Dear reader,
Political Islam has been a dominant force in West Asian politics for over four decades. Its influence, extending across and beyond the Middle East, became evident in the late 1960s, shifting regional power dynamics in favour of Islamic monarchies led by Saudi Arabia. The state-sponsored global jehad in Afghanistan, organised by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan during the Cold War, had significant unintended consequences, laying the foundation for transnational jehad, and shaping the region’s politics for the next 40 years.
However, in recent times, political Islam, represented by diverse expressions such as the Wahhabi state order in Saudi Arabia, the Muslim Brotherhood, and jehad, has faced challenges, leading to its decline. Many say political Islam is now a spent force. Some even go so far as to declare it dead and gone, or believe it is in a decline from which it is unlikely to recover.
If you are a student of world history, a consumer of global news, or someone with business interests in West Asia, you must be curious about the future of political Islam. Are we seeing the beginning of a shift towards a post-Islamist order in West Asia? If so, how will it impact politics, religion, and trade, considering the significant power that political Islam has exerted in the region’s polity?
In this deeply researched essay, Talmiz Ahmad, scholar and former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, explores these questions, examining the decline of political Islam, the changes happening in Saudi’s Wahhabism, the transformations in jehad, and the setbacks that the Muslim Brotherhood has faced in Egypt, Tunisia, and Sudan. Read and mail us, telling us what you think.
Wishing you an exciting week ahead,
Team Frontline
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