Can Islamists Become Moderates? Rethinking the Inclusion-Moderation Hypothesis

Abstract

Recent years have seen a surge of studies that examine the inclusion-moderation hypothesis with reference to political Islam: the idea that political groups and individuals may become more moderate as a result of their inclusion in pluralist political processes. Most of these interventions adopt one of three foci: (1) the behavioral moderation of groups; (2) the ideological moderation of groups; and (3) the ideological moderation of individuals. After a discussion of various definitions of moderate and radical, the concept of moderation, and the centrality of moderation to studies of democratization, the author examines the scholarship on political Islam that falls within each approach. She then examines several studies that raise questions about sequencing: how mechanisms linking inclusion and moderation are posited and how other approaches might better explain Islamist moderation. Finally, she offers a critical analysis of the behavior-ideology binary that animates many of these models and suggests some fruitful paths for future research.

We are the very model of a moderate Muslim state: The Amman Messages and Jordan’s foreign policy

“…Still, while liberals attempt to claim the mantel of 'moderation' away from their Islamist competitors, particularly in their dealings with the West, it is not obvious that they can in fact claim it away from conservatives who participate peacefully in the democratic process and show what Schwedler has called 'behavioural moderation'. 12 Complicating matters further, Marwan Muasher, former Jordanian foreign minister and Jordan's first ambassador to Israel, has suggested that Western states have identified Arab moderation with a single issue -a willingness to work constructively with the Israelis on the peace process. (One could say the say the same for security cooperation with the West.)…”

Got political Islam? Are politically moderate Muslims really different from radicals?

“…More broadly, moderation is generally tied to liberal views of individual rights and democratic notions of tolerance, cooperation, and political pluralism (Schwedler, 2011). For instance, Somer refers to "moderation of political Islam through the embrace of democracy, modernity and liberal global economy" (2007: 1272).…”

“…According to this view, religious radicals typically seek to replace the entire political system and eschew political pluralism (Schwedler, 2011). According to Hafez (2003), they tend to "reject accommodation with the state regime, refuse to participate in its institutions," and may "insist on the necessity of violent revolution or mass mobilization to Islamize society and politics" if necessary (6).…”

A commitment to politics: the trajectory of the Muslim Brotherhood during Egypt's 2011–13 political opening

“…Ashour (2007) reserves the term moderation to refer to ideological realignment toward democratic principles, and employs deradicalization to denote a rejection of violent methodologies (Ashour, 2007, p.599-600). Schwedler (2011) advocates adopting distinctive terms for specific issue areas.…”