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Why we need a new understanding of "Islamism"

As Islamic political parties take power in the Middle East, outdated and static perceptions are unhelpful.

By Samira Shackle Published 13 January 2012 14:18

Following the Muslim Brotherhood's victory in Egypt's election, William Hague has said that Britain must engage with elected Islamic governments in the Middle East.

This is a marked contrast to David Cameron's visit to Egypt last year, when he refused to meet with Islamic politicians, saying they were "extreme" (I note that he has shown no such qualms on his state visit to Saudi Arabia today).

The Foreign Office denies a difference in tone, saying that it is still correct to view the Muslim Brotherhood as an extreme organisation. However, writing in the Times (£), Hague says:

It is true that parties drawing their inspiration from Islam have done better at the polls than secular parties and there are legitimate concerns about what this will mean.

...

Either way, we must respect these choices while upholding our own principles of human rights and freedom and urging the highest standards.

Hague is absolutely right to say that Britain shouldn't unilaterally refuse to engage with a democratically elected government because it doesn't like its principles. But it is interesting that such an article is necessary (shouldn't it be a given that we respect the choices of other countries' free elections?).

Many, many people throw around the term "Islamism" (which, crudely, refers to the notion that Islam is an ideology as well as a religion) without very much understanding of what it actually means. Too often, it is part of a dichotomous "them vs. us" mindset, which explains why Hague's starting point is that we should automatically suspect an Islamic government.

Like so much commentary on Islam, this completely deletes nuance. When you consider that Islam is practised worldwide by a billion people, it is bizarre to assume that the religion -- or its political manifestation -- is monolithic. On the most basic level, people tend to be surprised when I say that one side of my family is Muslim but not particularly devout. We are so frequently bombarded with images of extremism or burka-clad women that many find it difficult to conceive of someone who identifies with the religion while living a largely secular life, for example. Think of the many different types of Christians -- from Jehovah's Witnesses to those who have been christened but not set foot in a church since -- and you have an accurate point of comparison.

By the same token, political Islam can take the poisonous, corrosive form that we have seen in al-Qaeda, but this is not the be all and end all (I hope I do not need to reiterate here that the vast majority of Muslims abhor these practices). Likewise, Islam in governance can certainly be regressive, as in Saudi Arabia, which bans women from driving (NB. Where are the government's "legitimate concerns" about this?). But this is certainly not the only form it takes worldwide. Moreover, a simplified understanding of terminology engenders a static understanding of the phenomenon, and ignores the fact that like any other ideology, Islamism is capable of evolution.

It is entirely possible (though of course far too early to say) that this is what we will see in Egypt. As the last 84 years have proven, the Brotherhood is nothing if not adaptable. The Economist reports:

It says fixing Egypt's ailing economy should take priority over promoting Islamic mores. The Brotherhood would probably prefer a centrist alliance that would not frighten foreign powers or alienate Egypt's army, which remains an arbiter of last resort.

...

Whatever the outcome, Egypt looks set to join a broader regional trend that has seen a more pragmatic, tolerant form of Islamism rise to dominate the political scene, by way of the ballot box rather than the gun barrel.

Quite apart from the specifics of what is happening in Egypt today (which I will not explore in detail here), the west's relationship with Islamism is a long and complex one. It has defined the post-communism generation, and the way it develops could define the next. Hague writes that:

[Islamist parties'] success is partly a legacy of the refusal of governments to allow the development of meaningful opposition parties in the past. It may also be part of a tendency to vote for groups believed to have done the most to oppose dictatorship and corruption and to offer basic welfare.

To a great extent, this analysis is probably correct, although it ignores the fact that Islamism as a political movement is largely a reaction to the west. It is no coincidence that the Brotherhood was born out of British-ruled Egypt. "Eject imperialism from your souls, and it will leave your lands," said founder Hassan al-Banna.

Continuing to take too simplified a view of the Islamic world (such as it exists) will do nothing but drive it even further away from the west.

As Edward Said wrote in 1980:

So far as the United States seems to be concerned, it is only a slight overstatement to say that Muslims and Arabs are essentially seen as either oil suppliers or potential terrorists.

In the intervening 32 years, very little has changed. Now, with a new political reality in the Middle East, there is the opportunity for a more mature, nuanced understanding of the region, as a shifting entity, a real place with real ideas, rather than a statically fixed comic book villain. There is the opportunity, but is anyone truly optimistic it will happen?

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Tags: Muslim Brotherhood islamism Islam

More from Samira Shackle

31 comments

Mon, 2012-05-07 18:17 — WallaceNeville

What annoys me is the pretense that these movements are moderate when they are not - they tend to say one thing to Western interviewers and gullible left-wingers and quite another to their base. http://www.grantsforcollege101.com/

Sun, 2012-01-15 12:48 — jankaas (not verified)

"The treatment of women by Muslims is unpardonable."

i agree. just as women were deemed 2nd class citizens in the West until quite recently;

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/suffrage/a/intl_timeline.htm

it's high time Muslims insisted on equality between sexes, and a whole raft of other basic human rights.

"On this one trait alone they should be deported, or renounce some of the teachings in their Koran."

deported, no. financing and organising modern scholarly study and interpretation of the Koran to align it with the modern secular world, yes.

Sat, 2012-01-14 12:33 — jankaas (not verified)

"Jackass you are a foulmouthed Islamist."

foulmouthed, to those who start name calling, certainly. but by no acceptable stretch of the imagination am i an Islamist MiniWilly.

"Back in Islamabad you'd probably get stoned for uttering such profanities."

sounds like you think that is a fate i deserve. i do like it when petty hate merchants like you post such irony.

Fri, 2012-01-13 14:40 — Adam (not verified)

Well done Samira. Great article.

Fri, 2012-01-13 14:58 — MatthewBlott

I have no problem with dealing with Islamist governments - you have to deal with the world as it is, not how you would like it to be. What annoys me is the pretense that these movements are moderate when they are not - they tend to say one thing to Western interviewers and gullible left-wingers and quite another to their base.

Fri, 2012-01-13 15:16 — Julia Harris (not verified)

Adolf Hitler greets Neville Chamberlain upon the British Prime Minister's arrival in Munich. (September 29, 1938)

Fri, 2012-01-13 15:31 — Julia Harris (not verified)

"I hope I do not need to reiterate here that the vast majority of Muslims abhor these practices".

World Public Opinion:

Pew Research (2010):
84% of Egyptian Muslims support the death penalty for leaving Islam

86% of Jordanian Muslims support the death penalty for leaving Islam

30% of Indonesian Muslims support the death penalty for leaving Islam

76% of Pakistanis support death the penalty for leaving Islam

51% of Nigerian Muslims support the death penalty for leaving Islam

61% of Egyptians approve of attacks on Americans

83% of Palestinians approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (only 14% oppose)

62% of Jordanians approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (21% oppose)

Populus Poll (2006):
16% of British Muslims believe suicide attacks against Israelis are justified.

37% believe Jews in Britain are a "legitimate target".

al-Jazeera (2006): 49.9% of Muslims polled support Osama bin Laden

al-Arabiya: 36% of Arabs polled said the 9/11 attacks were morally justified; 38% disagreed; 26% Unsure

40% of Indonesians approve of violence in defense of Islam.

Terrorism Research Institute Study:
51% of mosques in the U.S. have texts on site rated as severely advocating violence; 30% have texts rated as moderately advocating violence; and 19% have no violent texts at all.

83% of Pakistanis support stoning adulterers

78% of Pakistanis support killing apostates

ICM Poll: 40% of British Muslims want Sharia in the UK

NOP Research:
68% of British Muslims support the arrest and prosecution of anyone who insults Islam;

World Public Opinion:
81% of Egyptians want strict Sharia imposed in every Islamic country

76% of Pakistanis want strict Sharia imposed in every Islamic country

49% (plurality) of Indonesians want strict Sharia imposed in every Islamic country

76% of Moroccans want strict Sharia imposed in every Islamic country
77% of Egyptian Muslims favor floggings and amputation
58% of Jordanian Muslims favor floggings and amputation
36% of Indonesian Muslims favor floggings and amputation
82% of Pakistanis favor floggings and amputation
65% of Nigerian Muslims favor floggings and amputation

Pew Research (2010):
82% of Egyptian Muslims favor stoning adulterers
70% of Jordanian Muslims favor stoning adulterers
42% of Indonesian Muslims favor stoning adulterers
82% of Pakistanis favor stoning adulterers
56% of Nigerian Muslims favor stoning adulterers

Turkish Ministry of Education: 1 in 4 Turks Support Honor Killings

Civitas: 1 in 3 Muslims in the UK strongly agree that a wife should be forced to obey her husband's bidding

BBC Poll: 1 in 10 British Muslims support killing a family member over "dishonor".

Middle East Quarterly: 91 percent of honor killings are committed by Muslims worldwide.

Policy Exchange: 61% of British Muslims want homosexuality punished

NOP Research: 62% of British Muslims do not believe in the protection of free speech;
Only 3% adopt a "consistently pro-freedom of speech line"

Fri, 2012-01-13 16:55 — Chir0n

@Julia Harris. And apparently, as our media has been telling us for the past decade or more, at least 51% of Brits want the return of capital punishment. The truth, however, is quite different as the floundering e-petitions in favour of brining back capital punishment have shown.

Fri, 2012-01-13 18:14 — Capitalist and Proud (not verified)

The stench of hypocrisy can be smelt on mars.

Just shows you the left have no values, principles and morals. All they are is anti-west. They are so pathetic there a joke. The more they embrace Islam the faster they are losing the working class.

Fri, 2012-01-13 19:00 — MatthewBlott

@ Chir0n

The fact that people can't be arsed to fill out an e-petition does not invalidate the polling data for capital punishment. There has always been a high support for the death penalty (although in Western Europe it has decreased significantly, including Britain).

However, I'm a bit confused about the point you are trying to make - are you saying we are not as bloodthirsty as we appear so therefore the high support for terrorism, stoning, hand-chopping found in Muslim polling data is suspect? Or are you saying we are pretty bloodthirsty so we can't condemn the views of Muslims? It's not clear which you mean but both points are incorrect.

Sat, 2012-01-14 22:49 — Buckskins (not verified)

The treatment of women by Muslims is unpardonable. On this one trait alone they should be deported, or renounce some of the teachings in their Koran.

Yes their are Muslims that do not adhere to this disgusting behavior, some of whom we have fighting under the Stars & Stripes as we speak.

There is no place in a predominantly Christian/Jewish country for those that advocate Sharia Law, or adhere to the portions of the Koran that violate the laws of the country they are residing in.

Fri, 2012-01-13 22:57 — jankaas (not verified)

you know, sometimes you think to yourself; nah, not going to bother with yet another thread, on the same subject, so soon anyway. the last one is barely cooling down.

but you can't resist a little peak to see how it's 'getting on'. so, you scroll to where the thread 'is at', and you find yourself reading this;

"Islamism is not a religion. It's a terrorist organisation."

ffs, it's like Ground Hog Day...

Fri, 2012-01-13 23:15 — Psyfeesh (not verified)

Looks like the usual lot are out.

Jankass - Point well made.

As soon as there is a blog on Islam on the NS, the same old names pop up with their Blue Peter cut and paste knowledge of Islam.

The fact the whole faith is a myriad of interconnecting issues and sometimes complex issues seems to escape some people. Instead you get death penalty this, honour killing that, no church's in that country...etc.

Just weird. Was about to ask why such a hang up....but I think we get enough cut and paste answers in these pages anyway.

Sat, 2012-01-14 00:19 — MatthewBlott

@ Daniel

Good post!

Sat, 2012-01-14 01:13 — sven king (not verified)

Jackass, we didnt write the article so its fair people should comment. What would you have us do - ignore what Islam and Muslims think, feel and do for the sake of not wanting to rock the boat.

Lets get things straight, its not the fault of anyone here to discuss these issues. The Violence and Hatred in Islam needs to be openly discussed so it is properly understood. In this was we will know who our enemy is and know how to defeat it.

Clash of civilizations..., damn right - Progressiveness vs Backwardness

Sat, 2012-01-14 01:25 — sven king (not verified)

I would urge everyone interested in understanding Islam to read Robert Spencers blog www.jihadwatch.org

He is without doubt one of the best informed and knowledgeable people regarding the true nature of Islam.

Sat, 2012-01-14 01:26 — jankaas (not verified)

"Jackass"

you can't be bothered spell my name correctly, so fuck off already. i've told you as much before.