Contesting Islams: The Emergence of the Revisionist Movement

Abstract

This paper examines the trajectories in which Islamic thought manifested itself in state politics in some of the states of the MENA region in light of the Arab Spring. The purpose of this paper is to highlight an ongoing ideological shift in Islamic political thought from a radical to a more secular moderate line of thought, which has been consolidating over the past decade. This paper argues that such an ideological shift is taking place in the form of revisionist movements which were able to engage in state politics during the Arab Spring. In addition, this paper asserts the need for the survival and continuity of these moderate Islamic powers as they prove that a secular moderate Islamic model does in fact exist and could be an alternative to radical Islamic discourse. In addition, this paper argues that the overthrowing of Morsi in a coup d’état in Egypt may lead to re-radicalization and would cripple the evolution and progress of the moderate line of thought within Islam. This may thus lead to the once curbed power of religious parties to resolve to the previously adopted radical mode of thought.