By viewing Islamic fundamentalism as a reactive response to modern challenges and political structures, this book presents a striking analysis of how and why Islamic values have become such a potent contemporary political force, and sheds new light on a much-misunderstood situation. This revised edition offers a rigorous definition of the modern Islamist movement by linking its connotations to the historical background of Muslim traditions. It includes an entirely new section dealing with post-1997 aspects; a section on al-Qaeda and the aftermath of 9/11, as well as a discussion of the global reach of Islamism. This comprehensive volume also explores the advent of a new wave of Islamism and its manifestations in Western countries. "Islamic Fundamentalism" concludes with an overall evaluation of the future prospects of Islamism and alternative Western policies ranging from direct confrontation to political dialogue.
Youssef M Choueiri is Reader in Islamic Studies, School of Arts, Histories and Cultures, University of Manchester. He has authored and edited a number of books, including Islamic Fundamentalism (Continuum, 2003), Arab Nationalism (Blackwell, 2002) and A Companion to the History of the Middle East (Blackwell, 2005).
Introduction; 1. Islamic Revivalism; 2. Islamic Reformism; 3. The Transcendence of Islam; 4. Prelude to Radical Islamism; 5. Islamic Radicalism; 6. The Doctrine and its Methods; 7. Revolutions or Elections?; 8. Islamism as an International Movement.
"A comprehensive study that puts forward among other useful interpretations the idea that Islamic fundamentalism represents "the latest and perhaps the last attempt to establish a totalitarian Islamic state." Choueiri also demonstrates that even Islamists most intent on rejecting the "other" in favor of an Islamist authenticity often rely on ideologies advanced by outsiders." - Professor L. Carl Brown, Princeton University, USA