The future of political Islam: Trends and prospects

Since the 2011 Arab uprisings, the progression of events in the Middle East has provoked new questions on the role of political Islam in the region. The Arab Spring offered Islamist parties the opportunity and challenge of governance, and the widely varying results led many observers to reconsider basic assumptions on political Islam. Lines drawn between ideology and politics have become blurred. Common conceptions of Islam and the nation-state as incompatible have come under review. As scholars and Islamists alike imagine the future of political Islam, these considerations and others will play a central role.

On April 24, the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings hosted a discussion on the state of political Islam and the questions and myths that surround its development. This conversation featured Georgetown professor Jocelyne Cesari, Senior Fellow Shadi Hamid, and Nonresident Senior Fellow Peter Mandaville. Following the conversation, the panelists took questions from the audience.