Islamist Terrorism and Democracy in the Middle East
Cambridge University Press, 6/23/2011
EAN 9780521683791, ISBN10: 0521683793
Paperback, 224 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm
Language: English
What were the reasons behind the terrorist attacks of September 11th? Does the cause of Islamist terrorism relate to the lack of democracy in the Middle East? Through detailed research into the activities of both radical and moderate organizations across the Middle East, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and Hizbullah, and via interviews with key personnel, Katerina Dalacoura investigates whether repression and political exclusion pushed Islamist entities to adopt terrorist tactics. She also explores whether inclusion in the political process has had the opposite effect of encouraging Islamist groups toward moderation and ideological pragmatism. In a challenge to the conventional wisdom, she concludes that Islamist terrorism is not a direct consequence of authoritarianism in the Middle East and that there are many key factors that generate radicalism.
Introduction
1. Terrorism, democracy, and Islamist terrorism
2. Transnational Islamist terrorism
Al-Qaeda
3. Islamist terrorism and national liberation
Hamas and Hizbullah
4. Islamist terrorism in domestic conflicts
the armed Islamic group in Algeria and the Gamaa Islamiya in Egypt
5. Moderation and Islamist movements in opposition
the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood/Islamic Action Front
the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and the Tunisian Nahda
6. Islamist moderation and the experience of government
Turkey's Welfare, Justice and Development Party
and the Islamic Republic of Iran.