Post Colonialism and Nationalism

Legitimacy An ongoing historical challenge Post Colonial State Legitimacy Legitimacy: State, Nationalist, Religious, Cultural? Actors seek to fuse religion, culture and politics to legitimise a governing elite Resistance can arise from the state or international level in different forms.

Post Colonial Nationalism Pan Africanism Pan Islamism Pan Arabism

Nationalism, Islamism and Jihadism 1950s – 60s: Dominance of the Pan Arab narrative, co-option of the ulema, Suppression of the Islamists 1970s – Failure of Pan Arabism, consolidation of the state, secularising Islamist groups 1980s –Responses to secularisation 1990s – New World Order, Hegemony, End of Cold War 2000s – Globalising the Jihad, Revolution

1950s – 60s The post colonial states sought secular agendas Secular state informed by Islamic principles that understands Islam as an Arab gift to the world Al Nasser, Nkrumah, Qadaffi, Malcolm X

Al Nasser and the Muslim Brotherhood Secular vs Religious Cooperation in the Revolution against King Farouk Share anti-Communist sentiments 1953 political parties abolished, Brotherhood remains as an organization. 1954 Assassination attempt, Brotherhood blamed, Six executed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fswb4a9jcU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jk2JJz-tuQ

1970s ‘The state effectively defeated all the various attempts of Islamist militants to confront the regime directly’. G. Kepel Marginalization, radicalization, co-option Secularization of the Islamists Inclusion of ‘moderates’ in ‘nomalised’ politics

Camp David Agreement Recognition of Israel Egypt expelled from the Arab League Viewed as a betrayal of both nationalism and Islam

1980s Killing Pharaoh (Sadat) 1981 Soviet war in Afghanistan 1980 - 89 Higra of the Afghan Arabs Formation of al Qaeda (the Base) Formulating a comprehensive ideology beyond Sayid Qutb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhu-YgCyPz4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A55lIzz8hXo

1979 - 81 Return of Political Islam Iranian Islamic Revolution Soviet Afghan War

1990s Rise of Salafi Jihadist movements The Near Enemy or the Far Enemy Near Enemy: Arab regimes, Israel Far Enemy: The West

Post-Colonial struggle for state legitimacy remains Many governments viewed as lacking legitimacy Islam plays a critical role in this debate So too does the international community ‘Democracy’ does not necessarily translate into stable legitimate states, but it probably helps.

2000s Jihad and Revolution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fswb4a9jcU