Revolutionaries and Reformers

by Rubin, Barry M.

• ISBN13: 9780791456170
• ISBN10: 079145617X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: State Univ of New York Pr

Summary

Islamist movements seeking power today are faced with difficult choices regarding strategy, ranging from armed struggle to electoral efforts. An emerging alternative consists of a rethinking of Islamist politics, where the goal of a "totally Islamic" polity would be abandoned in favor of some form of Islamic-oriented society. In this reformulation, Islamist politics would function as a pressure group to make society more Islamic, reinforcing the walls of semi-separate internal communities and reinterpreting Islam in more liberal ways. The September 11, 2001 terror attack on the United States, however, demonstrates that the radical approach remains attractive to many Islamists. Addressing these issues, the contributors look at the countries where Islamist movements have been most important. Case studies of revolutionary and reformist groups are followed by chapters discussing future alternatives for Islamist politics, presenting arguments both advocating and critical of a potential liberal, reformist, interest-group Islamism.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Why Radical Muslims Aren't Taking Over Governments	p. 1
Radical Islam in Egypt: A Comparison of Two Groups	p. 11
The Development of Palestinian Islamic Groups	p. 23
Radical Islamist Movements in Turkey	p. 41
Islamism and the State in North Africa	p. 69
Hizballah: Between Armed Struggle and Domestic Politics	p. 91
Balancing State and Society: The Islamic Movement in Kuwait	p. 105
The Rise of the Islamist Movement in Turkey	p. 125
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