Political Islam Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Islamic Political Thought: A Comprehensive Overview

Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Islamic Political Thought: A Comprehensive Overview

MIDDLE EASTERNERS AS NEOCOLONIAL NOMADS: NEOCOLONIAL DETERRITORIALIZATOIN OF MIDDLE EASTERNERS IN MOHSIN HAMID’S THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST AND EXIT WEST

Neocolonialism amounts to the contemporary practices conducted by imperialists to exploit underdeveloped countries after decolonization. Initially, neocolonialists performed indirect methods, such as economic and logistic support to the monarchs or governments and radical groups that were heavily influenced by political Islam, in the Middle East, but it has then evolved into an extreme form through direct military interventions after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The study argues that those practices have dislocated Middle Easterners, and their dislocations are associated with the unfixity of identities. Grounding on Deleuze and Guattarian nomadology and identifying their dislocations as neocolonial deterritorialization, the study examines the changes Middle Easterners experience due to their exposure to the factors in neocolonial spaces and in new territories. In this regard, the study aims to analyse the deterritorializing impacts of neocolonialism on Middle Easterner immigrants The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Exit West.

The Development of State Forms and Their Function in the Political Islamic Mind

This paper discusses an important issue in political philosophy. Despite its historicity, it has current extensions, which gives it importance and value that does not become obsolete, whether in terms of scientific research, or even in terms of its impact on the lives of Muslims, whether in the past, present, and even in the future. By this, we mean the forms or manifestations that the state has taken in terms of theorizing and representation of the Islamic political mind, starting with the Prophetic state, passing through the various manifestations of the traditional state, Its components: Sunni and Shiite. There is no doubt that its dangerous effects on the lives of Muslims require reunderstanding it, as it is compatible with the spirit of the times on the one hand, and the realities of Islam and its political experiences on the other hand, which leads to questions about the nature of this state and its function, far from ideal perceptions, which do not exist. Except in the minds of its owners, and not in the perspective of the Islamic political mind, which was formed through important historical stations, drawing on internal and external experiences. Therefore, this paper seeks to raise a major question related to the way in which the state manifested itself in the Islamic political mind, and its relationship to its basic reference represented by Islam, and the extent of its compatibility with human experiences, whether those that preceded it or contemporaneous it.

Between Political Arena and the Mosque: Islamist Governance in Egypt and Tunisia after the 2011 Arab Uprisings

This article presents a comparative study of political Islam in Egypt and Tunisia after the 2011 Arab uprisings. The study offers a comparative analysis of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s (MB) and Tunisian Ennahda’s governance and practices in their respective countries. An insight on theoretical debates and ideological transformations across political Islam’s ideology is offered, while exploring the pathways towards political moderation. By comparatively investigating various sectors, such as politics, ideology, and social agendas, differentiated political Islam trajectories are uncovered and highlighted. Specifically, MB’s and Ennahda’s attainments, pitfalls, limitations, and the reasons behind their successes and failures, are presented. Furthermore, despite their “demise”, this article explores important strategies of survival, especially for the Egyptian MB.

Revitalizing faith: an inquiry into political Sufism and religious continuity in contemporary Kazakhstan.

The article embarks upon a study of political Sufism in contemporary Kazakhstan and patterns of religious continuity through an examination of Islamic manifestations that stretch back centuries, juxtaposed with the current state religious policy. It examines the role of the Muftiate's "official Islam" in shaping the life of religious communities, exploring the intricate interplay between religious identity, secularism, and public perception in the post-Soviet landscape. The author employed a multi-faceted research approach, integrating historical analysis, policy examination, and an ethnographic study of contemporary religious dynamics in the country. The historical analysis provides a foundation of the religious landscape, while policy analysis examines the state's contemporary role in shaping religious practices. Ethnography, focusing on groups such as the Jahriyya, Naqshbandiyya, and the Suhba, involves respondents from diverse regions of Kazakhstan, offering firsthand insights into the experiences and perceptions of Sufi communities at the grassroots level, which enriches the study with a contextual perspective. Notably, fieldwork surveys, where the author engaged with respondents, provide valuable insights into the diverse experiences shaping the dynamics of political Sufism and religious continuity. They involved a diverse group of respondents, including religious leaders, community members, and secular intellectuals, from multiple regions of Kazakhstan at both urban and rural levels. The article is of scientific and practical significance as it enhances understanding of religious dynamics in the country, offering policymakers, scholars, and practitioners valuable perspectives for informed decision-making and policy development. The research's limitations include its focus on specific Sufi groups within Kazakhstan, which may not represent the full spectrum of Islamic practices across the region. The recommendations emphasize the need for further analysis of how prioritizing doctrinal adherence over individual freedoms contributes to the erosion of authentic religious institutions and the politicization of Islam. It also recommends to investigate the roles of Sufi groups in filling spiritual and social vacuums, their potential for politicization, and how this interplay affects religious freedom and national identity in Kazakhstan. This is particularly significant given the state's efforts to appropriate Islamic traditions for ideological purposes, which has led to a separation between Islamic doctrine and its lived expressions. Finally, it emphasizes the need for further comparative research on Sufi movements across Central Asia to better understand how different state policies impact religious communities.

Indian Muslims: (Self-)Perceptions and Voting Trends in 2024

There are two dominant explanations of contemporary Muslim voting behaviour. A section of public commentators reiterates an old argument that Muslims always participate in politics to defeat the BJP. This argument is not entirely incorrect. The BJP did not deviate from its Modi-centric Hindutva-driven campaign. The party relied heavily on an apparent anti-Muslim rhetoric to reach out to its core voters. The failure of the BJP to secure an absolute majority in Lok Sabha, in this sense, is also seen as an obvious outcome of this strategy. It is claimed that the BJP’s attempt to polarize voters on religious grounds encouraged Muslims to vote for non-BJP candidates throughout the country. The second explanation is more speculative. The INDIA alliance has so far tried to avoid any discussion on the overwhelming Muslim support they have received this time. The non-BJP parties, except a few, do not want to publicly acknowledge the fact that their success was almost impossible without active Muslim support. This kind of political reluctance is justified as a strategic silence. There is an assumption that the pro-Muslim gestures of these parties will make the Hindu voters unhappy. Findings of National Election Studies (NES) 2024 take us beyond these popular descriptions of Muslim voting. This survey introduces us to the complexities of contemporary Muslim politics and its electoral manifestations. This article tries to establish a link between Muslim self-perceptions as a religious minority in India and their political behaviour. We ask three basic questions: First, did Muslim communities vote more actively this time than Hindu communities? Second, did they vote as a homogeneous community or as a vote bank? And finally, did they vote basically to defeat BJP?

Peran Politik Islam Dalam Dinamika Pemerintahan Perspektif Dalam Negeri dan Luar Negeri

This study discusses the role of Islamic politics in government dynamics, with a focus on domestic and foreign perspectives. Islamic politics is a key factor influencing political policies and processes in many countries with a majority Muslim population. The aim of this research is to analyze how political Islam plays an important role in shaping government systems and public policies, both domestically and at the international level. This research uses a qualitative approach by combining literature analysis and case studies from several countries that represent differences within the country and abroad. The analysis was carried out by considering aspects such as Islamic political participation, the influence of Islamic politics on policy changes, and the impact of Islamic politics in international relations. The research results show that Islamic politics has a significant role in the dynamics of government in the country. Islamic political participation, through Islamic-based political parties or social movements, can influence the policy-making process and change the political orientation of the country. Factors such as religious identity, social justice, and the aspirations of Muslims often form the basis of Islamic politics in taking positions in government. At the international level, political Islam also plays an important role. Countries with a majority Muslim population often use Islamic politics as a tool to maintain their sovereignty and fight for their interests in the international arena. This can be seen in relations between Muslim countries and Western countries and in issues such as Palestine and the role of Islam in global affairs.

Technology and Progress in Islamicate Political Thought

Abstract This study compares how technology is theorised in an early sixteenth-century description of China, ʿAlī Akbar Khaṭāyī’s Khaṭāy-nāmeh (‘Book of China’), and two major works of late medieval Islamic political theory, Ibn Khaldūn’s (d. 1406) Muqaddimah and Jalāl al-Dīn Davānī’s (d. 1502) Akhlāq-i Jalālī (‘Jalālian Ethics’). Concepts of artifice and distinctions between the natural and artificial, as well as the social division of labour, are critical to all three authors’ views of political authority and statecraft. Khaṭāyī and Ibn Khaldūn express diametrically opposed views within a common theoretical framework concerning the effects of artificial law and technical training on social relations, a difference in attitude likely due in part to the great importance Khaṭāyī attributed to Chinese firearms.

The Declining Role of Islamic Politics and The Jokowi’s Factors in the 2024 Presidential Election: A Study of Contemporary Political Policies and Dynamics in Indonesia

Research Problem: This abstract discusses the complex challenges faced by Islamic parties in the 2024 presidential election related to Jokowi's role as president. This report focuses on the dynamics of constellation formation between candidates competing in the 2024 presidential election. Research purposes: The main aim of this abstract is to examine the complexity of the problems faced by Islamic parties in the 2024 presidential election. This report aims to explain why Islamic parties cannot unite, but instead try to defeat each other in the election, due to the existence of forces outside of them who are capable of determine political dynamics in a presidential system. Research methods: Methodologically, this abstract refers to a case study of the experience of Islamic parties in contesting the 2024 presidential election in Indonesia. This report uses a qualitative analysis approach to investigate the political dynamics of the 2024 presidential election which also involves the influence of President Jokowi. Results and Discussion: This abstract discusses the challenges faced by political parties in Indonesia, especially Islamic political parties, in the 2024 presidential election which will be held simultaneously with the legislative elections. President Jokowi's influence is important in popularizing political parties that support the presidential candidates he supports, so that it also influences the results of the legislative elections for each Islamic party. Research Implications and Contributions: This abstract provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced by Islamic parties, both those that already exist and those that are just emerging in the 2024 elections. This report invites further research and discussion regarding important external (influence of the President in power) and internal aspects of Islamic parties. (institutional power and their consolidation).

Resolution of Election Disputes for DPD Members Through Administrative Court Decisions Based on Law No. 7 of 2017 on General Elections (A Case Study of the DPD in West Sumatera Province)

This research aims to analyze the Jakarta Administrative Court Decision No. 600/G/SPPU/2023/PTUN.JKT related to the election dispute of DPD (Regional Representative Council) members in 2023, from the perspective of Law No. 7 of 2017 on General Elections and fiqh siyasah (Islamic political jurisprudence). The focus of the dispute is the alleged violations by the General Election Commission (KPU) in the process of establishing the permanent voter list and determining the election results. This study employs a normative approach with a case study to address how election disputes for DPD members are resolved through Administrative Court decisions. The analysis reveals that the Jakarta Administrative Court Decision has integrated principles of justice and transparency as outlined in fiqh siyasah, and complies with the legal provisions of Law No. 7 of 2017. However, the study also highlights some challenges in enforcing accountability and transparency by the election organizers. This decision has strategic implications for governance and strengthening democracy in Indonesia, particularly within the context of Islamic constitutional law.

Selling god: Al-Azhar, UAE and transnational transferability of religious capital

ABSTRACT The intersection between al-Azhar and global politics has been largely overlooked by scholars, creating a gap in the literature. This paper aims to fill this gap by exploring the relationship between al-Azhar and the dynamics of politics from a transnational lens, based on interviews with officials at al-Azhar Sheikhdom, Al-Azhar University, and Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism. The study examines how the UAE has been instrumentalizing al-Azhar’s ‘religious capital’ to advance its foreign policy efforts against political Islam and position itself as a major advocate of ‘peace’ in the region. The paper argues that the Emirati instrumentalization of al-Azhar’s ‘religious capital’ has taken various forms, including appointing Imam al-Tayyeb as the chairman of the UAE-based Muslim Council of Elders, sponsoring the establishment of the Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism and relying on Azharite Ulamā in its ‘peace-based’ initiatives, which have been at the forefront of Emirati foreign policy for over a decade. Moreover, the paper highlights the intricate reciprocity between al-Azhar and the UAE, manifested in substantial financial assistance and Grand Imam al-Tayyeb’s close rapport with the Emirati leadership, which has facilitated a partial reframing of the institutional relationship between al-Azhar and the Egyptian state.

Implikasi Politik Identitas dalam Pemilihan Gubernur Jawa Timur Tahun 2018 Perspektif Fiqh Siyasah

Discussing the issue of identity politics, in general, can be interpreted as an effort to use identity in political life based on group equality such as race, ethnicity, religion, culture, and the like, with the aim of influencing the standards of permanent voters. The main focus of this research discusses the implications of identity politics which refers to the influence of the NU Muslim religious organization in winning Khofifah-Emil as Governor of East Java in 2018 from a siyāsah fiqh perspective. More fully, the parameters of this test are based on the basic values ​​of siyāsah fiqh such as the principles of siyāsah syar'iyyah, democracy in Islamic politics, political tolerance in Islam, the ummah and the principles of government in the Medina Charter, with the research method used in the form of qualitative. The conclusion of this research confirms that the entire series carried out by NU Muslims in their participation in supporting candidate pair number one is not contrary to Islamic religious values. Because the activities and strategies carried out by Muslimat NU and Khofifah are actually in line with the basic values ​​of fiqh siyāsah, which espouse the values ​​of tolerance and democracy.

Palestine and the Ends of Theory

This article argues that over the past decade-and-a-half, amidst the resurgence of US/EU solidarity with Palestine, several anti-Zionist analyses have emerged that sidestep national liberation, regional politics, or imperialism. It connects that terrain to the rise of a new, and partially anti-systemic, political Islam that gained strength with the fall of the USSR and the contradictions arising within US-led imperialism. The article links this phenomenon to post-Cold War imperialist counterinsurgency and accumulation strategies, and the chasm separating EU-US anti-Zionism from the Palestinian national movement. It discusses political repression and the professionalization of Arab regional studies and ‘the Left,’ with pressures to create a Palestinian narrative speaking to an alleged mainstream and thus making Palestinian rights fit within a world-system and its geoculture that have no place for them. It analyzes those theories that helped forge an anti-Zionism hostile to Israel that ignores, mischaracterizes, or rejects the concrete forces resisting Israel and the US. The article calls for a more catholic theoretical practice that is open to the liberation agenda and its historical agents.

Indonesia 2023: Looming elections and domestic uncertainty, but increasing regional, international and economic importance

The elections of 2024 loom large over Indonesia in 2023, with serious implications for the future of Indonesian democracy. Domestically, there remain issues that affect the depth of its democracy including the roles of political Islam and the military, and corruption remains an issue. Indonesia continues to play a significant role regionally and internationally, although it retains ties to both the United States (and the West) and China – seemingly hedging its bets. Its economy has recovered from the shock of the COVID-19 slowdown and is growing rapidly.

Pemikiran Politik Islam dalam Moderasi Beragama

Religious moderation is one of the national priority programs. Religious moderation can be interpreted as an effort to moderate religious adherents, so that in understanding and practicing their religious teachings they are not trapped in two extreme poles of being too strict or too loose. This also concerns religious tolerance, which means respecting other people's beliefs and actions even though they are wrong in our view. And this is a new thing, namely the people as a civil society which in history has experienced creation and turned into resistance and activism. Various things happened in Islamic political thought, including the repositioning of NU and Muhammadiyah. The flow of Islamic politics in Indonesia has actually been structured around Pancasila which is the basis of the state administration system presented by the first vice president, namely Bung Hatta, containing five precepts or principles that are the foundation for the state and the entire Indonesian nation.

The Role of Students in Islamic Politics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Era of Modernisation

The Role of Students in Islamic Politics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Era of Modernisation

The Right of Reservation in International Treaties: From the Perspective of International Law and Islamic Political System

The Right of Reservation in International Treaties: From the Perspective of International Law and Islamic Political System

The Politics of Islam: The Muslim Brothers and the State in the Arab Gulf By BirolBaşkan. Edinburgh University Press, 2021. 256 pages. $27.95, paper.

The Politics of Islam: The Muslim Brothers and the State in the Arab Gulf By BirolBaşkan. Edinburgh University Press, 2021. 256 pages. $27.95, paper.

Islamist Government in Malaysia under PAS: Ideology, Policies, and Competition

ABSTRACT Dominant approaches to understanding Islamist politics tend to assume a uniform polity. Most notably, inclusion–moderation hypotheses presume Islamist parties are simply in or out: that the lure of office persuades radical Islamist groups to moderate their behaviour and ideologies to participate in elections. We suggest a different dynamic, in which an Islamist party adapts its mien and messaging to appeal simultaneously to heterogeneous audiences, without compromising its core positions. We find an exemplary case in Malaysia, where Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, PAS) contests both nationally and at the state level. At the federal level, PAS seeks support within a multi-ethnic, multi-religious polity, working in coalition with either secular, noncommunal parties, for whom an adamantly Islamist stance would be verboten, or Malay-ethnonationalist parties, for whom Islam is salient, but secondary. Meanwhile, PAS competes subnationally in its northeastern stronghold, where its confirmed Islamism confers strong advantage – but also in other states, with different approaches. Yet, across these stages, PAS sustains its underlying ideological consistency, especially on fraught social issues. We explore the extent to which electoral participation amid differing incentives reveals more a moderating effect on Islamist-party behaviour and ideology, or a capacity for strategic posturing.

The Dynamics of the Minimum Age Requirements for Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates in the 2024 General Elections in the Constitutional Court Decision Number 90 / PUU-XXI / 2023 Reviewed from Islamic Politics

The Dynamics of the Minimum Age Requirements for Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates in the 2024 General Elections in the Constitutional Court Decision Number 90 / PUU-XXI / 2023 Reviewed from Islamic Politics