Movements within the Islamic World
There are many movements within the Islamic World that do not make the news in the Western World. Many of these movements are litteraly at war with each other and define geopolitics in that violatile region. Here are just some of them (note I don't know much about Africa or Malaysia so movements particular to there won't be mentioned, and this is not a definitive list merely an idea of how non-monolithic that community is):
Ethno-Political (movements that combine ethnicity and politics):
Pan-Turkism: The unofficial foreign policy of Turkey this movement runs the gammut from those who desire a Turkic Empire to those who believe Turkey should simply work to support Turkic ethnic groups in other nations. Note Turkic ethnic groups include, but are not limited to, Turks, Azeris, Uzbeks and Uighurs.
Pan-Persianism: An unofficial part of the foreign policy of Iran, at least during the 1990s, this is the idea that Iran should be the big brother to other Persian ethnic groups and support them in issues. Persian ethnic groups under this definition include, but are not limited to, Tajiks, Hazara and most Iranians. Note it does not include Kurds, Pashto or Balochs that are related to the Persian language group.
Pan-Arabism: A movement that rises and falls with time, this movement seeks to unite the Arab world into a single block. Espoused by Nassar and Saddam Hussein it was especially powerful from 1914 till 1978 when the Camp David Accords were signed. During that time it was the dominant movement in the Arab World.
Kurdish Nationalism: Should be well known, this movement seeks to create a Kurdish state out of territory in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. A major movement among the Kurdish people.
Pashto Nationalism: Seeks to place Afghanistan under Pashto control and incorporate Pashto lands in Pakistan into Afghanistan. Was official policy of Afghanistan till 1979, and the dominant movement among Pashto since the Durand line was created.
Baloch Nationalism: Seeks to create a Baloch state out of territory in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. A dominant belief among Balochs today, and cause of multiple rebellions in Pakistan and Iran.
Albanian Nationalism: Wish to create a Greater Albania. Don't know how popular this is.
Pan-Islam: Seeks to remove ethnic lines from Islam. Extreme groups seek to create a Caliphate from all the Islamic nations.
Religious: (this will be extemely simplified, whole books have been written about this)
Secularism: The idea of religion being a private matter, sees religion much as Westerners see it. Dominant among the Kurds, Balochs, Uzbeks, many Turks, Albanians and others.
Modernism: The idea that Islam should be changed to take in effect societal changes. They are not secularists and believe that Islam has a place in the day to day life. This is biggest in Indonesia where many prominent scholars follow this.
Conservative: What the West calls moderate Muslim. Women wear scarves but would never imagine wearing burqas. They are the dominant group in the Muslim world.
Revisionists: Belief that Islam has been corrupted and so the Muslim World must return to the old ways or perish. What the West calls fundamentalism. Includes the Muslim Brotherhood, Wahabbism and Al Qaeda.
Political:
Democratic: Self-Explanatory. The Green Movement in Iran, Lebanon in general, Turkey in general, Many in Iraq, the Jordinian Monarchy, many movements, some underground, in the Middle East.
Anti-Democratic: Believe democracy will not work in Islam. I don't need to list movements and governments like that.
Tribalism: Only placed here because this is the best place I can fit it. Its the idea of adopting Tribal standards for politics and religion, along with identifying with tribe over nation. Parts of Iraq, Pashtos and some other groups fit here.
Anti-Tribalism: The opposite of the above, the Taliban are one example of that.
Political Islam: The idea Islam has a place in government. Does not mean fundamentalism. For example the Tajiks in Afghanistan favored political Islam, but also favored women's education and oppose the Burqa.
Secularism: As the religious definition.
Anti-Westernization: Believe that the Islamic world is getting too Westernized and will lose its character. Mostly popular among those who would lose out under such conditions.
Socialism/Marxism: Same as in the West. Nassar pushed this, as does the Baath Party.
Now this was a woefully incomplete listing, but the idea is to give an idea of the many movements in the Islamic World.
Many groups and organizations do not belong to one movement but to many. Al Qaeda for example is Pan-Islamic, Revisionist, Political Islam and Anti-Westernization. The Taliban are Pashto Nationalist, Revisionist, Anti-Tribalist (officially, though in practice are many times Tribalist, especially the current Pakistani Taliban), Political Islam and Anti-Westernization.
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Originally Posted by Ozzmosis
