The article deals with the following questions: what does modernity mean for Hamas in the Middle East and how is Hamas responding to the extensive social and political changes and challenges of modern times? To which extent do significant inconsistencies result from the Islamist movement’s forceful adherence to the Islamic religious tradition (naql) on the one side and the diversity of modernity’s manifestations on the other side? In many respects, Hamas as a radical movement has to do with modernity revealing itself for the Palestinians in the Middle East. For Hamas, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is, above all, a conflict with modernity. In this conflict, Hamas, on the one hand, acts as an adaptive, modern movement. On the other hand, it reveals its radical nature, claiming the indisputable monopoly on the interpretation of the Islamic religious tradition.
While attempting to bring the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations back to the starting point after the 1967 war – after the unsuccessful period of unequal and unilateral negotiations between the Israelis and Arafats Fatah – Hamas aims at improving the fate of the Palestinian people by establishing an Islamic system (nizām islāmī). This is precisely the main preoccupation of the movement’s social and from now on also political commitment. However, in order to achieve its objectives and to lead promising negotiations with Israel as well as with the four secular agents involved in the Middle East conflict, Hamas must undergo a process of reflection about its cultural and religious identity. Only by means of such an internal process can Hamas exert a positive impact on Palestinian politics.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Hamas, Modernity, and Religious Adherence
- The Genesis of the Movement's Ideology
- The Manifestation of Populist and Radical Concepts in the Charter of the Islamic Resistance Movement
- Theoretical Consideration of the Armed Struggle against Israel
- Consequences of Hamas' Contradicting Political Concepts and Messages
- Modern Strategies of Warfare
- The Dilemma of Suicide Attacks
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This article examines the role of Hamas in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly focusing on the movement's relationship with modernity and its adherence to Islamic religious tradition. It explores how Hamas navigates the challenges of modernity while maintaining its fundamentalist ideology. The article also examines the implications of Hamas' political and social commitment to establishing an Islamic system.
- Hamas' response to the challenges of modernity
- The interplay of modernity and Islamic tradition within Hamas
- The movement's commitment to establishing an Islamic system
- Hamas' strategy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- The implications of Hamas' political and social activities
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and highlights Hamas' rise to prominence as a significant player in the conflict. It also presents the main questions addressed in the article, focusing on the movement's relationship with modernity and its adherence to Islamic tradition.
- Hamas, Modernity, and Religious Adherence: This chapter delves into the concepts of modernity and Islamic tradition and their relevance to Hamas. It explores the historical development of modernity in Europe and its implications for religious communities. It also examines how modernity has challenged traditional Islamic communities.
- The Genesis of the Movement's Ideology: This chapter explores the origins of Hamas' ideology, analyzing its core principles and objectives. It discusses the movement's commitment to establishing an Islamic system and its views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- The Manifestation of Populist and Radical Concepts in the Charter of the Islamic Resistance Movement: This chapter examines the Charter of the Islamic Resistance Movement, outlining its key tenets and how they manifest in Hamas' political and social agenda. It analyzes the movement's stance on violence and its role as an advocate for the Palestinian people.
- Theoretical Consideration of the Armed Struggle against Israel: This chapter explores Hamas' theoretical justification for armed struggle against Israel. It examines the movement's interpretation of Islamic law and its rationale for engaging in military operations.
- Consequences of Hamas' Contradicting Political Concepts and Messages: This chapter analyzes the complexities of Hamas' political discourse, exploring the contradictions and tensions between its different messages and actions. It examines the impact of these inconsistencies on the movement's overall strategy and its relations with other actors in the Middle East.
- Modern Strategies of Warfare: This chapter examines Hamas' evolving strategies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting its use of modern warfare tactics and technologies. It analyzes the impact of globalization and international pressures on the movement's military capabilities.
- The Dilemma of Suicide Attacks: This chapter explores the controversial issue of suicide attacks, analyzing Hamas' justification for using such tactics and the ethical and political implications of this approach. It discusses the international response to suicide attacks and their role in shaping the conflict.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The article examines the key terms and concepts of modernity, Islamic tradition, radical Islam, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Hamas' political and social ideology. It focuses on themes of political and religious identity, the challenges of modernity, and the role of the movement in contemporary Middle Eastern politics. The article explores the implications of Hamas' adherence to Islamic law and its strategies for achieving its objectives, including the use of armed struggle and suicide attacks.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Oliver Borszik (Autor:in), 2006, The Palestinian Hamas between islamic religious tradition and modernity, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/75772
