Author Description

Contemporary Studies On Syria Assume That The Country's Ba'thist Regime Has Been Effective In Subduing Its Islamic Opposition, Placing Syria At Odds With The Middle East's Larger Trends Of Rising Islamic Activism And The Eclipse Of Secular Ideologies As The Primary Source Of Political Activism. Yet This Assumption Founders When Confronted With The Clear Resurgence In Islamic Militantism In The Country Since 2004. This Book Examines Syria's Current Political Reality As Regards Its Islamic Movement, Describing The Country's Present Day Islamic Groups - Particularly Their Social Profile And Ideology - And Offering An Explanation Of Their Resurgence. The Analysis Focuses On: Who Are Today's Syrian Islamic Groups? Why And How Are They Re-emerging After 22 Years Of Relative Silence As An Important Socio-economic And Political Force? How Is The Syrian State Dealing With Their Re-emergence In Light Of Syria's Secularism And Ideologically Diverse Society? Bridging Area Studies, Islamic Studies, And Political Science, This Book Will Be An Important Reference For Those Working Within The Fields Of Comparative Politics, Political Economy, And Middle Eastern Studies. Introduction To The Subject Of Secularism And Islamic Revivalism In Syria -- Pt. I. The Origins Of The Conflict. -- The Rise Of A Secular Party To Power -- The Rise And Fall Of Political Islam In Syria -- Pt. Ii. Hafex Al-asad's Era And The Conflict With The Muslim Brotherhood: Muting Of Ba'thist Secularism In Syria. -- Conflict With The Muslim Brotherhood -- Resurgence Of Neo-fundamentalism And Decline Of Political Islam As A Model For Change (1982-2000) -- Pt. Iii. Bashar Al-asad's Era: Fundamentalist And Islamist Revivalism. -- Bashar Al-asad Following In His Father's Footsteps: The Promotion Of Moderate Islam From Above In The Name Of De-radicalization -- Islamization From Below: Islamic Revivalism As A Model For Social Change And The Erosion Of Ba'thist Secularism -- Re-emergence Of Political Islam: Syria's Islamist Groups -- Islamic Activism And Secularism In Syria -- Conclusion. Line Khatib. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.