The Islamist Dilemma: The Political Role of Islamist Movements in the Contemporary Arab World.

• Author: Salloukh, Bassel F.

Reviewed by Bassel F. Salloukh

The contributions collected in this book examine the role played by Arab Islamist movements in domestic and international politics in the Middle East over the last decade. The first part of the book surveys the role of Islamist movements in the domestic political process, while the second looks at the impact of activism (Islamism) on regional and international relations. Definitionally, 'Islamism' does not connote a unitary phenomenon. Rather the term is used to indicate an ideology and to emphasize the conscious choice of Islamic doctrine as a guide in political action.

Laura Guazzone's searching opening chapter synthesizes the main contention of the book. Islamist movements, Guazzone cogently argues, are complex and multi-sided political actors, simultaneously interacting with, and reacting to, different domestic environments, political actors, and regime strategies, in addition to Western discourse and policies toward them. Their appeal is attributed to their ability to 'supply' two commodities on the 'political market' of Arab states: an organic and self-sufficient world view, and an oppositional platform against corrupt regimes. This being the case, Guazzone identifies two 'Islamist dilemmas': how to include Islamist movements advocating illiberal political views in liberalization processes while avoiding the equally objectionable alternatives of an authoritarian status-quo or an Islamist take-over? The second dilemma, of special concern to Western governments, involves reconciling the defense of short-term interests (e.g., the peace process, migratory flows toward Western Europe) with the long-term interest of a more democratic Middle East ruled by governments answerable to their citizens and capable of guaranteeing regional stability. The resolution of these dilemmas involves a paradox: It requires the integration of illiberal Islamist movements in a pluralistic political process which Guazzone hopes will help in the emergence of an alternative to Islamism, and will offer incentives for a liberal political and cultural evolution of these movements.

Most of these ideas are dealt with in greater detail in following chapters. Gudrun Kramer seeks to clarify the conditions under which pragmatic Islamism can be included in the liberalization and democratization process. She concludes that a successful accommodationist strategy requires preventing Islamists from monopolizing intellectual debate and political...