Jocelyne Cesari holds the Chair of Religion and Politics at the University of Birmingham, UK and is Senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center on Religion, Peace and World Affairs. President of the European Academy of Religion, her work on religion, political violence and conflict resolution has garnered recognition and awards from numerous international organizations such as the Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs, or the Royal Society for Arts in the UK. She is a Professorial Fellow at the Institute for Religion, Politics and Society at the Australian Catholic University. She teaches on contemporary Islam and politics at the Harvard Divinity School and directs the “Islam in the West” program.
Contrary to the dominant perception, secularization in Muslim countries is a defining feature of ... more Contrary to the dominant perception, secularization in Muslim countries is a defining feature of political Islam. Nationalism, communism and other ideologies more than the Islamic tradition have shaped political Islam. To demonstrate this assertion, the chapter examines the transformation of political and religious doctrine and institutions associated with the building of nation-states through decisive historical periods. For this reason, political Islam defined as national culture is broader than Islamic parties or movements.
Handbook on Religion and International Relations, 2021
Scholars of political science tend to address religion as either an independent or dependent vari... more Scholars of political science tend to address religion as either an independent or dependent variable. The goal of the chapter is to offer an alternative to this polarized approach in order to reflect the fluidity and the diversity of the roles of religion in politics and vice versa. The key question is: when and how does religion play a role in politics? I contend that the role of religion in politics is better understood as a continuous set of inter- actions between institutions, actors, and ideas in different national and international contexts. The scale to conduct this investigation is not the individual but the community level. In this respect, I suggest going back to the basics of sociology to approach religion as a societal community. It is then easier to capture tensions or alliances between religious communities and the modern political community, i.e. the nation. I apply this approach to the understanding of political Islam in international relations through the examples of Turkey and Egypt.
INTITULÉ DE L'ASSOCIATION 1/ ASSOCIATIONS DE QUARTIERS Association de formation de loisirs et... more INTITULÉ DE L'ASSOCIATION 1/ ASSOCIATIONS DE QUARTIERS Association de formation de loisirs et d'échanges culturels (AFLEC) Sporting club de la Cayolle Association des jeunes de la Cayolle Association Tout horizon Association Harmonie universelle Association des jeunes de la cité Picon Association culturelle et sociale de la Busserine Association des jeunes Bourrely Perrin Association sportive et culturelle de la Bricarde Comité des jeunes de la cité Bassens Oasis 35 Association Avenir jeunes ..
Ces manières différentes d'être musulmans dans la société française font voler en éclat la co... more Ces manières différentes d'être musulmans dans la société française font voler en éclat la conception réifiante et totalisante d'un islam de France, et conduisent à rompre avec une vision « essentialiste » de l'identité. Elles mettent également en évidence un écart très marqué entre générations, qui confère toute sa spécificité à cette migration. Ces différences dans les systèmes de signification vont se concrétiser dans des formes distinctes de mobilisation. Cette présentation des principale..
Pour les individus d'origine maghrébine, nés ou installés en France à la suite du regroupemen... more Pour les individus d'origine maghrébine, nés ou installés en France à la suite du regroupement familial, la définition de soi fait référence à des univers culturels différents. Prolétarisés dans la société française, les parents ont maintenu avec difficulté le système culturel de la société d'origine. Cette migration, plus que toute autre, est caractérisée par un écart très marqué entre les générations en ce qui concerne les valeurs et les normes qui guident les comportements, à tel point qu'..
Contrary to the dominant perception, secularization in Muslim countries is a defining feature of ... more Contrary to the dominant perception, secularization in Muslim countries is a defining feature of political Islam. Nationalism, communism and other ideologies more than the Islamic tradition have shaped political Islam. To demonstrate this assertion, the chapter examines the transformation of political and religious doctrine and institutions associated with the building of nation-states through decisive historical periods. For this reason, political Islam defined as national culture is broader than Islamic parties or movements.
Handbook on Religion and International Relations, 2021
Scholars of political science tend to address religion as either an independent or dependent vari... more Scholars of political science tend to address religion as either an independent or dependent variable. The goal of the chapter is to offer an alternative to this polarized approach in order to reflect the fluidity and the diversity of the roles of religion in politics and vice versa. The key question is: when and how does religion play a role in politics? I contend that the role of religion in politics is better understood as a continuous set of inter- actions between institutions, actors, and ideas in different national and international contexts. The scale to conduct this investigation is not the individual but the community level. In this respect, I suggest going back to the basics of sociology to approach religion as a societal community. It is then easier to capture tensions or alliances between religious communities and the modern political community, i.e. the nation. I apply this approach to the understanding of political Islam in international relations through the examples of Turkey and Egypt.
INTITULÉ DE L'ASSOCIATION 1/ ASSOCIATIONS DE QUARTIERS Association de formation de loisirs et... more INTITULÉ DE L'ASSOCIATION 1/ ASSOCIATIONS DE QUARTIERS Association de formation de loisirs et d'échanges culturels (AFLEC) Sporting club de la Cayolle Association des jeunes de la Cayolle Association Tout horizon Association Harmonie universelle Association des jeunes de la cité Picon Association culturelle et sociale de la Busserine Association des jeunes Bourrely Perrin Association sportive et culturelle de la Bricarde Comité des jeunes de la cité Bassens Oasis 35 Association Avenir jeunes ..
Ces manières différentes d'être musulmans dans la société française font voler en éclat la co... more Ces manières différentes d'être musulmans dans la société française font voler en éclat la conception réifiante et totalisante d'un islam de France, et conduisent à rompre avec une vision « essentialiste » de l'identité. Elles mettent également en évidence un écart très marqué entre générations, qui confère toute sa spécificité à cette migration. Ces différences dans les systèmes de signification vont se concrétiser dans des formes distinctes de mobilisation. Cette présentation des principale..
Pour les individus d'origine maghrébine, nés ou installés en France à la suite du regroupemen... more Pour les individus d'origine maghrébine, nés ou installés en France à la suite du regroupement familial, la définition de soi fait référence à des univers culturels différents. Prolétarisés dans la société française, les parents ont maintenu avec difficulté le système culturel de la société d'origine. Cette migration, plus que toute autre, est caractérisée par un écart très marqué entre les générations en ce qui concerne les valeurs et les normes qui guident les comportements, à tel point qu'..
Contrary to the dominant perception, secularization in Muslim countries is a defining feature ... more Contrary to the dominant perception, secularization in Muslim countries is a defining feature of political Islam. Nationalism, communism and other ideologies more than the Islamic tradition have shaped political Islam. To demonstrate this assertion, the chapter examines the transformation of political and religious doctrine and institutions associated with the building of nation-states through decisive historical periods. For this reason, political Islam defined as national culture is broader than Islamic parties or movements.
Handbook of International Relations and Religion, 2021
Scholars of political science tend to address religion as either an independent or dependent vari... more Scholars of political science tend to address religion as either an independent or dependent variable. The goal of the chapter is to offer an alternative to this polarized approach in order to reflect the fluidity and the diversity of the roles of religion in politics and vice versa. The key question is: when and how does religion play a role in politics? I contend that the role of religion in politics is better understood as a continuous set of inter- actions between institutions, actors, and ideas in different national and international contexts. The scale to conduct this investigation is not the individual but the community level. In this respect, I suggest going back to the basics of sociology to approach religion as a societal community. It is then easier to capture tensions or alliances between religious communities and the modern political community, i.e. the nation. I apply this approach to the understanding of political Islam in international relations through the examples of Turkey and Egypt.
What Is Political Islam?
The debate continues unabated: Is political Islam decipherable through ... more What Is Political Islam?
The debate continues unabated: Is political Islam decipherable through the tenets of the Islamic tradition—or is it a tool of secular actors who shrewdly misuse religious references? Is it an expression of modernity, or a return to the past? Eschewing these dichotomies, Jocelyne Cesari demystifies the continuous process of interaction between secular and religious actors and institutions that is at the core of political mobilization in the name of Islam.
Cesari traces the origins of political Islam to the inception of the modern nation-state, revealing the decisive role of secular nationalist rulers in its creation. In the process, she puts to rest the myth that there has been a lack of modernization in the Muslim world—and shows how that myth has proven dangerous. Ranging from Senegal to Egypt, from Indonesia to Iraq, her analysis provides a much needed corrective to the “conventional wisdom.”
discusses the political relevance of the conversion of Hagiapophia to a mosque for Erdogan's regi... more discusses the political relevance of the conversion of Hagiapophia to a mosque for Erdogan's regional policy and his rivalry with Saudi Arabia
In Europe and the United States, religion has become a significant component of the growing nationalist and supremacist political groups which contest fundamental rights of religious, sexual or racial minorities in the name of their religious identity. Outside western secular democracies, the rise of religious claims not only impinges on civil rights but also on the rule of law and democratic life in general. This panel aims at discussing the religious dimension of populism and nationalism across countries, religious traditions and historical periods. To do so, it will bring together scholars of religion and politics to explore comparatively the rise of extreme right movements in Europe, the white supremacists groups in the USA, but also rise of authoritarian figures in Turkey, Russia or India.
Jocelyne Cesari, University of Birmingham and Georgetown University, “We the People: Interplay between Religious Community, Nation and Populism” Wolfgang Palaver, University of Innsbruck: Fraternity versus Parochialism: On Religion and Populism Leon Van den Broeke, Campen University: “Legislation on Religion and Populist Parties Manifestos” Tobias Cremer, Oxford University, “The religious Dimension of European and American Populism Compared” Discussant: Jeffrey Haynes, London Metropolitan University
Interview for Islamchannel. it was recorded December 6 2018 at the Lambeth Palace in London durin... more Interview for Islamchannel. it was recorded December 6 2018 at the Lambeth Palace in London during the World Muslim Leaders Forum. I explained why Islam does not reform and discussed the historical and political reasons for the growing fear of Islam in the West.
I analyze women rights in Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan at the intersection of the Islamic tradition... more I analyze women rights in Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan at the intersection of the Islamic tradition and governance. See video of the talk in the link below
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Papers by Jocelyne Cesari
The debate continues unabated: Is political Islam decipherable through the tenets of the Islamic tradition—or is it a tool of secular actors who shrewdly misuse religious references? Is it an expression of modernity, or a return to the past? Eschewing these dichotomies, Jocelyne Cesari demystifies the continuous process of interaction between secular and religious actors and institutions that is at the core of political mobilization in the name of Islam.
Cesari traces the origins of political Islam to the inception of the modern nation-state, revealing the decisive role of secular nationalist rulers in its creation. In the process, she puts to rest the myth that there has been a lack of modernization in the Muslim world—and shows how that myth has proven dangerous. Ranging from Senegal to Egypt, from Indonesia to Iraq, her analysis provides a much needed corrective to the “conventional wisdom.”
In Europe and the United States, religion has become a significant component of the growing nationalist and supremacist political groups which contest fundamental rights of religious, sexual or racial minorities in the name of their religious identity. Outside western secular democracies, the rise of religious claims not only impinges on civil rights but also on the rule of law and democratic life in general.
This panel aims at discussing the religious dimension of populism and nationalism across countries, religious traditions and historical periods. To do so, it will bring together scholars of religion and politics to explore comparatively the rise of extreme right movements in Europe, the white supremacists groups in the USA, but also rise of authoritarian figures in Turkey, Russia or India.
Jocelyne Cesari, University of Birmingham and Georgetown University, “We the People: Interplay between Religious Community, Nation and Populism”
Wolfgang Palaver, University of Innsbruck: Fraternity versus Parochialism: On Religion and Populism
Leon Van den Broeke, Campen University: “Legislation on Religion and Populist Parties Manifestos”
Tobias Cremer, Oxford University, “The religious Dimension of European and American Populism Compared”
Discussant: Jeffrey Haynes, London Metropolitan University
I explained why Islam does not reform and discussed the historical and political reasons for the growing fear of Islam in the West.
See video of the talk in the link below