Political Islam in IR The Search for Legitimacy and Unity: Pan Arabism and the Return of Political Islam

Unity and Legitimacy An ongoing historical challenge Post Ottoman States lack Legitimacy Legitimacy: State, Nationalist, Religious, Cultural? Actors seek to fuse religion, culture and politics to legitimise a governing elite Arab identity/ Muslim Identity Nationalist (Arab) interests/ Islamic Interests

1950s – 60s: Dominance of the Pan Arab narrative, co-option of the ulema, Suppression of the Islamists 1970s – Failure of Pan Arabism, consolidation of the state, to secularising Islamist groups 1980s –Responses to secularisation, the Higra 1990s – From the Near Enemy to the Far Enemy 2000s – Globalising the Jihad

Pan Arabism In 1911, Muslim intellectuals and politicians formed al-Fatat ("the Young Arab Society") Arab Congress of 1913 in Paris, discuss desired reforms Arab Revolt during the First World War Damascus became the center of the Arab nationalist movement the seat of Faysal—the first Arab "sovereign" after nearly 400 years of Turkish suzerainty

Ideology Gamal abd al Nasser “ unite all the Arabic-speaking peoples within a single country.” Arab specific doctrine of liberation end of Western influence removal of Arab governments dependent on the West Secular state informed by Islamic principles that understands Islam as an Arab gift to the world

Arab Cold War: Republics vs Monarchs Revolutionary Republics Iraq, Syria, Egypt Nasser champion of secular pan-Arabism Conservative Monarchies Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Kingdoms King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, guardian of the holy sites of Islam,

Consequential Events for the Arab Nationalist Cause 1956 Suez Crisis 1962 – 70 Yemen Civil War 1967 Six Day War 1973 October War 1978 Camp David Agreement

Six Day War 1967 Crushing defeat for the Arab coalition Loss of Sinai Peninsula Israel launches pre-emptive airstrikes following build up of Egyptian forces Casualties, – Israel 1000 – Arab Coalition 20,000

Termination of the Nationalist Cause 1971 Death of al-Nasser Wither the Legitimacy Unity narrative October War 1973 Camp David Accords 1978, Recognition of the Israeli state al-Sadat “only Egypt and Egyptians are my responsibility”

Sources of Failure Common distrust and hegemonic ambitions UAR, Syrian army officers carried out a coup d'état and withdrew from the union Failure of economic mobilization Skepticism from Shi’ite Arabs, ethnic minorities 1967 Six Day War Political weakness, common to the Ottoman Empire’s Arab successor states deficit of legitimacy.

Camp David Agreement Recognition of Israel Formal Diplomatic Relations Return of the Sinai to Egypt Transfer of Authority in Gaza and West Bank End of Israeli settlement Egypt expelled from the Arab League

Political Islam 1950s – 60s Nationalization of al Azhar, Budgetary Control 1954 failed plot to assassinate al Nasser Muslim Brotherhood, imprisoned or driven underground Development of a comprehensive Islamist Jihadist ideology Sayid Qutb (executed 1966) In the Shadow of the Quran and Milestones

1970s ‘The state effectively defeated all the various attempts of Islamist militants to confront the regime directly’. G. Kepel Marginalization, radicalization, co-option Secularization of the Islamists Prison releases Inclusion of ‘moderates’ in ‘nomalised’ politics Encouraged Islamist political participation to counter Leftists and Nasserists elements Consolidation of the ‘Norms’ of international relations – nation states

Assassination of Sadat Mubarak’s Rise to Power The Return of Political Islam

1980s Killing Pharaoh (Sadat) 1981 Soviet war in Afghanistan Higra of the Afghan Arabs Formation of al Qaeda (the Base) Formulating a comprehensive ideology beyond Sayid Qutb

1990s The Near Enemy or the Far Enemy Near Enemy: Arab regimes, Israel Far Enemy: The West Luxor 1997 Mubarak’s crackdown