The book, Islamic Activism: a social movement theory approach By Quintan Wiktoroqicz helps the readers in understanding various aspects of Islam and a number of changes that occurred in Islam and known as Islamic activism. The author has presented a balanced account of the Islam and other related issues. The author has divided Islamic activism in three parts in his book first according to him is violence and contention, second is culture and framing and third is network and alliances, page 15, 19, 22, 24, 25, 61. The way author has described several societies and discussed about their values and beliefs, it is clear that the author has done an intensive research on Islamic activism before writing the book.
The author has given a new dimension to the Islamic activism and Islamic social movements in this book, a new extensive definition of Islamic activism has been given as “the mobilization of contention to support Muslim causes” page 2. Peaceful Behavior and violent behavior of Islamic activists has been analyzed thoroughly, the author has focused the circumstances how Muslims are compelled or inclined towards the terrorist activities. The author talked about various needs of society and to address these needs by dividing society into six committees, page 173. The author also described women participation in Islamic activities and involvement in SMO and da”wa activities. Page 165, 177, 180. This is a well acclaimed book by the author and to know the intertwined Islamic social structure, social movements and Islamic activists, one should read this book without any preoccupied mind.
Michaelle L, Browers in his book “Political Ideology in the Arab World” has broadly elaborated the two ideologies Arab nationalism and Islamism. Author says that Arabs are the leaders of Islam and all other Islamic countries and people who have faith in Islam look towards Arabs and follow them. The author refers Hasan al-Banna, a man who propounded the theory of muslim brotherhood. In his words “Islam arose among Arabs and reached other nations through the Arabs. The Its noble book is available in Arabic. It is found in the traditions that ‘when Arabs are denigrated, Islam is denigrated; Arabs are the guardians of Islam”. Page 1,
The author has successfully described in the book about the contemporary changes and several movements going on inside the region. Page 25,36The Arabs have affected the Islamic social movements and they have always been in the role of leader but later on their role was confined and Islamic activists were involved in several activities.page 59,80 They started blaming Arab policies for their backwardness and called these policies weak and outdated. Gradually these Islamic activists were involved in a number of destructive tasks and started retaliating to the policies of Israel and other forces who tried to suppress their views.
Later on these Islamists sects caused several changes in the society, intolerance and radicalism were promoted among youths and the concept of Arab nationalism was completely turned into a new Islamic radicalism. Page 10,82Other sects from the society also arose like nationalists and liberals who presented their different views for social movements and social changes. Page 7,10Socialism and communism were also eager to lodge their appearance in the phase of this turmoil. All these circumstances led the society towards a condition which ended with the interference of external forces in the region Page 10,77,78. America’s policy in Iraq and later on in Middle East was result of such entanglement situation in the region.
Both books are covering all the major aspects of Islam principles. Authors presented how social changes happened in society over the years. How major reforms took places in Islamic countries. Author Wiktorowicz works provide all minor details about social belief, status of major and minor communities in the society and values of islam. Author Brower work focus on Arab and Islamic ideology.
Works Cited
Browers, Michaelle L. Political Ideology in the Arab World: Accommodation and Transformation . New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Wiktorowicz, Quintan. Islamic Activism: A Social Movement Theory Approach. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2004.
