Institutional Origins of Islamist Political Mobilization

This book explores why Islam becomes politicized in some countries and not in others, comparing diverse cases including Turkey, Algeria, and Senegal.

This book is a comprehensive overview of why Islam becomes politicized in some places and not in others. It is designed for all students and scholars of political Islam, especially those focusing on the Middle East and Africa. It examines cases of protest, voting, and violence from 1970 to the present.Muslim countries experience wide variation in levels of Islamist political mobilization, including such political activities as protest, voting, and violence. Institutional Origins of Islamist Political Mobilization provides a theory of the institutional origins of Islamist politics, focusing on the development of religious common knowledge, religious entrepreneurship, and coordinating focal points as critical to the success of Islamist activism. Examining Islamist politics in more than 50 countries over four decades, the book illustrates that Islamist political activism varies a great deal, appearing in specific types of institutional contexts. Detailed case studies of Turkey, Algeria, and Senegal demonstrate how diverse contexts yield different types of Islamist politics across the Muslim world.