Islam and democracy : the failure of dialogue in Algeria / Frédéric Volpi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Volpi, Frédéric.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Demonstrations--Algeria.

Demonstrations.

Islam and politics--Algeria.

Islam and politics.

Islamic fundamentalism--Algeria.

Islamic fundamentalism.

Algeria--Politics and government.

Algeria.

Algeria--Social conditions.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (184 p.)

Place of Publication:

London ; Sterling, Va. : Pluto Press, 2003.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

During the late twentieth century, many authoritarian Islamic states underwent a dramatic transition to democracy. This book examines the process of democratic reform in Islamic countries, the problems it throws up and the cultural ideas and practices that prevail. Concentrating in particular on Algeria, and based on extensive on-the-ground research, Volpi offers a unique insight into the political history of the Algerian conflict and raises serious questions about the relationship between Islam and democracy on an international level. Addressing the problem of the radicalisation of political Islam in the region, he suggests possible solutions to the security and foreign policy dilemmas linked to international terrorism.A bitter battle has been fought between the civil state and the Islamic fundamentalists in Algeria since the 1980's. It's a paradigmatic 'clash of civilisations' for some, whilst for others it's a distorted and local crisis in which 'democratisation' was introduced in a deeply authoritarian context. Looking in particular at the role of oil resources, which give Algeria great international geo-strategic and economic importance, Volpi explores Algeria's political transition -- a story which continues to have immense potential significance for other non-democratic Muslim countries.

Contents:

Understanding political democratisation at the beginning of the XXI century

Algeria and the 'third wave' of democratic transitions

Islam and the 'west' : a clash of ideologies in Algeria

New political actors for a new international order

Political ideas and practices in historical perspective

Genealogies of state power : colonial experiences post colonial dilemmas

Historical perspectives on Islamic fundamentalist ideology : a pragmatic account

The Algerian political opening : democratic symbols and authoritarian practices (1988-1991)

The 1988 October riots : the symbol of a new era

The Algerian democratic opening : successes and failures

The 1992 coup d'état and beyond : war as politics through other means (1992-1994)

The 1992 coup d'état

The military in control : The repressive option

The Islamic movement : from political opposition to 'holy' war

A new authoritarianism : guided democracy versus radical Islam (1995-2000)

The re-composition of the political field

Electoral marketing : formal representation and informal authoritarianism

On the margins of politics : the military and the Islamic guerrillas

A civil society in transition : survivalist strategies and social protest

Coping with violence and deprivation : survivalist strategies

The articulation of social protest : defying the regime

The international arena : strengths and weaknesses of the new world order

The political economy of the conflict : the role of international actors

Algeria as the future of democratisation in the Muslim world

Exporting the jihad : the internationalisation of radical Islamic actors

Learning and unlearning to be democratic.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 156-163) and index.

ISBN:

9781849641524

1849641528

OCLC:

923332462