Who Fears the Rise of Political Islam the Most?
Who Fears the Rise of Political Islam the Most?
Introduction
Every time I read international news, I sense that “political Islam” is a sensitive phrase not just for Western countries, but also for some Muslim leaders themselves. For me, it’s natural for many to feel uneasy. Because political Islam is not just a religious slogan; it carries narratives of power, legitimacy, and the potential to change the course of history. (Esposito, Islam and Politics, 2011)
Political Islam: Nothing New
Honestly, Islam has always been closely tied to politics. Prophet Muhammad wasn’t only a messenger of revelation but also a community builder, treaty maker, and military leader. This is unlike other faiths in the West, where church and state are rigidly separated. (Armstrong, Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet, 1992)
After the Prophet’s passing, the Caliphs led the community with religious and political authority. This was the root of the Caliphate concept today one of the most feared words on Western TV screens. (Lewis, What Went Wrong?, 2002)
Why Does the West Worry?
In my opinion, Western suspicion of a political Islam revival is geopolitically logical. Since the 19th century, European and later American dominance over the Middle East has not just been about oil, but ideological influence too. (Said, Covering Islam, 1981)
Imagine if political Islam rose as a strong, unified, independent force, free from Western economic-political hegemony. Oil routes could be renegotiated, foreign military bases questioned. No wonder Western foreign policy stays ‘alert’ to political Islam’s narrative. (Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations, 1996)
Who Inside Islam Is Also Wary?
Interestingly, it’s not just the West that stays wary. Some Middle Eastern elites fear political Islam too. For them, it often threatens the status quo. (Roy, The Failure of Political Islam, 1994)
Take the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Since the early 20th century, it has attracted Muslims who want Sharia to guide the state. But successive modern Egyptian governments, from Nasser to Sisi, repeatedly crushed them. (Wright, Sacred Rage, 2001)
As a writer, I won’t justify any group. I just see that the idea of political Islam keeps rulers busy securing their legitimacy.
Why Does Political Islam Scare People?
For me, the answer is simple: political Islam doesn’t just dictate laws; it revives a collective identity. It can awaken the sense of ‘we are one Ummah’. On one hand, this strengthens solidarity. On the other, it can threaten modern nation-states built on narrow nationalism. (Esposito & Voll, Islam and Democracy, 1996)
Look at the Arab Spring. When protests exploded in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya the idea of political Islam resurfaced. Some cheered, some panicked. The result? Some governments fell, some conflicts deepened. (Anderson, The Arab Uprisings, 2011)
Political Islam and Democracy
Is political Islam anti-democracy? Personally, I don’t think so. Turkey under Erdogan was initially praised as a model for moderate political Islam within democracy. The AKP blended Islamic rhetoric with modern elections. But over time, critics said authoritarianism lurked. (Kinzer, Crescent and Star, 2001)
In short, political Islam, like any ideology, can be democratic or authoritarian
depending on how elites manage power. So labeling it inherently radical is a dangerous oversimplification.
Do Muslims Really Want It?
The key question: do Muslims today really desire political Islam? Pew Research Center’s 2013 survey shows majorities in some Muslim countries want religion in government. Yet at the same time, they want civil freedoms too. (Pew Research Center, The World’s Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society, 2013)
This is where political Islam’s modern challenge lies: balancing Sharia, democracy, and human rights. Not easy. And this is often exploited by political Islam’s enemies, inside and out.
Who Fears It Most?
If I must answer this article’s title, then in my view, those who fear political Islam the most are:
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Western states, worried about a drastic shift in global power.
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Authoritarian elites, because political Islam often questions their legitimacy.
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Extremist groups, because a moderate political Islam could kill their narrative.
Ironically, these three sometimes benefit from each other. The West props up ‘secular’ dictators for stability; dictators need ‘anti-terror’ rhetoric to gain support; extremists thrive in oppressive spaces. (Roy, Globalized Islam, 2004)
What I Believe
As a neutral Muslim, I believe political Islam shouldn’t just be a symbol. If it wants to live, it must be rational, offer fresh ideas, and be able to dialogue with democracy and pluralism. If not, it will remain an empty slogan for politicians. (Ramadan, Radical Reform, 2009)
For me, the rise of political Islam must walk hand-in-hand with modernity and social justice. Otherwise, the world will keep seeing it as a threat, not a solution.
Closing
Political Islam will remain a hot topic this century. It frightens some and inspires others. As a Muslim, I don’t want its rise to become an elite’s marketing tool, let alone a label to silence dissent.
What matters most: we must be wise. Let’s not allow ‘fear’ to be an excuse to bury big ideas about justice and Muslim unity.
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