Issues - International Reports

Islam and Political Parties

Issue 10 | October 14, 2013

Exception or Pioneers: Political Islam in Marocco | Between Religion, Extremism and Governmental Responsibility: Political Islam in the Palestinian Territories | Islamic Parties and Democracy in Indonesia: Insights from the World’s largest Muslim Country | Argenchina: The Chinese Presence in Argentina

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Content

Islam and Political Parties

Editorial

In Egypt as well as in other countries of the region, the expectations associated with the “Arab Spring” have not been fulfilled to date. Democratic elections gave power to Islamist parties, whose political convictions do not necessarily match the ideas that had been advocated by the predominantly young protestors: freedom and justice, participation and pluralism.

by Gerhard Wahlers

Full edition

Exception or Pioneers

Political Islam in Marocco

Shortly after the first stirrings of the Arab Spring, the éxception marocaine, the Moroccan exception, quickly became one of Morocco’s hottest topics in the media and in public debate. To what extent has Islam contributed to Morocco’s process of transformation? And what role does organised party-political Islam play in the development of Morocco when compared with other North African countries?

by Helmut Reifeld
Between Religion, Extremism and Governance

Political Islam in the Palestinian Territories

According to Palestinian Basic Law, Islam is the official religion in the Palestinian Territories. It is an integral part of political and social life of the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, 98 per cent of whom are Muslim. It also exerts a decisive influence on the two major movements, Hamas and Fatah, as well as on numerous smaller political parties and movements, which often originate in the secular sphere or have Marxist roots.

by Hans Maria Heyn, Jörg Knocha
Islamic Parties and Democracy in Indonesia

Insights from the World’s largest Muslim Country

Indonesia’s example makes it clear that political Islam in the form of parties based on Islamic values and goals does not automatically equate to radicalism, fanaticism and antidemocratic politics. Islamic parties do have the potential to transform, slowly but surely, into democracy-friendly political actors and assume responsibility in democratic institutions.

by Philipp Müller, Jan Woischnik

Argenchina: The Chinese Presence in Argentina

Sino-Argentine relations have seen a comparative boom since the outset of the Argentine peso default in 2001 and Néstor Kirchner’s 2003 presidency, and have further strengthened during current President Cristina Kirchner’s tenure. As it stands today, China is Argentina’s second most important trading partner, having received eight per cent of Argentine total exports and providing 13 per cent of its total imports by 2011.

by John Stokes