Deadline: 15 January 2013
AJISS Special Issue on Islamist Spring? Islamists and the State: New Paradigms and Engagements
GUEST EDITORS
- DR. ABDELWAHAB EL-AFFENDI (University of Westminster)
- DR. ANAS AL-SHAIKH-ALI (IIIT, London)
- DR. NADER HASHEMI (University of Denver)
THE DEMISE OF “POLITICAL ISLAM” has been foretold many times before, and a “post-
Islamist” era has been said to have already arrived. The recent Arab Spring of “cluster
revolutions” was also seen to present a more decisive arrival of a new alternative paradigm
for both authoritarianism and Islamism. However, post-Arab Spring elections, from Rabat
to Kuwait, have swept Islamist parties to power. In many other Muslim countries, from
Malaysia and Indonesia to Turkey, Islamism is also a strong player on the political and social
fields. This raises a number of impor tant and urgent questions about the new rise of
Islamism. Are these the same old Islamist parties, or have they changed? Are they destined
to monopolize governance, or do they form an integral part of an emerging democratic
even a post-Islamist political order? How do the ascendant Islamist parties and groups
see the role of the state in their Islamizing projects? How do the competing and rival
Islamist groups relate to each other and to the wider political spectrum? Which visions
are more likely to dominate and flourish, and how stable will the emerging political order
be? A special issue dedicated to the theme of “Islamists and the State” will allow for a
timely reflection on the accomplishments and challenges of these times.
Research papers (from the various disciplines of the social sciences and humanities), which reflect on all aspects of the theme of Islamists and the state are welcomed.
Book reviews on relevant books are also welcomed.
Shorter reflection pieces of two thousand to three thousand words are also invited.
POSSIBLE TOPICS
• theoretical papers examining the impact of the Arab Spring on the for tunes of Islamist movements and the ramifications for wider Muslim politics
• case studies, qualitative interviews, and comparative studies of Islamist groups across the spectrum or across borders
• critical and in-depth examinations of the shifts in Islamist views and practices on the state and democracy and their methods of engagement with various social groups
• critical studies of variations in Islamist attitudes toward women and minorities
• critical studies of the impact of par ticular scholars or leaders on the Islamist scene
• studies of the role of new actors and leaders (women, youth, professionals, etc.) within the emerging Islamist movements and what impact it may be having
• critical examinations of the views of Islamists on regional and international issues, including attitudes toward the West and Israel
• critical engagement with current scholarship on Islamism and on Western official attitudes to Islamic movements
• critical studies of the post-Arab Spring state, the regional order, and the impact on various political forces, including Islamists
• critical explorations of the impact the new democratic atmosphere is having on the tendencies, visions, and programs within Islamism, and whether it is favoring radical or moderate groups
• critical studies of the fortune of radical or violent Islamist groups in the post-Arab Spring era
• in-depth explorations of the evolution of Islamist political thought, including comparative perspectives acrossmovements and regions
• critical assessment of intra-Islamist debate, in par ticular generational and ideological divisions on all matters political
• critical studies of the impact of existing “Islamist” experiments – such as those in Iran and Sudan – on the evolution of thinking, attitudes, and priorities of Islamist groups across the world
• in-depth explorations and forecasts of emerging trends and possible directions in the thinking and practice of Islamist groups and the significance and likely impact of these trends
• historical studies of underlying structural forces in contemporary political change, or previous effor ts at democratization
• explorations of the reactions of liberal and secular actors to the ascendancy of Islamists, and how the interaction between the two camps is impacting the democratization process
• examination of the changing discourse of the West towards the various Islamic movements and vice-versa, before, during and after the “revolutions”
SUBMISSION
Submission Deadline: January 15 2013
• Publication Date: July 2013
Regular research papers should be between seven thousand and ten thousand words (7,000–10,000). All submissions should conform to AJISS guidelines: original, unpublished research, and presented as double-spaced and single-sided.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: a.el-affendi@westminster.ac.uk
For submissions: send all contributions as an attachment in MS-Word, with a 250-word abstract and a short biography, simultaneously to: a.el-affendi@westminster.ac.uk, iiit@iiituk.com, and nader.hashemi@du.edu
Website: http://www.amss.org/