Why Islamists Go Green
Politics, Religion and the Environment
- Examines and compares the environmentalism of transnational groups that have been labelled as extremist or militant: the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Hamas, Hizbullah, Al-Qaeda and ISIS
- Covers different thematic areas, including land and water management, trees, animal issues, energy and pollution
- Seeks to expand research into Islamist environmentalism through the combined lens of political science and Islamic studies
From North Africa to Indonesia, Muslim populations have struggled to cope with the new environmental realities. In the era of globalisation, however, Islamists are increasingly addressing green issues and suggesting policies to help protect the environment. Delving into the causes of this new environmentalism phenomenon, Emmanuel Karagiannis explores the motivations of different Islamist groups and assesses the degree of influence that Islamic texts, rulings and principles have on the green policies pursued.
Glossary Transliteration Series Editor’s Foreword Preface and Acknowledgements
Introduction 1 Islam and the Environment 2 Muslim Brotherhood and the Environment 3 Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Environment 4 Hizbullah and the Environment 5 Hamas and the Environment 6 The Jihadi-Salafi Movement and the Environment 7 Understanding Islamist Environmentalism Conclusions
Appendix Select Bibliography Index
Drawing on his extensive experience as a political scientist studying Islamist movements, Emmanuel Karagiannis has expanded his research with an examination of their wider agendas through the lens of eco-theology. By addressing this largely understudied aspect of Islamist activism and ideology, Why Islamists Go Green provides a welcome addition to the literature on militant political Islam.
The book provides a fascinating glimpse into the unique world of Islamist groups and how they can shed light on universally relevant questions: how are environmental problems framed? How are solutions pursued at the global vs local levels?
Karagiannis’s well-researched work outlines Islamist approaches to environmental issues. Its analysis of six organisations, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizbullah and ISIS, shows that political self-interest, rather than a theological rationale, drives the shift to environmentalism. This excellent volume enriches our knowledge of Islamist ideas and policies and exposes the secular motivations behind the religious veneer that overlays them.
Why Islamists Go Green is the first study of its kind to comprehensively examine the Islamist movements – the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Hizbullah, Hamas, and jihadist-Salafi groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS – and their relationship to the environment.
