Chap 10, pp. 298-304 only

Radical Political Islam

pp. 298-304

2020thth Century Pan Arab Century Pan Arab NationalismNationalism• Pan Arab Nationalist Regimes – Drew on western Pan Arab Nationalist Regimes – Drew on western

secularism & western modernity secularism & western modernity – ““Nasserism” Nasserism” (1952-1970) – Pan-Arab nationalist (1952-1970) – Pan-Arab nationalist

movement by Gemal Abdul Nasser in Egypt movement by Gemal Abdul Nasser in Egypt

– ““Ba’athism” Ba’athism” – Arab nationalist type regimes (influenced – Arab nationalist type regimes (influenced in part by western secularism & socialism)in part by western secularism & socialism)•Iraq (1968 - 2003) Iraq (1968 - 2003) •Syria (1966 - Present)Syria (1966 - Present)

– Pro-western hereditary monarchiesPro-western hereditary monarchies•Iran under the Shah of Iran (1965 – 1979)Iran under the Shah of Iran (1965 – 1979)•Contemporary Examples: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, JordanContemporary Examples: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan

• Radical Political Islam – Arose in Opposition to the Above

Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966) and Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966) and Muslim Counter-EnlightenmentMuslim Counter-Enlightenment• Egyptian exile who criticized King Egyptian exile who criticized King

Faruq’s pro-Western stanceFaruq’s pro-Western stance• Articulated a strong ideological Articulated a strong ideological

reaction against Western modernity reaction against Western modernity • Became important intellectual leader Became important intellectual leader

of the Muslim Brotherhood of the Muslim Brotherhood • Qutb rejected Nasser’s secularist pan-Qutb rejected Nasser’s secularist pan-

Arab projectArab project

Sayyid Qutb and Muslim Sayyid Qutb and Muslim Counter-EnlightenmentCounter-Enlightenment

• Radical Islamic movements reject the western Enlightenment tradition, especially the focus on secularism and “individual autonomy”

• Radical Islam seeks a return to a more pure form of Islam, not tainted by secularism and modernity

• Radical Islam -- opposed to:– Western modernity – Muslims who endorse the incorporation of

Western modernity

Qutb and Radical IslamQutb and Radical Islam• Provided essential parts of the ideological Provided essential parts of the ideological

foundation of Radical Islamfoundation of Radical Islam• Under radical Islam, Under radical Islam, Jihad Jihad no longer an no longer an

inner struggle to follow the Qu’raninner struggle to follow the Qu’ran– Jihad becomes an outwards struggle or Jihad becomes an outwards struggle or

holy war against modernity, secularism, holy war against modernity, secularism, capitalism, gender equality, etc.capitalism, gender equality, etc.

• Westernized Muslims - “false Westernized Muslims - “false consciousness”consciousness”

• Liberalism: sovereignty of the individual; Liberalism: sovereignty of the individual; • Socialism: sovereignty of the proletariat; Socialism: sovereignty of the proletariat;

• Radical Islam: sovereignty of AllahRadical Islam: sovereignty of Allah