Islamist Movements and Islamic Fundamentalism in the Middle East

Islamist Movements and Islamic Fundamentalism

Because the term "fundamentalism" is Christian in origin, many scholars prefer to call Islamic fundamentalists "Islamists" and to speak of "Islamist movements."

Historical Attention and Perception

The subject of Islamic fundamentalism attracted a great deal of attention in the West after the Iranian Revolution of 1978–79 and especially after the September 11 attacks on the US in 2001 by al-Qaeda. These events contributed to the common misconception in the West that Islam and Islamic fundamentalism are connected; however, most Muslims are not ideologically committed to the idea of a state and society based on Islamic religious law.

Characteristics of Islamist Movements

The character of Islamist movements varies throughout the world. Some Islamists resort to terrorism, and some do not. Some espouse programs borrowing ideas from Marxism and socialism, while others are more conservative. Islamist movements have been politically significant in most Muslim countries, although the governments of Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing countries of the Persian Gulf region have represented themselves as conforming strictly to Islamic law.

• Variation: Some groups engage in armed struggle or terrorism; others pursue political participation or social services.
• Ideology: Programs can draw from diverse influences, including Marxism, socialism, and conservative religious thought.
• Political role: Islamist movements often play prominent roles in national politics across Muslim-majority states.

Resentment Toward the West

The Islamists' hostility toward the West is sometimes seen as symptomatic of the rejection of modernity attributed to all fundamentalist movements. Another important factor is the Islamists' resentment of Western political and economic domination of the Middle East. This is well illustrated by the writings of Osama bin Laden, the founder and leader of al-Qaeda, which repeatedly condemn the US, the Saudi regime, and most other governments of the Middle East.

Revivalist and Reformist Currents

Revivalist movements calling for a return to the pristine Islam of the Prophet Muhammad have occurred periodically throughout Islamic history. Muslim reformists stressed that a return to the "rationalist" Islam of Muhammad was essential.

The Case of Ḥamās

Among the Islamist movements is the Palestinian movement Ḥamās, founded in 1987. Its name means the "Islamic Resistance Movement," and it was created to resist what most Palestinians viewed as the occupation of their land by Israel. Ḥamās opposed the idea of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza and insisted on fighting a jihad to expel Israelis from all of Palestine. It justified its terrorist attacks on Israelis as legitimate acts of war against an occupying power. Like some other Islamist movements in the Middle East, Ḥamās provides basic social services that are not provided by the state.

Political Impact and 2006 Government

In January 2006, Ḥamās was asked to form a government, which led to speculation among political observers.