Transnational Political Islam Religion, Ideology, and Power by Azza Karam, ed. (London: Pluto Books, 2004. 157 pages.)

Abstract

Amid the escalating conflicts and polarizations separating “Muslim” from
“Westerner,” the book under review is a helpful contribution to the academic
and policy literature. Prominent anti-immigrant right-wing movements,
such as those led by Pim Fortyn (the Netherlands) and Jean-Marie Le Pen
(France), have seen their perspectives enter and influence mainstream politics.
Recently, Dutch movie director Theo van Gogh was murdered by a
Muslim on the grounds that he had demeaned Islam. Demonstrations against
the brutal murder and attacks on Muslim institutions followed. The alreadyoverheated
climate of antagonism has risen by several degrees. These developments
are echoed in other clashes in Europe revolving around identity
politics, such as the hijab issue in France.
Western states are coping with the dual demands posed by integration
and police work: seeking to integrate Muslims into European and American
societies while simultaneously pursuing terrorist cells and networks. Azza
Karam’s edited volume considers such questions as the relationship
between political Islam and violence, distinguishing extremism from moderate
Islam (often presumed to be “mainstream” Islam), and how Muslims
in the West relate to these. Karam’s volume includes articles covering
France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands (all described as non-English
speaking countries with less English scholarly literature on these topics) ...