About Book

This book provides a concise yet methodologically rigorous comparative study of religiously motivated political extremism, with a particular focus on political Islam in the Arab world and globally. Using extensive survey data from the Arab Barometer and the World Values Survey, Arno Tausch applies advanced statistical techniques to examine how adherence to political Islam shapes political behaviors, social outcomes, and the prevalence of political violence. The study identifies three core syndromes of political Islam—electoral influence, promotion of religious and gender discrimination, and advocacy of an Islamist interpretation of Islam—which collectively account for over 50% of the variance in the 24 model variables analyzed. Tausch situates his research within a broader scholarly debate on political Islam, distinguishing his study from oversimplified or sensationalist perspectives that conflate religious observance with terrorism. The book offers critical insights into the relationship between religious ideology and political structures, demonstrating empirically how certain ideological alignments correlate with discriminatory practices and increased political mobilization. The inclusion of both global and regional comparisons enhances the relevance of the findings, highlighting patterns that are consistent across different socio-political contexts while accounting for local variations. Additionally, the book is structured to guide readers from conceptual clarification to empirical results, including detailed methodological explanations, data visualization, and comprehensive appendices. This ensures that both practitioners and scholars can engage with the findings and replicate or extend the analysis in their own research.Political Islam and Religiously Motivated Political Extremism” is a methodologically sound, empirically rich, and analytically clear work. Its focus on international comparison, rigorous statistical analysis, and nuanced treatment of political Islam makes it a crucial resource for understanding contemporary forms of religious extremism and their implications for political and social stability. It is an essential addition to repositories concerned with extremism, political behavior, and global security studies.