Political Islam. Conceptual approaches and issues for a better understanding

Abstract

Since the last quarter of the twentieth century a new form of political participation that legitimized their actions and refuted their opponents with the language of Islam has made irruption in the Middle East first, and in the West after. This mobilization, still identified in some circles as forms of fundamentalism or intégrisme, or expressions of bigotry and irrationality, generated multiple interpretations and explanations. Today, new expressions of this phenomenon, the most recently known as the islamic State, which are related not only to the geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, but also with the contradictions of Western societies, especially in Europe and the United States, are still emerging.

This article discusses the different ways of conceiving explaining and interpreting Political Islam, with its conceptual, epistemological and political implications. It is part of a broader thesis which particularly analyzes the PTS´s (Socialist Workers Party) point of view on this phenomenon.