World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies

Barcelona, July 19th – 24th 2010

· NOT_DEFINED date: THU 22, 9.00-11.00 am

· NOT_DEFINED institution: University of Oslo (Norway)

· NOT_DEFINED organizer: Dr. Bjørn Olav Utvik

· NOT_DEFINED language: English

· NOT_DEFINED description: Taking as its starting point an understanding of Islamism as a modern social movement for reform, the panel seeks to explore ideological and political tension fields within Islamism, in particular as these relate to the challenges posed by modernisation and globalisation. How thorough is the Islamists' adoption of democracy as a governing principle? What conditions the choice of violence vs. peaceful work as the strategy to achieve the desired change? How do the Islamists picture the role of non-Muslims in a state governed by Islamic principles? How do the Islamists view the role of women in society and politics? The panel participants make part of a research project based at the University of Oslo aimed at contributing to greater clarity in the understanding of how central Islamist movements in the Middle East relate to social and political processes of modernisation.
It is a problem that the polarisation in the political debate on Islamism spills over into the scientific field: on the one hand there is a tendency on part of scientists who claim to view Islamism, at least partly, as a modernising and constructive force, to avoid bringing up difficult questions like the Islamists'' gender ideology, or at best smooth over them. On the other hand those who focus on the problematic aspects, tend to present a static picture of Islamism as a reactionary force. There is, then, a great need for research that combines the will and the ability to see Islamism in light of its context with a non-apologetic approach to real lines of conflict. What gives Islamist movements their specific identity compared to modern social movements in general is the intertwining of two strong impulses: On the one hand, Islamism is a cultural revolt in defence of religious and cultural identity against what is viewed as the threat from a Western-dominated globalisation. On the other hand, Islamism is an expression of a desire to submit rapid social changes to the control of a revitalised morality, based on Islamic religious tradition. The tensions in relation to modernity arise therefore where developmental traits in society clearly oppose what is conceived to be central elements of Islamic morality, and/or are perceived of as taking over Western ideals at the cost of known and authentic habits and customs. In the same vein concessions vis-a-vis non-Muslim or secular forces inside or outside one’s won society may on the one hand be viewed as beneficial in the pursuit of peace and development, yet may collide with the need to be seen as staunch defenders of the Muslim cause. The negotiation of these tensions is the subject investigated by the panel.


Chair: :Dr. Bjørn Olav Utvik (University of Oslo)
Discussant: :Francois Burgat (Institut francais du Proche-Orient IFPO)


Paper presenter: Kai Kverme (University of Oslo) “The Hizballah Hegemony.”
The Lebanese Hizballah constitutes something of a challenge to our understanding of Islamism and its aims and goals. Many scholars see its participation in Lebanese elections as the final abandoning of the goal of establishing an Islamic State, and the merger of the party into Lebanese politics as a more or less regular party. One the other hand there are those who do not believe in the sincerity of Hizballah having left its goal of establishing as Islamic State in Lebanon. I will suggest an alternative approach in our study of Hizballah and their political goals, that is that the policies of the party and their practice aims at securing a hegemony over Shiite Lebanon, with all what this might imply also on a broader national and regional level.


Paper presenter: Tilde Rosmer (University of Oslo )“Islamism in Israel.”
One of the main challenges of the Islamic Movement in Israel, as identified by its leaders, is Israelisation/Zionisation. By this they mean the pacification of Palestinian citizens and their assimilation into Israeli society and culture through education and language, and by denying them their own religious and cultural institutions. The Islamic Movements answer to this challenge is two-fold: Establishing institutions and organisations to take care of its own constituency; and developing a New Muslim Palestinian Identity. Today the two branches of the Movement, a consequence of the split in 1996, run institutions that promote a Muslim lifestyle and an Arab Palestinian history and belonging. This paper presents the autonomous society of the Islamic Movement in Israel and investigates the character of the identity it promotes.


Paper presenter: Truls Tønnessen (University of Oslo) “Bullets or Ballots? The Political Challenges of the Iraqi Sunni Insurgency”
Since the fall of the old regime in April 2003, the Iraqi Sunni community has fought to regain their influence in post-invasion Iraq. Within the Sunni Islamic community the different chosen strategies for change cover the entire spectrum from those preferring political means, to al-Qaida in Iraq, which is completely opposed to any political participation whatsoever. This paper will detail the political strategies of the most important Iraqi Sunni insurgent groups and examine the evolution in the relationship between political and military means, with a particular focus on the different political strategies ahead of the January 2010 national election. The paper will be based on Arabic primary sources issued by the insurgent groups.


Paper presenter: Dag H. Tuastad (University of Oslo) “Hamas’ concept of hudna: tactics or an opening for peace”.
To deal with the reality of Israel, Hamas has developed certain mechanisms including the concept of hudna. Hudna is a truce for a specific period, which might extend to several decades, a practice having religious weight based on the example of Prophet Muhammad. Is Hamas serious about a ceasefire lasting several decades, or is the concept a tactical move to save time? The answer to this question will be discussed based on interviews with different leaders, and possibly different schools of thought within Hamas.