter ....Pages 275-292 This text offers a nuanced and muti-layered approach towards comprehending the possibilities of democratization or likelihood of authoritarian resilience in the Muslim world. The volume highlights the complex diversity within Islamist movements and parties - characterised by internal tensions, struggles and contestations. The very existence of this diversity within and among Islamist movements, and their general willingness to partake in mainstream politics, signals an important transformation in the Muslim world over recent decades. It demonstrates that the Muslim world has gravitated from the simplistic focus on the compatibility or incompatibility of Islam and democracy. Islamist movements and parties embody the multiple manifestations and trajectories within political Islam The granular case-studies and theological analyses in this volume draw attention to the policy refinements, socio-political reforms and ideological transformations engendered by Muslim intellectuals and Islamist movements and ideologues. The diverse political landscape in the Muslim world is inextricably linked to the socio-political and theological shifts within Islamism in particular, the yearning for greater social, economic and political justice, a yearning that lies at the core of an inclusive wasatiyyah Islam