Maneuvering the Islamist-Secularist Divide in the Arab World

About the Book

This monograph examines the Islamist-secular divide in Arab countries, particularly in Egypt and Tunisia, and why it has become so intense and polarizing. It demonstrates that having Islamist parties in power or in domineering positions in Arab societies often provokes a backlash from secular elements because the latter see the Islamists as threatening to their social freedoms. For countries beginning the transitory process from authoritarianism to democracy, the monograph recommends that the United States press for a broad governing coalition and a delay in holding elections, which would allow secular-liberal forces the opportunity to build their political parties and compete with Islamist parties. For Arab countries already facing polarization, the United States should be consistent on human rights, help to build up institutions (such as parliaments) as a hedge against authoritarian presidents, and press for inclusionary politics. In addition, the monograph recommends that U.S. Army officers should reinforce to their Arab military counterparts the value and necessity of concentrating on genuine external and internal terrorist threats, as opposed to being used as a coercive internal force that favors exclusionary politics.

Other products pertaining to this topic include:

Al-Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat, Report, June 2006 can be found at this link: http: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/052-070-07483-3

American Foreign Policy: Regional Perspectives; Proceedings, A Workshop Sponsored by the William B. Ruger Chair of National Security Economics, Newport, Rhode Island, 13-15 May 2009 can be found at this link: http: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-020-01594-6

Global Legal Challenges: Command of the Commons, Strategic Communications and Natural Disasters (Hardcover) can be found at this link: http: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-046-00244-4

The Saudi-Iranian Rivalry and the Future of Middle East Security can be found at this link: http: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-000-01076-5

Russia\'s Counterinsurgency in North Caucasus: Performance and Consequences: The Strategic Threat of Religious Extremism and Moscow's Response can be found at this link: http: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-000-01083-8

About the Author: ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GREGORY AFTANDILIAN, a consultant, scholar, and lecturer, is currently an associate of the Middle East Center at the University of Massachusetts-Low-ell, an adjunct faculty member of Boston University and American University, and a Senior Fellow for the Middle East at the Center for National Policy in Washington, DC. He spent over 21 years in govern-ment service, most recently on Capitol Hill, where he was foreign policy advisor to Congressman Chris Van Hollen (2007-08), a professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and foreign policy adviser to Senator Paul Sarbanes (2000-04), and foreign policy fellow to the late Senator Edward Ken-nedy (1999). Prior to these positions, Mr. Aftandilian worked for 13 years as a Middle East analyst at the U.S. Department of State where he was a recipient of the Department's Superior Honor Award for his analyses on Egypt and of the Intelligence Community's Certifi-cate of Distinction. His other government experience includes analytical work for the U.S. Department of Defense and the Library of Congress. Mr. Aftandilian was also a research fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (2006-07) and an International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York (1991-92), where he wrote the book, Egypt's Bid for Arab Leadership: Implications for U.S. Policy. He is also the author of the monographs: Looking Forward: An Integrated Strategy for Supporting Democracy and Human Rights in Egypt (2009); Presiden-tial Succession Scenarios and Their Impact on U.S.-Egyp-tian Strategic Relations (2011); and Egypt's New Regime and the Future of the U.S.-Egyptian Strategic Relationship (2013). He holds a B.A. in history from Dartmouth College, an M.A. in Middle Eastern studies from the University of Chicago, and an M.Sc. in international relations from the London School of Economics.