Islam is notthesolution (ortheproblem)

Why does Islam Remain Politically Important in Twenty-first Century Middle East?

“…Hence, Muslim Middle East reacted in a variety of ways. Mandaville [3] asserts that the Islamic responses to imperialism were reformism and revivalism. Whereas the first concept was an attempt to react externally against the capitalist occupiers, revivalism was inward-looking and led to the development of Wahhabism [4].…”

“…This history underpins the trajectory of political Islam in the Middle East going forward. From earlier emphasis on Islamic virtue and morality, a new discourse on political pragmatism is emerging [3] as traditionalism and Islamism are contending for political space in the region. Within Islamism are two major ideological groups; militant and progressive -which Mohammed [8] notes are based on generational divide about vision and strategy between the 'Old Guard' and the 'New Turks' in politics.…”

“…For its part, Arab Nationalism, taking advantage of Arab civilization, culture and anti-Zionism, called for the political union of the Arab World. It espoused the superimposition of pan-Arab ideology [3] onto religious identity. The concept seems to have lost traction in the late 20th century but is currently gaining momentum courtesy of the ' Arab Winter' [12] sweeping across the region.…”

“…According to Jalal [13], the revolution spearheaded by Ayatollah Khomeini with support from various islamist groups and student organizations, was staged to protest the ills of secularism and what he called gharbzadegi '(westoxication)' such as social injustice, discontent with the Shah's rule and imperialism. With the same issues that led to the revolution largely intact; increased social problems [14], the consequences of the isolation likely to be felt in this century's medium term future [15] [3] posits that religious and Non-Governmental Organizations, scholars, educational institutions and diaspora and immigrant communities are all in the fray supporting either or both of the two parties. In cases where the political establishment is inching towards liberalism, powerful religio-political forces act as their counterweight.…”

“…The two regional powers; pariah Iran and conservative Saudi Arabia are pursuing mutually exclusive and destructive policies with the undertones of Shia and Sunni politics. The Shi'i nationalism, religious in natureand which evolved modern Iran from the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736) and the Qajars (1781-1925) [3] has been oriented to a political status in the 1979 revolution (Kepel, 2002). Iran has ostensibly become the undeclared leader of the Shia world, driving the policies and the agenda of transnational Shia politics.…”