Khoo Boo Teik, Vedi Hadiz, and Yoshihiro Nakanishi,eds. Between Dissent and Power: The Transformation of Islamic Politics in the Middle East and Asia. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014, xv+298p., index.

Abstract

Between Dissent and Power: The Transformation of Politics in Middle East and AsiaKHOO BOO TEIK, VEDI HADIZ, and YOSHIHIRO NAKANISHI, eds.London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014, xv+298p., index.The key intervention this timely volume makes is to question whether political agitation that speaks in name of Islam is best understood in terms of content its exponents profess. In this respect, titular choice to describe volume as being about is no coincidence. To contrary, it splits difference between assuming that no more than of actors who happen to be merits attention and assuming that their are overdetermined by Islamist predilections/pronouncements. At same time, as editors' fine introductory chapter makes clear, choice is also meant to provoke. This is because collection prioritizes what editors suggest are heretofore neglected political economy and institutional (political, sociological) perspectives on understanding recent events in Muslim majority volume surveys. Those countries-which include Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Malaysia, Pakistan, Algeria, and Indonesia-comprise basis for volume's nine case study chapters. The choice of case studies is governed by volume's concern with tracing how has oscillated between and power, especially in aftermath of Arab spring.After making requisite mention of fact that volume is intended to treat character of in places it surveys neither as an epiphenomenon of economics nor the mere expression of religion, in their introductory chapter editors instead proceed to highlight series of so-called institutional factors. These include, first, capitalist development, economic crises, and their social consequences; second, relative strengths of regimes, parties, and social movements; and, third, shifting bases and constituencies of support and opposition (p. 4). Before proceeding to nine case studies, two chapters following editors' introduction helpfully elaborate on key crosscutting perspectives volume seeks to use to illuminate relevant patterns and contrasts. In Chapter 2 (Political Economy and Explanation of Politics in Contemporary World) Richard Robison contrasts cultural and ideological approaches to understanding and society in countries with several others (p. 21). Most important among these are various strands of political economy perspective Robison advocates. According to Robison, whether in its radicalized or party electoral form is thus best viewed in light of confluence between class dynamics (e.g. by paying attention to phenomena like declining petty bourgeoisie) and shifting state structures (e.g. by paying attention to move from market authoritarian rule to the embrace of modern market). Chapter 3 by Vedi Hadiz (The Organizational Vehicles of Political Dissent: Social Bases, Genealogies and Strategies) complements Robison's chapter nicely. Not only does it bring volume closer to ground of how is actually undertaken, it also still focuses on developing set of generalized explanatory resources to clarify particular approach volume as whole means to pursue. Noting that titular organizational chapter is focused on vary greatly from full fledged political parties to small and isolated cells engaged in terrorist activity, Hadiz emphasizes that vehicles of Islamic dissent must be understood in relation to transformations in social bases of politics over last half century. Hadiz contrasts shared desire expressed by many parties for a variant of capitalism (p. 47) with rise of organizing from fringes when such mainstream forces fail to build coalitions that can plausibly challenge for state power through formal political arena (p. …