Revolt and revolution: the place of Islamism

Abstract

The outbreak of revolt and revolution in the Middle East has given rise to a re-consideration of threat and security analyses as they pertain to the region and beyond. The resilience of some authoritarian regimes and the rapid collapse of others signal a significant transition within the region to which jihadi Islamist groups form one part of a powerful matrix. This article analyses the part and place of jihadi Islamism and Islamisms ¹ more generally in the revolts and revolutions. The article contends that events provide both opportunities and threats in strategies aimed at countering terrorism in the Middle East.

Keywords:

• democracy
• Islamism
• revolt
• revolution
• terrorism

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Rema Hammami and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Notes

1. Islamism is defined here as a political discourse that reflects Islamic reference to the faith system. It can relate to both state and non-state actors. Jihadi Islamism reflects a discourse that is political and seen to advocate forms of violence in pursuit of certain goals.

2. Jahilliyah refers to state of ignorance of guidance from God – when a society is not governed by Islam and its law.