Conclusion: Patterns of Mobilization

Abstract

In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, interest in the Muslim world increased exponentially. A large portion of the discussion on the Muslim world is devoted to radical Islamism and terrorism, in particular in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Israel. This research trend is both interesting and necessary. However, it marginalizes the positive developments that have been taking place in the Muslim world since the late 1980s. We cannot fully understand why some countries face violence unless we analyze how others prevent and avoid it. It is not sufficient to examine what went wrong; we must also investigate what went right. This book has endeavored to unpack the reasons for the variation in Islamist mobilization. It asked why some states have had comparatively greater success in encouraging Islamist groups to adopt peaceful mobilization strategies than others.