Commentary
Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid
REQUIRED IMAGE
Paper
The Other Face of the Islamist Movement
Since September 11, discussions of political Islam have been distorted by the tendency to identify political Islam with Osama bin Laden, his associates, and organizations involved in violent actions in places such as Chechnya, Kashmir, Algeria, and Egypt. In reality, such violent, militant groups constitute only a small minority among political Islamists.
Published on Jan 7, 2003
Summary
Since September 11, discussions of political Islam have been distorted by the tendency to identify political Islam with Osama bin Laden, his associates, and organizations involved in violent actions in places such as Chechnya, Kashmir, Algeria, and Egypt. In reality, such violent, militant groups constitute only a small minority among political Islamists. Another, non-violent face of Islamism exists and is often ignored in current debates. In this working paper, Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid describes Islamism and examines how the international community should deal with the movement's non-violent majority.
About the Author
Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid is professor of political science and director of the Center for Developing Countries Studies at Cairo University in Egypt. In July and August of 2002, he was a visiting fellow at the Carnegie Endowment with the Democracy and Rule of Law Project.
A limited number of print copies are available.
Request a copy.
About the Author
Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid
Former Visiting Scholar
Mustapha Kamel Al Sayyid, visiting fellow, is professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Developing Countries at Cairo University, and he also teaches at the American University in Cairo. He previously taught at Harvard University and was a visiting scholar at the University of California Los Angeles. His areas of specialization include the politics of development, foreign aid, human rights, and civil society. A prolific writer in Arabic, English, and French, Mr. Al-Sayyid has published extensively on civil society, political change, and ideology.
- The Muslim Brothers and Political Reform in Egypt
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
- Bombing Campaigns Do Not Bring About Democracy. Nor Does Regime Change Without a Plan.Commentary
Just look at Iraq in 1991.
Marwan Muasher
- Axis of Resistance or Suicide?Commentary
As Iran defends its interests in the region and its regime’s survival, it may push Hezbollah into the abyss.
Michael Young
- Can the Gulf Cooperation Council Transcend Its Divisions?Article
Without structural reform, the organization, which is racked by internal rivalries, risks sliding into irrelevance.
Hesham Alghannam
- Iran and the New Geopolitical MomentCommentary
A coalition of states is seeking to avert a U.S. attack, and Israel is in the forefront of their mind.
Michael Young
- The Middle East’s Promising Gen ZCommentary
Fifteen years after the Arab uprisings, a new generation is mobilizing behind an inclusive growth model, and has the technical savvy to lead an economic transformation that works for all.
Jihad Azour
