Description: This paper discusses the assumptions commonly prevalent in the analysis of political Islam. It argues that the multiple manifestations of political Islam are primarily determined by discrete contexts, and that the vast majority of Islamist movements operate peacefully within constitutional constraints. The author explains that democratization leads not only to the moderation of Islamist political formations as they are forced to build coalitions, but also to their fracturing into various parties that pursue different agendas. He concludes that both the nature of regimes in the Muslim world and US foreign policy are augmenting the popularity of Islamist movements.

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