Political Islam: from History to Modernity

Abstract

In this article, the author takes a conceptual approach to the study of the phenomenon of political Islam to identify the reasons for its transformation from a domestic political project to an international issue. An important part of this approach is the study of political Islam in the broader context of the Islamic world as a whole. Since there is a notable diversity of opinion among scholars regarding the essence of the concepts of “political Islam” and “Islamism”, the author offers his own vision of their correlation: political Islam is a strategic programme for the modernisation of Muslim societies, while Islamism is an ideological, mobilising and organisational resource for its implementation. As a result of the study, the author concluded that political Islam has its roots in the history of the Islamic world's struggle with the West, which determines its anti-Western orientation today. Continued Western interference in the internal affairs of Muslim countries turns supporters of political Islam into potential partners of non-Western powers in opposing the rules of the unjust Western world order. IIf their cooperation is successful, significant opportunities for achieving internal and external Islamist goals will open up. It is important for Russia to reach out to moderate, reasonable supporters of political Islam, seeing them as partners in countering aggressive Western policies.