What is Islamism?
Islamism refers to religious and political ideological movements that believe Islam should influence political systems. These movements are driven by a belief in the inherent superiority of Islam over other ideologies, aiming to create societies governed by Islamic law (sharia).
The Roots of Islamism
How did this ideology come into being? The term ‘Islamist’ emerged from traditional Arabic scholarship as a theological concept, referring to anyone who attributes themselves to Islam without affirmation or negation. However, after Ayatollah Khomeini’s Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1978-79, the term gained new usage in Western contexts, often with negative connotations.
Key Figures and Movements
Prominent Islamist groups include the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. These advocates are dedicated to realizing their ideological interpretation of Islam within the context of the state or society.
The Evolution of Islamism
Islamist movements have ‘arguably altered the Middle East more than any trend since the modern states gained independence,’ redefining politics and borders. The term has been criticized for its connotations of violence, extremism, and violations of human rights, leading to Islamophobia and stereotyping.
The Diverse Landscape of Islamism
Islamism is not a united movement and takes different forms and spans a wide range of strategies and tactics towards the powers in place—’destruction, opposition, collaboration, indifference’—not because (or not just because) of differences of opinions, but because it varies as circumstances change.
Moderate vs. Extremist Islamism
While moderate and reformist Islamists who accept and work within the democratic process include parties like the Tunisian Ennahda Movement, other Islamist groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine claim to participate in the democratic and political process as well as armed attacks by their powerful paramilitary wings. Meanwhile, jihadist organizations like al-Qaeda and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad entirely reject democracy, seeing it as a form of kufr (disbelief) calling for offensive jihad on a religious basis.
The Impact of the Arab Spring
Following the Arab Spring, Islamism has become increasingly interdependent with democracy in much of the Arab Muslim world. However, distinctions between ‘radical/moderate’ or ‘violent/peaceful’ Islamism are simplistic and propose more sophisticated typologies:
- Resistance/Reformist
- Salafist Jihadi/Ikhwani Islamism
- Third Worldist/Neo-Third Worldist
- Statist/Non-Statist
- Mainstream/Irredentist jihadi/Doctrinaire jihadi
The Salafi Movement and Qutbism
The contemporary Salafi movement is characterized by conservative doctrines and differing strategies and priorities, often categorized into three groups: quietist, activist, or Salafist jihadism. Qutbism refers to the Jihadist ideology formulated by Sayyid Qutb, which advocates for a two-pronged attack of preaching and forced elimination of Jahiliyya through offensive jihad.
Shi’i Islamism
Shi’i Islamism is primarily associated with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s thought and activities, including the Islamist Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It differs from Wahhabism, Salafism, and reformist Islamism in being ‘more leftist and more clerical.’
The Iranian Revolution
Khomeini’s form of Islamism created a new regime with a new constitution, new institutions, and a new concept of governance (the Velayat-e Faqih). This system enforces sharia law with an absolute authority over all individuals and the Islamic government. The jurist would not be elected, and no legislature would be needed.
The Global Spread of Islamism
State-sponsorship of Islamism by Saudi Arabia and Qatar funded religious institutions, mosques, and universities with billions of dollars, promoting the strict Wahhabist interpretation of Islam. This funding has overwhelmed local interpretations and set the Saudi-interpretation of Islam as the ‘gold standard’ in some minds.
The Role of Western Support
Western support during the Cold War further contributed to the spread of Islamist ideology. The U.S. government provided financial and diplomatic support to Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Hamas in Palestine. This support has helped to disseminate Wahhabist ideology and promote radical Islamism globally.
The Decline of Islamism
By the beginning of the 21st century, Islamists had surpassed secular opposition parties in terms of organizational skills and had occupied the popular imagination. However, by 2020, observers detected a decline in the vigor and popularity of Islamism due to its failed impact on the world and repeated efforts to establish a ‘concrete and viable blueprint for society.’
The Future of Islamism
A social and religious backlash against Islamist rule has emerged, with many Muslims rejecting political Islam and weakening their faith. Polls have shown that Arabs are losing faith in religious parties and leaders, and mosque attendance has declined.
The future of Islamism remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the world must continue to engage with this complex and evolving ideology to understand its impact on global politics and society.
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This page is based on the article Islamism published in Wikipedia (retrieved on January 2, 2025) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.