The Politicization of Islam into Islamism in the Context of Global Religious Fundamentalism

Abstract

The article seeks to establish a basic distinction between Islam, as a religious faith, and Islamism, as a political ideology, without denying Islamists to be based in Islam, however, in an invention of tradition. All Islamists share the goal of Islamist governance and are in disagreement, however, over the strategy/tactic: violent Jihadism or institutional participation. Despite their approval of the ballot-box, institutional Islamists reject the political values and culture of a democracy. Therefore, the compatibility of Islamism and democracy is questioned.