The Arab Spring revealed the rise of Islamists and a wave of Islamic movements across the region. The Islamist agenda is debatable on issues regarding their commitment to democracy, pluralism and individual freedom. Central to this is understanding their evolving definition of Islamism' and how the players view themselves. The article provides a brief background on which to describe and define the modern Islamist. The features of Islamist political parties are described. The researcher offers a definition of neo-Islamism that reflects its most modern trends, including characteristics: non-traditional religiosity; gradualism; Islam modernization; nationalism, and; pragmatic relations with the West.
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