Political Islam

Egypt

Population: 70.7 million

Religion

Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%

British Colonialism, 1882-1922

Ottoman Province 1517-1882

Muhammad Ali r. 1805-44

Modernization program

Suez Canal, 1869

British “Protectorate” 1882-1922

Egyptian King

British Consul-general

"Independence," 1922-52

Constitutional monarchy

King Fuad, r. 1922-36

King Farouk, r. 1936-52

Socioeconomic Inequity

No true democracy

Traditional social elite retain control

6% of population own 63% of agricultural land

Muslim Brotherhood

Founded in Egypt, 1929

Hasan al-Banna (1906-49)

Egyptian Nationalist Revolution, 1952

*Gamal 'Abd al-Nasir (1918-70)

Alliance with Soviet Union

*Anwar Sadat, r. 1970-81

Peace treaty with Israel, 1979

Alliance with the U.S.

Assassination, 1981

*Hosni Mubarak, r. 1981-present

Iran

*Shah of Iran (Muhammad Reza Pahlavi), r. 1941-51, 1953-78

Nationalist revolution, 1951-53

CIA reinstalls Shah, 1953

Shah's unpopularity

Socioeconomic inequality
Political repression
U.S. alliance

Islamic Revolution

*Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, 1902-89

Shi'ite

"Islamic democracy"

Islamic Political Movements

Reformist

*Muslim Brotherhood

Religious nationalists

*Hamas, "Islamic Resistance Movement"

1st Intifada, 1988

3 Branches

Social services

Political

Military

Suicide bombings, 1994-2005

Palestinian election winner, 2006

Extremists

*al-Qaida

Osama bin Laden

"War on Terror"

Study Questions-Lecture

1. Why has Islam become politicized in Arab countries while most Arab governments remain secular and authoritarian?

2. Why has terrorism become an increasingly popular means of expressing political dissatisfaction?

Study Questions-Reading

Hansen 942-4, 963-71

1. How are "increased mobility and accelerated connections with the larger world" encouraging "multiple, overlapping identities"? Do you think that Americans can accept the concept of being a "global citizen"?

Web: Riverbend 7/1/05

1. What are Riverbend's opinions of President George W. Bush's speech and the American people in 2005? Do you think that she is being fair?

The Human Record, "Declaration of Jihad," pp. 517-22

1. Why does Osama bin Laden consider the governments of Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United States to be enemies of Islam?