Islam and Politics

This book is an accessible and comprehensive account of political Islam in the twenty-first century. Drawing on insights from comparative politics and Islamic studies, it explains the complex interaction between Islam, society, the state, and processes of globalization. The book demonstrates that political Islam, far from being a monolithic phenomenon, varies considerably from country to country depending on its position in relation to society, the state, and the broader political environment. The book provides a portrait of Islam and politics through a combination of detailed case studies and country overviews that span the globe from the Middle East to Central and South Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe and North America―as well as a detailed account of the global jihadist movement. Engaging the debate on "post-Islamism" and the aftermath of Arab Uprisings, the book also provides a roadmap of possible futures for Islam and politics. Subjects covered include:

• history of Islam and politics and an overview of key concepts

• how political Islam interacts with the nation-state and the global economy

• a wide variety of global case studies

• profiles of key movements and individuals

Fully illustrated throughout, featuring maps, a glossary and suggestions for further reading, this is the ideal introduction to the crucial role of political Islam in the contemporary world.

Peter Mandaville is Professor of Government and Politics and Director of the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University, USA. He is the author of Transnational Muslim Politics: Re-imagining the Umma and has also co-edited several volumes of essays. Research interests include the impact of globalization in the Muslim world, global political development, and post-Western international relations.