The Pise of ‘Politicized Islam’
The use of Islam as a basis for political solidarity and action in the modern era is a continuing phenomenon. Gone is the time when Muslims came together and rallied behind each other in their efforts to rid themselves and their lands from foreign domination and occupation. Today, other factors such as immigration rise of rebel groups and geopolitical events such as the Arab spring have taken the forefront in contributing to the successful political emergence of politicized Islam.
Immigration
The immigration of Muslims in western countries and Europe has been associated with religious fundamentalism since the beginning of the twenty-first century. Arguments claim that only a small percentage of immigrants are associated with fundamentalism. Studies show that 60% of foreign-born and native-born immigrant generations believe that Muslims should adopt their roots. In comparison, 75% hold the belief that only one interpretation of the Quran is acceptable.[1] Generally, fundamentalism is higher among Muslim immigrants with primary education (which is the highest number) compared to those who have attended university. Notably, the country of origin of the immigrant influences their fundamentalist beliefs. Muslims from Austria have a higher probability of having fundamentalist beliefs compared to those from German and Sweden.[2] These fundamentalist beliefs have led to the notion that Muslims are out to destroy America as the group does not support certain practices such as homosexuality. The Islamic fundamentalists reject other groups while believing that their religion is the absolute truth and is the righteous cause. The rise of Islamophobia after the 911 attack in 2001 led to the alienation of Muslims from the general society terming them as terrorists. Mainly, this further led to Muslim immigrants to unite and adopt fundamentalist attitudes. Islamophobia has increased in the past four years under President Trump’s rule, which is curbed with racist remarks and anti-immigrant activities, further increasing Muslim fundamentalism. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The Rise of Rebel Groups: The Rule Of Divide and Conquer
Rebel groups have persisted in the Middle East for decades with the groups creating terror in Christian countries such as the US secondary to the extremist beliefs that they hold. The group requires all Muslims to follow Sharia Laws, which were used in traditional Islam and uses violence to force Muslims to follow the law. These laws violate human rights and freedoms, leading to constant wars between the Middle East and the US. Some of the extremist beliefs include suppression of women’s rights, such as the right to education, which is advocated by the United Nations. The extremist groups have gained support over time from individuals that believe that the practice of Islam should occur similar to traditional practices. Some of the rebel groups have support.[3]
The emergence of Arab Springs
The Arab Spring occurred as a series of protests against governments.[4] The rebellions occurred in the Arab world at the beginning of the second millennium as a response to oppression and low living standards. The protests began in Tunisia and spread to other Arab countries. The revolutions were supported by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other global organizations that wanted to dissolve the Arab unity. The Arab Springs led to the formation of two groups; the statist Islamists and non-statist Islamists, with the latter prioritizing religious communities over national politics. The aftermath of the Arab uprisings led to changes in the national and international dynamics, consequently affecting the collaboration between statist and non-statist Islamists. In Tunisia, the changes were beneficial for the country, while Egypt was negatively affected.
The non-statist groups have taken over in the majority of Arab countries leading to successful political emergence of politicized, ‘fundamentalist’ Islam.[5] The groups are still used to maintain the geopolitics interests of the western countries as well as consolidate power.
The connection between Neoliberalism and the Rise in Popularity of the Muslim Brotherhood
The Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational organization whose members have formed political parties in several Arab countries to include the Hamas in West Bank and Gaza, Islamic Action Front in Jordan, and the former Freedom and Justice Party in Egypt.[6]The Brotherhood adopted a market-oriented vision that led to the development of the private sector, a liberalized economy, and more foreign investments.[7]Three principles governed the Brotherhood to include the movement’s pragmatism, its ‘devout’ bourgeoisie, and the appeal for international acceptance and recognition.[8]The Brotherhood conservative economics leaned towards protecting the interests of the elite has propelled its popularity as it advocates for free enterprises un-interfered by the state. These doctrines heavily borrow from neo-liberalism.
The group was initially formed to alleviate the poor conditions faced by the lower social classes. However, the group has merged power and capita while using the Laissez-faire model of leadership, which has seen its downfall. The group advocates for equitable distribution of production than the need for physical restrain.
The Brotherhood can be viewed as a neoliberal orientation that focused on identity, religious discourse, and internal discipline, which focused on cultural and religious aspects. The group aimed at promoting social justice and critiqued wealth gaps. Also, the group also undertook activities of social charity network.
Bibliography
Al-Anani, Khalil. “Devout Neoliberalism?! Explaining Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood’s Socio-Economic Perspective and Policies”. Politics and Religion, 2020, 1-20. doi:10.1017/s1755048320000085.
Gleditsch, Nils Petter, and Ida Rudolfsen. “Are Muslim Countries More Prone To Violence?”. Research & Politics 3, no. 2 (2016): 205316801664639. doi:10.1177/2053168016646392.
Green, Todd. Islam, Immigration, and Identity, 2014, 5-10.
Laub, Zachary. “Egypt’S Muslim Brotherhood.” Council on Foreign Relations, 2019. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/egypts-muslim-brotherhood.
Volpi, Frédéric, and Ewan Stein. “Islamism And The State After The Arab Uprisings: Between People Power and State Power.” Democratization 22, no. 2 (2015): 276-293. doi:10.1080/13510347.2015.1010811.
[1] Todd Green, Islam, Immigration, and Identity, 2014, 5.
[2] Ibid., 6.
[3] Nils Petter Gleditsch and Ida Rudolfsen, “Are Muslim Countries More Prone To Violence?” Research & Politics 3, no. 2 (2016): 205316801664639, doi:10.1177/2053168016646392.
[4] Frédéric Volpi and Ewan Stein, “Islamism and the State after the Arab Uprisings: Between People Power and State Power,” Democratization 22, no. 2 (2015): 276-293, doi:10.1080/13510347.2015.1010811.
[5] Ibid.
[6]Zachary Laub, “Egypt’S Muslim Brotherhood,” Council on Foreign Relations, 2019, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/egypts-muslim-brotherhood.
[7]Khalil al-Anani, “Devout Neoliberalism?! Explaining Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood’s Socio-Economic Perspective And Policies”, Politics And Religion, 2020, 1-20, doi:10.1017/s1755048320000085.
[8] Ibid., 17.