Political Islam in the Middle East
| Lúnasa 20, 2010 | Nótaí tráchta 0
An bhfuil 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, isteach
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, léiríonn an tuarascáil nach gá go mbeadh Ioslam ag teacht leis an daonlathas agus
go bhfuil claonadh ann faillí a dhéanamh ar an bhfíric go bhfuil go leor tíortha sa Mheán-Oirthir
ag gabháil do chur faoi chois brúidiúil ar ghluaiseachtaí Ioslamacha, is cúis leo, Áitíonn cuid acu, a ghlacadh
airm i gcoinne an stáit, agus níos annamh, tíortha iasachta. Is é an úsáid a bhaint as foréigean polaitiúil
forleathan sa Mheánoirthear, ach níl sé mí-réasúnach ná neamhréasúnach. I go leor cásanna fiú
Tá grúpaí Ioslamacha a bhfuil cáil orthu mar gheall ar a n-úsáid foréigin athraithe go polaitiúil síochánta
páirtithe go rathúil san iomaíocht i dtoghcháin chathrach agus náisiúnta. Mar sin féin, an Ioslamach
tá athbheochan sa Mheánoirthear fós gan mhíniú go páirteach in ainneoin go bhfuil roinnt teoiricí ag iarraidh
cuntas a thabhairt ar an bhfás agus ar an tarraingt a bhfuil an-tóir air. Go ginearálta, seasann formhór na dteoiricí gur Ioslamachas é
reaction to relative deprivation, 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.Filed Under: An Ailgéir • An Éigipt • Réadmhaoin • Hamas • An Iordáin • MB Jordanian • Liobáin • Bráithreachas Moslamach • An Phalaistín • Staidéar & Taighde • An tSiria • MB na Siria • turcaí • AKP na Tuirce
About the Author: