The Need to Make the Distinction in the Islamic Revival
Movements…
By
Fr. Eliseo Mercado, OMI
1.
Islamic Revival. For many Muslims, Islamic Revivalism is a
social (rather than political) movement whose goal is a more “Islamically”
molded and oriented society but NOT necessarily the creation of an Islamic
State. Many legitimate Islamic
movements, (for pragmatic reasons and in recognition of the power of the
authoritarian rulers or out of disillusionment with the excesses of Islamic
Republics like Sudan, Iran and Afghanistan) focus on the Islamization of
society rather than politics.
2.
For others, the establishment
of an Islamic order requires the creation of an Islamic state. Although some advocate violent revolution,
others do not. Islam and most Islamic movements
are not necessarily anti-western, anti American, or anti democratic. Although they challenge the outdated
assumptions of the established order and autocratic regime, they do not
necessarily threaten US interests.
3.
The challenge is to better
understand the history and realities of the Muslim “world” and to recognize the
diversities and the many faces of Islam.
4.
This approach lessens the risk
of the West against Islam or a clash of civilizations. Guided by its stated ideals and goals of
freedom and self-determination, the west has an ideal vantage point of
appreciating the aspiration of many in the Muslim world as they seek to define
and forge new paths in their future.
5.
Cases in point are Southeast
Asian countries, especially Indonesia and Malaysia…
·
There is a little prospect of
Indonesia adopting increasingly Islamic State policies. Only in Malaysia… competition between the
UMNO and the PAS might lead to more seriously Islamic State policies and these
are certain to be tempered by the large non-Muslim population and the
ambivalence of many Malay Muslims about the role of Islam in politics and
society.
·
In Indonesia, the potential for
Islam… to make a positive contribution to Indonesian society, specifically to
the growth of civil society and democracy, greatly outweigh its potential to
make a negative contribution.
·
Despite the fact that Malaysian
Islam is often perceived as “anti-liberal”, “anti-western” and even intolerant…
the prospects for social and political change in Malaysia depends very much on
Islam, in particular upon Liberal Islamic Leaders and a fresh alternative
vision of the way in which Islam contributes to Malaysian society.
·
In the Southern Philippines,
the short and the long-term future of Islamic separatist groups appear
questionable. The threats posed by
Islamic Moro groups such as the MILF, ICC, the MNLF and even the Abu Sayyaf
increase or decrease proportionately to economic and political conditions. There is now hope of successfully resolving
the present separatist groups in the Southern Philippines in the short and medium
term given the seeming ‘pragmatism’ shown by both the MILF present leadership
and the GPH Aquino administration in the country and coupled by the national and
local election agenda for 2016.
·
No doubt, strong and commercial
links within Asia, but more specifically within ASEAN would have the effect of
neutralizing and controlling radicalism in SEA.
(Research done by Fr. Eliseo Mercado, OMI - Fulbright Senior Fellow)
