Islamist movements were politically marginal for the first century and a half

Evidence

The revivalist movements and groups discussed above were minor players on the political stage in the nineteenth century and in the first half of the twentieth century. The dominant trend in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia during this period was toward secularism and modernization. Thus, despite his best efforts, al-Afghani—the “father” of modern Islamist thought—failed to build a pan-Islamic alliance. Similarly, the secular nationalists in India and Egypt had the support of the vast majority of the population; Islamist currents were marginal. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 308

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Grosfoguel/Rana on the constructed nature of ‘Muslim world’ narratives — echoes Kumar’s broader myth-deconstruction. — connects to: Early Salafism was not anti-state or revolutionary — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 305; Political Islam’s rise stems from modern politics, not seventh-century Islam — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 313; Political Islam parallels other modern fundamentalisms rather than stemming from Islam’s essence — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 285 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Political Islam’s rise stems from modern politics, not seventh-century Islam #expands (0.75) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 313
• Political Islam parallels other modern fundamentalisms rather than stemming from Islam’s essence #corroborates (0.60) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 285
• Political Islam’s rise depended on the collapse of secular nationalism #expands (0.60) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 312
• Religious political ascendance in the late twentieth century was a global, not Muslim-specific, phenomenon #expands (0.50) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 314