VIII. Islam as a political movement

1.Outline of the lecture

1. Islam and politics

Most religions influence the political beliefs of their followers and Islam is no exception. Any actual practice of Islam as a faith requires acts that could be seen as political activities.

Islam and politics

Last decades Islam activated in socio-political processes and international relations- it is expressed in intensification of Islam role in political life.

Causes of political activization of Islam in the XX century:

1.socio- economic

2.reaction to racism, colonialism, imperialism

3.reaction to “westernization”

4.deep and broad influence of Islam in the East.

2. History of Islam as a political movement

The roots of Islam as a political movement go back to the medieval times when secret societies (tarika) emerged.

Some scholars consider that the tarika developed into the modern militant Islamic movements in reaction to these factors:

a. Before WWI German Kiser Wilhelm II proclaimed Germany and himself as historically European defender of Islam as a faith. He even prayed in the mosques of Syria under the name of Muhammad William.

*Why?

England guaranteed that no intervention would take place in Arab countries that were under the Ottoman Empire power. France had an agreement with the British that the Arabs would have self-rule.

**After the WWI

b. After the WWII the Arab resistance was drastically magnified when Israel was created- the promise made to Arabs had been broken, while that to Jews had been kept. Islamism was a response to Zionism. More mullahs were involved in politics.

c. Cold war exploitation

d. Political situation of the 70-s: peace of Egypt and Israel, the Iranian revolution,

the Soviet invasion to Afghanistan- had wide- ranging effects on Islam becoming a political phenomenon.

e. USA invasion in Iraq

In 80-90-s most Muslims believe that Islam is a universal solution to a political problems.

Some Muslims blame for all flaws in Muslim societies on the influx of foreign ideas., including capitalism, communism, feminism, a return to the principles of Islam is seen the natural cure.

Islamist movements:

* International- Al- Qaida

* Afghanistan-Taliban

* Algeria-Islamic Front of Salvation

* Egypt- Gama’at Islamiya

* Lebanon- Hezbollah

* South Asia- Jamaat-e- Islami (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan)

* West Bank and Gaza Strip – Hamas

Common- __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Perspectives

2. Questions for test

1. Historical roots of Islam transformation into political movement

2. Causes of upsurge of political Islam

3. Main Islamist movements and their role in world terrorism

3. Glossary

Flaw-порок, недостаток

4. Task for IWS: Islam in Central Asia

5. Task for office hours: Wahhabism

6. References

Музафарова Н.И. История религий, стр. 134-156

Васильев Л.С. История религий Востока.стр.78-89

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