Routledge handbook of political islam

"This updated, 2nd edition of the Handbook book covers a range of political actors that use Islam to advance their cause. While they share the ultimate vision of establishing a political system governed by Islam, the tactics and methods can be very different. Capturing this diversity, this volume also sheds light on some of the less-known experiences from South East Asia to North Africa. Drawing on the expertise from some of the top scholars in the world, the chapters examine the main issues surrounding political Islam across the world, including: Theoretical foundations of political Islam, Historical background, Geographical spread of Islamist movements, Political strategies adopted by Islamist groups, Terrorism, Attitudes towards democracy, Relations between Muslims and the West in the international sphere, Challenges of integration, Gender relations Capturing the geographical spread of Islamism and the many manifestations of this political phenomenon make this book a key resource for students and researchers interested in political Islam, Muslim affairs and the Middle East"--

"This updated, 2nd edition of the Handbook book covers a range of political actors that use Islam to advance their cause. While they share the ultimate vision of establishing a political system governed by Islam, the tactics and methods can be very different. Capturing this diversity, this volume also sheds light on some of the less-known experiences from South East Asia to North Africa. Drawing on the expertise from some of the top scholars in the world, the chapters examine the main issues surrounding political Islam across the world, including: Theoretical foundations of political Islam, Historical background, Geographical spread of Islamist movements, Political strategies adopted by Islamist groups, Terrorism, Attitudes towards democracy, Relations between Muslims and the West in the international sphere, Challenges of integration, Gender relations Capturing the geographical spread of Islamism and the many manifestations of this political phenomenon make this book a key resource for students and researchers interested in political Islam, Muslim affairs and the Middle East"--

This handbook examines the regional and international dynamics of the Middle East. It challenges the state society dichotomy to make sense of decision-making and behavior by ruling regimes. The 33 chapter authors include the world's leading scholars of the Middle East and International Relations (IR) in order to make sense of the region. This synthesis of area studies expertise and IR theory provides a unique and rigorous account of the region's current dynamics, which have reached a crisis point since the beginning of the Arab Spring. The Middle East has been characterized by volatility for more than a century. Although the region attracts significant scholarly interest, IR theory has rarely been used as a tool to understand events. The constructivist approach in IR highlights the significance of state identity, shaped by history and culture, in making sense of international relations. The authors of this volume consider how IR theory can elucidate the patterns and principles that shape the region, in order to provide a rigorous account of the contemporary challenges of the Middle East.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of figures -- List of tables -- Notes on contributors -- 1 The blurred line between state identity and realpolitik -- 2 Neoclassical realism: domestic politics, systemic pressures, and the impact on foreign policy since the Arab Spring -- 3 What constructivism? -- 4 Historical sociology and Middle East international relations -- 5 Subaltern realism meets the Arab world -- 6 Islam, political Islam, and the state system -- 7 Don't shoot the elephant: Middle East stability after the Iranian nuclear deal -- 8 The revolutionary guard in Iranian domestic and foreign power politics -- 9 The Arab uprising and regional power struggle -- 10 US-Israel relations during the Obama administration: fundamental shift, or adaptation to new realities? -- 11 Saudi Arabia and Iran: Islam and foreign policy in the Middle East -- 12 The Arab Spring and Russian foreign policy toward the Middle East -- 13 China's foray into the Middle East: from ambivalence to ambition? -- 14 Oil production, innovation, and politics in the Middle East -- 15 Qatar: an ambitious small state -- 16 GCC foreign policy: the struggle for consensus -- 17 EU policy in the Middle East: unfulfilled aspirations -- 18 Old and new challenges for ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East -- 19 UN Security Council Resolution 1325: a framework for women's peace activism in the Middle East? -- 20 The demise of the Arab strongman? Authoritarianism and the future of the Middle East -- 21 Armed non-state actors and strategic decision-making -- 22 Islamic State: aberration, or accelerant of system-wide changes to come? -- 23 Proxy relations: Iran and Hezbollah -- 24 The Muslim Brotherhood and An-Nahda after the Arab Spring: a failed project -- 25 Transition and the Arab Spring -- 26 Shock absorption: Palestinian-Israel status quo 2009-17.

This handbook book examines the regional and international dynamics of the Middle East. It challenges the state society dichotomy to make sense of decision making and behaviour by ruling regimes. The 28 chapters include the world's leading scholars of the Middle East and International Relations (IR) in order to make sense of the region. This synthesis of area studies expertise and IR theory provides a unique and rigorous account of the region's current dynamics, which have reached crisis point since the beginning of the Arab Spring. The Middle East has been characterised by volatility for more than a century. Although the region attracts significant scholarly interest, IR theory has rarely been used as a tool to understand events. The constructivist approach in IR highlights the significance of state identity, shaped by history and culture, in making sense of international relations. The authors of this volume consider how IR theory can elucidate the patterns and principles that shape the region, in order to provide a rigorous account of the contemporary challenges of the Middle East. The Routledge Handbook of International Relations in the Middle East provides a comprehensive coverage of International Relations issues in the region. Thus, it offers key resources for researchers and students interested in International Relations and the Middle East.