Islamist transformations : From utopian vision to dystopian reality

Book chapter


Ghobadzadeh, Naser. (2019). Islamist transformations : From utopian vision to dystopian reality. In In Merkel, Wolfgang, Kollmorgen, Raj and Wagener, Hans-Jürgen (Ed.). The handbook of political, social, and economic transformation pp. 321-333 Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198829911.001.0001
AuthorsGhobadzadeh, Naser
EditorsMerkel, Wolfgang, Kollmorgen, Raj and Wagener, Hans-Jürgen
Abstract

The range of inhumane acts of violence committed by contemporary militant Islamists are far more depraved than those perpetrated by earlier Islamists. This has led to pessimism about the current surge in Islamic extremism and fear of future developments. This chapter seeks to determine if there is any latent ground for optimism beneath the surface of what appears to be a trend towards increasing violence. Scrutinizing the theological and practical transformations of militant Islamists, the chapter suggests that there is a direct correlation between the theological evolution of militant Islamist thought, shifts in the extent of their use of violence, and the ability of militants to mobilize mainstream Muslims. This chapter shows that the radical strand of Islamism has now shrunk to a dwindling minority for whom destruction is their raison d’être. It also explores how the focus of radical Islamism has shifted away from utopianism to visions of apocalyptic dystopia.

KeywordsIslamists; theological transformation; jihad; sectarianism; political Islam; Islamic State; apocalyptic; utopianism
Page range321-333
Year2019
Book titleThe handbook of political, social, and economic transformation
PublisherOxford University Press
Place of publicationNew York
ISBN9780198829911
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198829911.001.0001
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Output statusPublished
Publication dates
OnlineMar 2019
Publication process dates
Deposited16 Nov 2021
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