Faith in Moderation
Islamist Parties in Jordan and Yemen

This book addresses whether Islamist groups are a threat to democratization.

Jillian Schwedler (Author)

9780521851138, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 June 2006

280 pages, 6 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.526 kg

'Faith in Moderation presents good critiques of the current dominant theories in political change literature … Faith in Moderation is a lively and valuable attempt … [it] promises more debate and to contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of political change in the Middle East.' Insight Turkey

Does political inclusion produce ideological moderation? Schwedler argues that examining political behaviour alone provides insufficient evidence of moderation because it leaves open the possibility that political actors might act as if they are moderate while harbouring radical agendas. Through a comparative study of the Islamic Action Front party in Jordan and the Islah party in Yemen, she argues that the IAF in Jordan has become more moderate through participation in pluralist political processes, while the Islah party has not. The variation is explained in part by internal group organization and decision-making processes, but particularly by the ways in which the IAF has been able to justify its new pluralist practices on Islamic terms while the Islah party has not. Based on nearly four years of field research in Jordan and Yemen, Schwedler contributes both an important theory of ideological moderation and detail about these powerful Islamist political parties.

List of figures
List of tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
Note on transliterations and translations
1. Moderation and the dynamics of political change
2. Political liberalization as a mechanism of control
3. Public political space
4. Cultural dimensions of political contestation
5. Justification and moderation
6. Conclusion: does inclusion lead to moderation?
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Political ideologies [JPF], Comparative politics [JPB], Islamic studies [JFSR2]