Imagining Jihad. Issue 4 (7th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barbato, Mariano; Hantscher, Sinja; Lederer, Markus
• Is Part Of: Global affairs. Volume 2:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 419
• Page End: 429
• Publication Date: 2016-08-07
• Subjects: Benedict Anderson -- Islamic state -- Islamism -- nationalism -- state building; International relations -- Periodicals; World politics -- Periodicals; Geopolitics -- Periodicals; 327.05
• DOI: 10.1080/23340460.2016.1286718
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2334-0460

Abstract

Abstract : The article examines how the Islamic State (IS) has evolved into a community- and initial state-building project. Using Benedict Anderson's concept of "imagined community" (Anderson, B. [1983]. Imagined communities . London: Verso), we claim that IS is about to construct an aggressive Sunni national identity with a specific territorial claim, which could have a high impact on international order. Comparing nationalism and Islamism allows us to understand the strong appeal of the latter much better than a focus on religion alone.