Political Islam in the Middle East

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 AilgéirAn ÉigiptRéadmhaoinHamasAn IordáinMB JordanianLiobáinBráithreachas MoslamachAn PhalaistínStaidéar & TaighdeAn tSiriaMB na SiriaturcaíAKP na Tuirce

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