Islamist Movements

Wickham contends that the recent rise of Islamist movements in the Middle East are a direct response to Western political, social, economic and cultural domination of the region, and furthermore were a response to the failed economics (and suppression by) authoritarian regimes over the course of many years. The analysis behind this contention is sound and provides a strong explanation for the changing social dynamics of the region, however perhaps does not go far enough.

Personally, I believe the recent rise in popularity of Islamic movements (from moderates to extremists) is a direct response to the long time domination of secular, authoritarian regimes. To begin with, these dictatorships have spent many decades brutally suppressing public collectivization and dissent. Furthermore, the economic policies of the region have arguably failed in non-rentier states that lack the presence of natural resources (oil) in any significant abundance, which is often used to pacify the public.  This combination of brutality, illegitimacy, and failed economics in usually secular-leaning regimes have led to many believing that secularism was the problem all along. This gave Islamic movements greater legitimacy and support as the counterweight to years of secularist oppression.

In addition to the authoritarianism, my personal belief is that the root cause behind the "Islamization" of the region has been the history of colonialism and/or dominance by the West. The formation of all these artificial states, as we discussed earlier in the semester, is the cause of much of what we see happening today. By grouping different ethnicities and religions with centuries of hostility, the colonizers were able to pave the way for the rise of the Arab dictator, which in turn is the cause of the rise of today's Islamic movements. Furthermore, more recent Western dominance and its perceived exploitation of the region's resources, people, and governments has led to a recent backlash that personified itself in the form of Islamist movements. The rise in strength, manpower, and influence of the Islamists has been a big avenue for many to resist the perception of Western interventionism in the region.

Finally, and this is not explored by Wickham, I think a strong reason behind the rise of these movements in the region has been Turkey. The Erdogan Administration has wielded huge influence in the region, particularly in the wake of the revolts in the region. This administration, itself Islamist, has been perceived as a model for the future of many Arab states in the region, giving credence to the belief that political Islamist models are the right ways forward. This is in addition to the alleged direct influence that  Turkey wields over many Islamist groups in the region through the provision of military and financial support as well as the control of movement into and out of Syria and Iraq.