Political Islam in the Middle East

| Aug 20, 2010 | Kommentarer 0

Are Knudsen

This report provides an introduction to selected aspects of the phenomenon commonly

referred to as “political Islam”. The report gives special emphasis to the Middle East, i

particular the Levantine countries, and outlines two aspects of the Islamist movement that may

be considered polar opposites: democracy and political violence. In the third section the report

reviews some of the main theories used to explain the Islamic resurgence in the Middle East

(Figure 1). In brief, rapporten viser, at islam ikke behøver at være uforenelig med demokrati og

at der er en tendens til at negligere det faktum, at mange mellemøstlige lande har været det

engageret i en brutal undertrykkelse af islamistiske bevægelser, forårsager dem, nogle argumenterer, at tage op

våben mod staten, og mere sjældent, Fremmede lande. Brugen af politisk vold er

udbredt i Mellemøsten, men er hverken ulogisk eller irrationel. I mange tilfælde endda

Islamistiske grupper kendt for deres brug af vold er blevet forvandlet til fredelige politiske

partier, der deltager i kommunale og nationale valg. Ikke desto mindre, islamisten

genoplivning i Mellemøsten forbliver til dels uforklarlig på trods af en række teorier, der søger det

redegøre for dens vækst og populære appel. Generelt, de fleste teorier hævder, at islamisme er en

reaktion på relativ afsavn, especially social inequality and political oppression. Alternative

theories seek the answer to the Islamist revival within the confines of religion itself and the

powerful, evocative potential of religious symbolism.

The conclusion argues in favour of moving beyond the “gloom and doom” approach that

portrays Islamism as an illegitimate political expression and a potential threat to the West (“Old

Islamism”), and of a more nuanced understanding of the current democratisation of the Islamist

movement that is now taking place throughout the Middle East (“New Islamism”). This

importance of understanding the ideological roots of the “New Islamism” is foregrounded

along with the need for thorough first-hand knowledge of Islamist movements and their

adherents. As social movements, its is argued that more emphasis needs to be placed on

understanding the ways in which they have been capable of harnessing the aspirations not only

of the poorer sections of society but also of the middle class.

ZD Scribd iPaper

Arkiveret under: Algeriet • Egypten • Fremhævet • Hamas • Jordan • Jordansk MB • Libanon • muslimsk Broderskab • Palæstina • Undersøgelser & Undersøgelser • Syrien • Syrisk MB • Kalkun • Tyrkiets AKP