Ideology, Social Class and Islamic Radicalism in Modern Egypt

Abstract

One of the most significant phenomena in the contemporary Middle East is the increased strength of Islam as a political force. Under the banner of Islam, militant religious movements have toppled the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran while threatening the stability of secular regimes in Syria, the Sudan and Iraq. In Egypt, Islamic militants were responsible for the assassination of the most prominent Arab leader, Anwar al-Sadat. Even the arch-defender of Islamic orthodoxy, the Saudi monarchy, has not been immune from attack. It has found itself challenged by tribally-based religious groups which claim that Islam is not being protected from the encroachment of secular westernisation. Given their increasing political influence, the paucity of information and the conceptual confusion surrounding them underline the need for a better understanding of Islamic radical movements.