How has the islamist movement affected politics in the middle east?

Answer 1

This is the Community Answer.

The Islamic movement has united a major bloc in the Middle East with a resultant major impact on politics in the region. This Islamic power unit in most cases is able to dictate policy.

Answer 2

The Split of Islam into Sunni and Shiite Islam had a number of incredibly important affects in the Middle East. It led to long-standing rivalries and conflicts between the two sects of Islam. Shiites were forcibly repressed in the Umayyad and subsequent Abbassid Caliphate. The Seljuks (Sunni Turks) had as their long-standing rival the Fatimids (Shiite Arabs) and they fought numerous wars over the control of the southern Levant. The revolt against the Idrissids (Shiite Arabs) in Morocco was inspired by Sunni Loyalists. Iran and Safavid Persia have openly discriminated against and forcibly converted Sunni Muslims to Shiite Islam. The bottom line is that the split has cost innumerable lives and increased suffering for all involved.

Answer 3

This is the Community Answer.

The Islamic movement has united a major bloc in the Middle East with a resultant major impact on politics in the region. This Islamic power unit in most cases is able to dictate policy.

Answer 4

The Islamist Movement is a powerful part of Middle Eastern politics today. These motivated voters flock to the polls in every country holding elections, and their heavy voting enables them to win elections (Morsi in Egypt) or pack parliements with party member who vote the Koran.

Answer 5

There are four general political philosophies in the Middle East (except Israel): Arab Socialism, Nationalism, Liberalism, and Islamism. Historically, most of the governments in the Arab World since the 1950s have been Arab Socialist. While Nationalists and Liberals have criticized particular actions of the Arab Socialist leaders, they have generally accepted the legitimacy of the Arab Socialist-led governments (i.e. loyal opposition). The Islamists never accepted the right of Arab Socialists to rule at all. As a result, they were increasingly seen as the only real alternative to Arab Socialism. Since Islamism is a restrictive and theocratic form of government, it makes its adherents more violent and extremist and it makes its opponents more violent and extremist in order to "hold back the storm". The Rise of Islamism in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s has led to increasing violence and instability in the Middle East.

Answer 6

It depends entirely on the country in question, but typically it retards progressivism in the political sphere and leads to an increasing tendency towards Islamic Law or Shari'a.