Reflections on Political Islam

Abstract

The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) participated in the annualmeeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) in Atlanta, GA, heldNovember 21-24, 2015. In addition to the participation of staff and associatesin several meeting events and panels, IIIT maintained a book booth in the ExhibitHall, co-organized a panel on “Opportunities and Challenges of TeachingIslamic Studies in Theological Seminaries,” and held its second annual AARReception and Special Lecture.Offering a tribute to Ismail al-Faruqi (d. 1986), IIIT co-founder and cofounderof the AAR’s “Study of Islam” section, Abubaker Alshingieti (executivedirector, IIIT) and Ermin Sinanović (director of research, IIIT) expressedgreat pride in rekindling a stronger IIIT presence at the AAR by reviving thehistorical link established by al-Faruqi. Fittingly, John Esposito (GeorgetownUniversity), al-Faruqi’s first doctoral advisee, delivered the keynote speech:“Reflections on Political Islam: Concepts and Contexts.”An intellectual giant in his own right, Esposito presented a historicalanalysis of the rise of political Islam movements during the latter half of thetwentieth century through his individual interactions, appointments, and presencein spaces of influence at critical times. His keynote speech served bothas an intellectual analysis as well as a personal journey, full of spontaneouslysprinkled firsthand stories and narratives from private conversations. He emphasizedthe critical need to avoid ahistoric analyses of such movements andto resist symptomatic treatments that have become a popular approach bywestern governments blind to their own roles in such undesired behaviors andviolence.Referring to challenges like ISIS and youth radicalization, Esposito statedthat “unless you understand the context within which political Islam arose...:who were the players, what were the issues for these movements, and alsowhat their interactions were with government, you can’t understand why wecontinue to screw up today.” Making specific reference to recent governmentinitiatives on Countering Violent Extremism that are youth-centric and targetthe great role religion occupies in people’s lives, he reminded the audiencethat discounting a history of oppression by western-backed authoritarianregimes is a myopic perspective to the rise of radicalism.His speech spanned over fifty years of political history and Americaninvolvement in Muslim-majority nations with an emphasis on the Iranian ...