Muted modernists: the struggle over divine politics in Saudi Arabia

Author
Al-Rasheed, Madawi
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
2016
Language
English
Call Number
BP166.14.M63 A47 2016
ISBN
9780190496029
Reference Only
Off
Number of Pages
199
Library of Congress Subject Heading
Islamic modernism -- Saudi Arabia
Library of Congress Subject Heading 2
Saudi Arabia -- Politics and government -- 21st century
Abstract

Analysis of both official and opposition Saudi divine politics is often monolithic, conjuring images of conservatism, radicalism, misogyny and resistance to democracy. Madawi Al-Rasheed challenges this stereotype as she examines a long tradition of engaging with modernism that gathered momentum with the Arab uprisings and incurred the wrath of both the regime and its Wahhabi supporters. With this nascent modernism, constructions of new divine politics, anchored in a rigorous reinterpretation of foundational Islamic texts and civil society activism are emerging in a context where authoritarian rule prefers its advocates to remain muted. The author challenges scholarly wisdom on Islamism in general and blurs the boundaries between secular and religious politics.