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Describes & compares history & evolution of Jama'at-i-Islami (Pakistan, founded in 1941) & Muslim Brotherhood (Egypt. 1928) & explains failure of first (elitist) & success of second (populist).

 After more than twelve centuries of existence, which included persecution at the hands of "crusading" medieval Christians and colonial domination by... more

 After more than twelve centuries of existence, which included persecution at the hands of "crusading" medieval Christians and colonial domination by Great Britain throughout Asia and Africa in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a new fire was ignited within various individuals and groups in the Muslim world in the years between the first and second World Wars. The fire in the hearts of men like Maulana Maududi and Hasan al-Banna burned for the establishment of Muslim states in Pakistan and Egypt (and elsewhere), democracies which would restore dignity to the people by allowing them to "reassert the cultural traditions derived from their religion," and for those who "clung tenaciously . . . to the memory of a brilliant civilization which, in their eyes, was irreplaceable by anything the West had to offer." Unfortunately, the test of time has,

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Role & impact of fundamentalism in development of politics since 1980s, leadership, judicial system, terrorism.

Any discussion of Islamic fundamentalism in today's Pakistan must be seen within a more general context typical of many modern Muslim states trying to... more

Any discussion of Islamic fundamentalism in today's Pakistan must be seen within a more general context typical of many modern Muslim states trying to develop their independent political, social and economic structures within the guidelines left to them on one hand by the traditional tenets of the Islamic faith and on the other hand by the much more recent legacy of Western colonialism. What is, or rather, what should be, in the final analysis, a modern Muslim state? Nowhere in the Muslim world would a policy which tries to imitate blindly the Western model be successful. On the other hand, an equally blind attempt at returning to a supposedly pure pre-colonial Islamic system would find a host of resistances within society--and would create no few enemies abroad. Pakistan is considered by all standards a moderate Muslim

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Focus on political reform in Egypt. Role of religion, liberalization of economy & failure. Also discusses Iraq.

Political Change in Middle Eastern Nations Introduction Harik argues that the formation of a democratic government requires a democratic political cul... more

Political Change in Middle Eastern Nations Introduction Harik argues that the formation of a democratic government requires a democratic political culture, and vice versa (Harik, 1994: 358). Consequently, any analysis of the potential for political change in any given Middle Eastern country requires a survey of the democratization or not of its government as well as an understanding of the political, economic and social nature and freedom of its people. Historically, authoritarian governments have ruled Middle Eastern countries. However, Harik also argues that Islam itself contains the seeds of individual dignity and group integrity that can form the basis of a social order that would support a democratic government (1994: 345). On the other hand, Al-Azmeh appears to argue that only a now-discredite

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Discusses various kinds of nationalist & ethnic identifications throughout the territory of Islam. Religious reformism. Shared vision of political community. Islamic view of state and religion as one. Political implications. Failure to meet economic needs. History of Islamism. Nature of current Islamic movements. Western perceptions of Islamism. The movement's appeal.

An individual's primary group allegiance can shift in the event of a perceived threat against another group with which s/he identifies. This accounts... more

An individual's primary group allegiance can shift in the event of a perceived threat against another group with which s/he identifies. This accounts to a great extent for the changing fortunes of Islamism and various kinds of nationalist and ethnic identifications throughout the dar-al-Islam (or, territory of Islam) since the middle of the nineteenth century. Religious factionalism, ethnic conflict, and secular nationalism have all been set aside in favor of Islamism at various times. Yet it is difficult to define this term, which refers to a variety of movements all of which are based in religious reformism but can have differing protest or emancipatory goals. As Voll (1991) defined it, Islamism is "a distinctive mode of response to major social and cultural change introduced either by exogenous or indigenous forces and perceived as threatening to dilute or

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The conflict between Islam, women's rights, and democracy is analyzed with several examples from different countries. Fundamentalist views and liberal views. Cultural values of Islam.

Democracy Islam and Women Both democracy and Islam are abstractions with vague definitions since each word has been applied to contradictory practices... more

Democracy Islam and Women Both democracy and Islam are abstractions with vague definitions since each word has been applied to contradictory practices When we speakof democracy do we mean ancient Athens the United States or Europe orIndia or Israel or Uzbekistan Let us grant that there are no puredemocracies and that when we use the word we are referring to tendencies Our critique of any given society depends on our analysis as to how far andin what way it is fulfilling the

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Takes the perspective that Islam sends contradictory messages about the validity of pluralism and democracy. Defines democracy and its manifestations. The militant forms of both Islam and democracy. Focus of paper is on Islam as a religious belief system that shaped social, political, cultural relations in many nation-states.

Islam and Democracy Democracy is often characterized as a method of giving all citizensin a nation-state a share in political decisionmaking Warburton... more

Islam and Democracy Democracy is often characterized as a method of giving all citizensin a nation-state a share in political decisionmaking Warburton However the word democracy is used in a number of different ways Direct democracies are distinguished from representative democracies inthat the latter reflect governance systems in which voters select theirfavored representatives Democracy is also manifested by different typesof representative systems with degrees of participation integral to thedetermination of the nature of the democracy Warburton At issue herein is the question

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An analysis of Turkey's government which shows that secular democracy is possible in the Middle East and that the west would be wise to embrace Turkey and the Turkish model.

Much has been written concerning whether democracy is possible in theMiddle East Skeptics point to the long history of totalitarianism in theregion to... more

Much has been written concerning whether democracy is possible in theMiddle East Skeptics point to the long history of totalitarianism in theregion to the authoritarian governments in Kuwait Saudi Arabia Egypt and the United Arab Emirates and to the phenomenon of radical Islam inorder to make the case that democracy is not possible or not plausible inthe region The recent electoral victory by Hamas a terroristorganization in Palestine has given many people pause Additionally theIraqis' inability to form a government four months

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This analysis provides a discussion of a number of religious, cultural, and political factors among Arab nations in the Middle East that create a challenge to the adoption of democratic institutions and liberal reforms in those nations. Included are examples of capitalism, Islam, colonialism, authoritarian regimes, and other factors that continue to thwart the spread of genuine democracy in the region.

Democracy in the Middle East Introduction Samuel P Huntington maintains that between and a trend toward democratic systems of government pervaded the ... more

Democracy in the Middle East Introduction Samuel P Huntington maintains that between and a trend toward democratic systems of government pervaded the world'snations This global democratic revolution' is probably the mostimportant political trend in the late twentieth century It is the thirdwave of democratization in the modern era p From religion and oilto culture Arab rulers there are numerous religious and culturalchallenges to establishing pluralistic democracy in the Middle East that iscompatible with Islam While some nations of the Middle East have

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This paper talks about the idea of exporting democracy. It looks at the problems inherent in such an idea, and the fact that it is not possible to "export" democracy intact to another nation because of cultural differences.

Democracy took over years to evolve in the United States and itis still evolving It is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and those who com... more

Democracy took over years to evolve in the United States and itis still evolving It is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and those who come here seeking an idealized form of democracy will besadly disappointed Despite this the Bush Administration thinks it canexport democracy anywhere it wants in the world it's own brand ofdemocracy American capitalistic democracy Bush and his administrationdo not seem to understand that democracy is not something you can imposefrom without but something that grows from

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This paper provides an analysis of the trend for reform of fundamentalist values by Muslims living in Western cultures like Europe and the U.S. The analysis addresses how media presentations of Muslims complicate the process of forging a new Muslim personality that can co-exist as a minority in non-Muslim societies.

Islam In The West Introduction The clash of cultures between East and West is surely seen in theexperiences of minority Muslim groups living in contem... more

Islam In The West Introduction The clash of cultures between East and West is surely seen in theexperiences of minority Muslim groups living in contemporary Europe and theUnited States In many instances media stereotypes and representationsprovide definitions of otherness that often stereotype Muslims andencourage Westernization of values and culture To overcome dominant mediarepresentations of Muslims Poole maintains It is not enough to know andmix with Muslims to override dominant media representations the contactmust include dialogue that encourages an understanding of Islamic beliefsand