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Political Islam in the Age of Democratization
The continued prominence of Islam in the struggle for democracy in the Muslim world has confounded Western democracy theorists who largely consider secularism a prerequisite for democratic transitions. Kamran Bokhari and Farid Senzai offer a comprehensive view of the complex nature of contemporary political Islam and its relationship to democracy.
- GenresMiddle East
275 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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June 6, 2026
Course reading on the relationship between political Islam and electoral politics. The book classifies Islamist movements into three broad categories: participatory (such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah, Iran’s Islamic Republic, Iraqi Shi'a parties, and Turkey’s AKP), conditional (Egyptian Salafis), and rejectionist (al-Qaeda and the Taliban). Because the framework focuses almost exclusively on participation in electoral procedures rather than broader questions of democracy, rights, or constitutional protections, the resulting typology can feel a bit werid. By this definition, participation in elections becomes the primary marker of democratic engagement, regardless of what political actors actually achieve about pluralism or individual rights.
The book’s central argument is a familiar but important one: Islam and democracy are not inherently incompatible. Islamist movements generally seek a meaningful role for religion in public life rather than a rejection of democracy. Yet, the book written in 2013 after the Arab Spring carries a senese of optimism which feels somewhat dated now. The authors place considerable faith in the idea that open and inclusive political institutions will moderate Islamist actors over time, but sometime it doesn't play out in the reality.
Structurally, the book reads more like an encyclopedia. Most chapters provide concise overviews of major Islamist organizations from the 1990s through the early 2010s, tracing their electoral participation and political evolution. The chapter on the Muslim Brotherhood offers a relatively comprehensive comparison across different national contexts. Beyond that, however, the book rarely moves beyond description to deliver deeper theoretical insights.
Useful as a reference work and a snapshot of pre-2013 debates about political Islam, but not a book that left a particularly strong impression on me.
The book’s central argument is a familiar but important one: Islam and democracy are not inherently incompatible. Islamist movements generally seek a meaningful role for religion in public life rather than a rejection of democracy. Yet, the book written in 2013 after the Arab Spring carries a senese of optimism which feels somewhat dated now. The authors place considerable faith in the idea that open and inclusive political institutions will moderate Islamist actors over time, but sometime it doesn't play out in the reality.
Structurally, the book reads more like an encyclopedia. Most chapters provide concise overviews of major Islamist organizations from the 1990s through the early 2010s, tracing their electoral participation and political evolution. The chapter on the Muslim Brotherhood offers a relatively comprehensive comparison across different national contexts. Beyond that, however, the book rarely moves beyond description to deliver deeper theoretical insights.
Useful as a reference work and a snapshot of pre-2013 debates about political Islam, but not a book that left a particularly strong impression on me.
Displaying 1 of 1 review