Some Remarks on the Correlation between Islam and Governance in the Modern Sunni and Shiite Revivalist Movements

• Authors: Abdulrahman al-Salimi
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The article compares the formation of the political dimensions of contemporary Sunni and Shiite Islam from the late 19th century to the present. The article makes the case that the revivalist Sunni movements while divided in their ideologies along a scale of traditionalist and reformist poles, have remained largely non-violent in their relationship to ruling authorities and theologically and ideologically adaptive to modern secular political structures. The Sunni adaptation to secular governments was not necessarily chosen, but resulted from the practical need to coexist with authoritarian regimes. In contrast the article cites sources that have led to a greater Shiite resistance to modern secular political authority. First, a perceived historical continuity between the failed armed Shiite revolutions of the past that became marginalized though remained latent. Later they rose to oppose governments in the regions where they lived. Second, the political ideologies of Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and Ayatollah Khomeini that appropriated Shiite theology to mobilize marginalized religious minorities in organized opposition to secular states. Third, a description of the process by which the ruling religious leaders continue to co-opt Shiite theology and political ideology in order to secure religious authority and maintain power.

Keywords

EN

ISLAM; SHIA; SUNNI; SECULARISM; POLITICS

• Publisher: Polska Akademia Nauk. Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
• Journal: Acta Asiatica Varsoviensia
• Year: 2011
• Issue: 24
• Pages: 137-142

Contributors

author

Abdulrahman al-Salimi

• al-Tafahom Journal, Sultanate of Oman, P.O Box 4, Code 421, Bidiyah