Islamism presupposes and works through the Western-imposed nation-state rather than rejecting it.

Evidence

Both Arab nationalism (whether of the “liberal” or the “socialist” variety) and Islamism share a concern with the modernizing state that was put in place by Westernizing power—a state directed at the unceasing material and moral transformation of entire populations only recently organized as “societies.” In other words, Islamism takes for granted and seeks to work through the nation-state, which is so central to the predicament of all Muslims. — Talal Asad, Formations of the Secular, 965

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes a point about how supposedly anti-modern movements actually presuppose modern state forms; connects to my earlier notes on the Westport readings and the nation-state’s hegemony.