The rise of political Islam, as a force in world politics, has prompted questions and theories concerning its nature and compatibility with democratic values. Not least have been discussions and conflicts within Islamic communities, particularly in Europe where choices of identity and allegiance are growing acute.Bassam Tibi provides a broad ranging assessment of political Islam in the world, in all its various manifestations. In particular he focuses on Europe which is also home to a significant Islamic minority. Whilst rejecting the Clash of Civilizations theory the author clearly demonstrates the growing conflict and incompatibility between Islamist movements and European democracy. A practicing Muslim himself, Bassam Tibi, makes clear the vital importance of developing a Euro Islam that will peacefully accommodate religious beliefs within an inclusive democratic European culture.This is an innovative and challenging work that will give readers a clearer understanding of political Islam, particularly in Europe where the issues of religion, identity and democracy are pressing. Political Islam, World Politics and Europe will be of interest to students and scholars studying Middle Eastern and European politics, political Islam and international relations.

Introduction: The Impact of the Politicization of Islam on World Politics as a Context for Europe and Islam Part One: The Conflict within Islamic Civilization between Jihadism and Democracy. Its Pertinence to World Politics and to the Islam-Diaspora in Europe: Obstacles and Solutions 1. From Classical Jihad to Global Jihadism in an Invention of Tradition for Mapping the World into Dar al-Islam 2. Polity and Rule: The Islamic Quest for Civil Society and for Democracy against Hakimiyyat Allah as the Islamic System of Totalitarian Government Part Two: Political Islam Enters World Politics: Global Jihadism as an Islamist Internationalism in its Sunni and Shi¿ite Varieties as a Challenge to Safe Democracy and International Security 3. The World-Political Sunni-Fallacy: Jihadist Internationalism as a Cosmic War of Irregulars for Remaking the World 4. The Shi¿i Option: Internationalism for an Export of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. A Failed Effort! Part Three: Europe as a Battlefield for the Competing Options: Islamization versus Europeanization Resulting in Muslim Europe or Euro-Islam? 5. Political Islam and Europe in the Twenty-First Century: The Return of History as the Return of Civilizations into World Affairs 6. The European Diaspora of Muslim Migrants and the Idea of Europe: Could They Become Europeans by Choice? Euro-Islam, Legal Citizenship and Citizens of Heart 7. Political Islam and Democracy¿s Decline to a Voting Procedure. The Political Culture of Democracy is the Solution for Islamic Civilization Part Four: The Changed Context of Political Islam and World Politics 8 Political Islam and Governance: The Quest for a Shari¿a Order in the Context of Deomcracy. Examining the Assumption of Moderation 9 Institutional Islamism, Cosmopolitan Democracy and Islamist Shari'a Law Notes Bibliography