Summary
Title: The Islamic Leviathan: Islam and the Making of State Power
Author: Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195144260
Pro:
• Detailed historical information
• Information about people and groups
• Foundation for understanding current events
Con:
• None
Description:
• Development of Islamism in Pakistan
• Development of Islamism in Malaysia
• Explanation of what Islamism is and how it works
Book Review
Part of the reason lies in a State’s need for power. Might does not make Right, but it does create Ability, whether to do Right or Wrong. Without some level of Power, a state is impotent to do anything.
State power can flow from raw force, but it best flows from the presence of security, legitimacy, hegemony, revenue, and growth. With the presence of these factors, citizens are more likely to accept the existence and intrusion of the State. True power flows not from forcing people to do things, but by them doing things willingly.
The process of employing Islam for the purposes of state power is usually called “Islamism.” Islamism is every bit as much a political as it is a religious movement, and it takes on a different form in each country where it occurs. Because of this, no one form of Islamism is any more purely “Islamic” than any other. Also, no form of Islamism is a historical inevitability.
Nasr explores in depth two particular developments of Islamism, one in Pakistan and one in Malaysia. Both are fascinating studies of how modern states can make varying uses of the exact same religion to achieve political goals. However, for the purposes of this review, I will focus on what he says about the case of Pakistan, because it has obvious implications for current world events.
In its earliest days, Pakistan suffered from serious ethnic divisions and conflicts, and as such, Islam became a vital means of achieving political and national unity. Among the people there was little sense of allegiance to the ruling secular powers, because those in charge were many of the same who were in charge during the colonial days.
However, whenever the state moved towards incorporating Islam, the people could feel more comfortable with it. Islam made the state legitimate, and as long as the people perceived it thus, the State has the power to accomplish its goals. With that, Islam became an “anchor” for both the State and society:
- “By Islamizing the public sphere, they brought Islam into the public arena and established a measure of control over its flow in society and politics. In this process, the state was interested in regulating Islamist politics, extending its control over Islamic institutions and Islamist movements. Islamists in turn wanted access to state resources and influence in public policy making.”
Unfortunately, the more secular governments were unable to convince people that they were Islamic enough, resulting in strong Muslim dissident movements. More than one democratically elected government fell, the last one in 1979 when General Zia ul-Haq staged a coup and took over.
