Islamisms

Islamisms: Navigations between the Nation-State and the Caliphate moves beyond viewing Islamism within the security/terrorism narrative by viewing Islamisms as various forms of postcolonial resistance to Westphalian models of governance, authority and territorialisations. Islamist movements are in various ways de-nationalising key elements of the nation-state, including nation-state sovereignty, national solidarities, and legitimate violence. Islamist movements are constructing alternative geographies that are transforming the territoriality of the nation-state.

Examining a wide range of Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brothers, Hamas, Hizbullah, Boko Haram, al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group (IS), the author advocates that in many instances an imperial framework, rather than the assumed nation-state model, is a more appropriate tool in analysing the motivations and strategies of Islamist movements, contending that the nation-state is just one paradigm for analysis. The book demonstrates the case for both nation-state and religious/historic understandings of political geographies to be considered simultaneously with regards to Islamism(s).

This book is multi-disciplinary, and will be relevant to students and scholars of religious studies, Islamic theology, history, politics of memory, post-colonial perspectives, sociology, political geography and political anthropology. It will also interest policy makers wishing to broaden their understanding of political Islam.

Author Biography

Samantha May is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Aberdeen, UK. As passionate about teaching as much as research, Dr May offers courses at both Undergraduate and Post-graduate level. They previously authored Islamic Charity: How Charitable Giving Became Seen as a Threat to National Security, 2021, Bloomsbury.