Islamist Parties and Political Normalization in the Muslim World

Islamist Parties and Political Normalization in the Muslim World examines the impact of these parties on the political process in the Middle East and Asia, articulating a theoretical framework to understand their strategic behavior.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2023
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

Since 2000, over twenty countries worldwide have witnessed elections where parties advocating an Islamic worldview have vied for legislative seats. Islamist Parties and Political Normalization in the Muslim World delves into the profound impact these parties have exerted on the political landscape in two regions with substantial Muslim populations: the Middle East and Asia. Contributors to this insightful book examine key cases of Islamist party evolution and participation in democratic and semidemocratic systems across Turkey, Morocco, Yemen, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. Collectively, they develop a theoretical framework to comprehend the strategic behavior of Islamist parties, encompassing their distinct characteristics, relationships with other political parties, potential influences from broader Islamist movements, and the effects of electoral system participation on the behavior and ideology of Islamist parties over time.

Through this comprehensive framework, the contributors discern a prevailing trend in Islamist politics. While Islamist parties encompass diverse interests and behaviors influenced by their specific domestic contexts, their participation in repeated elections often leads them to align with the political norms of the regimes they compete against. While a few parties have deliberately chosen to remain on the periphery of their political system, the majority have realized significant political gains by adapting their messages and behavior to appeal to centrist voters. As the reverberations of the Arab Spring continue to resonate, Islamist Parties and Political Normalization in the Muslim World sheds valuable light on the evolving dynamics of Islamist parties and their role in shaping the political landscape in the Muslim world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781512825466