The Definitions
- Islam: A global religion centered on spiritual faith and personal ethics. For most, it is a private or communal way of life focused on worship and moral conduct.
- Islamic Empire: The historical states (like the Ottoman Empire) that were global superpowers for over a millennium. They were political entities that managed diverse populations and controlled territory.
- Islamism: A modern political ideology that emerged in the 20th century. It seeks to turn the faith into a state-run legal and political system to regain power and resist foreign influence.
The Chronology - The Era of Power (622 – 1924): For centuries, Islamic Empires were the world’s “establishment.” Because they were powerful and confident, there was no need for “Islamism.” People practiced Islam as a faith within a stable, sovereign system.
- The Collapse (Early 1900s): After WWI, the last empire (the Ottoman) was dismantled by Western powers. This left a power vacuum. Western countries moved in and demanded assimilation, trying to replace local laws and religious identity with European secularism.
- The Reaction (1928 – Present): Islamism was born (starting with the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928) as a “reactive current.” Because people felt their identity was being erased by forced assimilation, they turned their religion into a political weapon to defend their culture and demand sovereignty.
The Problem and Solution - The Problem: The Western demand for assimilation (erasing identity to join the modern world) creates a defensive backlash. It pushes people away from “Islam the faith” and toward “Islamism the political shield.”
- The Solution: Integration without Assimilation. By allowing people to be civically active (integrated) while respecting their right to keep their religious heritage (no assimilation), the state removes the threat that fuels the reactive Islamist movement.
Writing by Dr. Dannielle Blumenthal 