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Pursing a Freedom Agenda Amidst Rising Global Islamism

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Pursing a Freedom Agenda Amidst Rising Global Islamism Pursuing a Freedom Agenda Amidst Rising Global Islamism Lisa Curtis, Charlotte Florance, Walter Lohman, and James Phillips SPECIAL REPORT No. 159 | NOVEMBER 17, 2014 Pursuing a Freedom Agenda Amidst Rising Global Islamism Lisa Curtis, Charlotte Florance, Walter Lohman, and James Phillips SR-159 Contributors Lisa Curtis is Senior Research Fellow for South Asia in the Asian Studies Center, of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, at The Heritage Foundation. Charlotte Florance is a Research Associate for Economic Freedom in Africa and the Middle East in the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign and National Security Policy, of the Davis Institute. Walter Lohman is Director of the Asian Studies Center. James Phillips is Senior Research Fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs in the Allison Center. Photo on the Cover— © thinkstockphotos.com This paper, in its entirety, can be found at: http://report.heritage.org/sr159 The Heritage Foundation 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 546-4400 | heritage.org Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before Congress. SPECIAL REPORT | NO. 159 NOVEMBER 17, 2014 Pursuing a Freedom Agenda Amidst Rising Global Islamism Lisa Curtis, Charlotte Florance, Walter Lohman, and James Phillips Abstract: The rapidly changing political landscapes in several important Muslim-majority countries are challenging U.S. policymakers to develop coherent and consistent policy approaches that simultaneously strengthen liberal demo- cratic development, help to counter terrorist movements, and support American strategic interests. Given the dif- ferent national contexts and stages along the democratic development spectrum on which each country finds itself, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for the U.S. to pursue. There are, however, certain guiding principles to which the U.S. can adhere in order to encourage peace, stability, and democratic freedoms. As Islamism increasingly in- fluences the political landscapes throughout Muslim communities, the U.S. must develop a coherent set of policy principles to address the new challenges and use aid and other diplomatic tools to promote democratic ideals and practices in these transitioning states. The outcomes of the current political machinations in Muslim-majority polities will determine the future security and stability of much of the world, as well as the scope of international terrorism trends over the coming decades. he rapidly changing political landscapes in sev- need and thus have a role to play in the democratic Teral important Muslim-majority countries are evolution of their respective countries. The ideologi- challenging U.S. policymakers to develop coherent cal underpinnings and anti-democratic practices of and consistent policy approaches that simultane- the hard-line Islamist1 elements among them, how- ously bolster liberal democratic development, help ever, pose serious risks to U.S. foreign policy objec- counter terrorist movements, and support Ameri- tives. The U.S. requires a long-term strategy to man- can strategic interests. Given the different national age this challenge. Countering the illiberal agendas contexts and stages along the democratic develop- of Islamist parties is vital to protecting American ment spectrum on which each country finds itself, core national security interests. Islamists often pur- there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for the U.S. to sue policies that undermine individual freedoms pursue. There are, however, certain guiding princi- and lead to discrimination, repression, and violence ples to which the U.S. can adhere in order to encour- against religious minority groups and women. Their age peace, stability, and democratic freedoms. lenient policies toward terrorist groups also under- One of the most salient, consistent features across cut U.S. counterterrorism measures and encourage a these political environments is the rise of Islam- permissive environment for extremists to plot, plan, based political parties. Such parties fill a political and train for international terrorist attacks. Coun- 1 PURSUING A FREEDOM AGENDA AMIDST RISING GLOBAL ISLAMISM tering Islamism requires a thoughtful and clear- all its forms; well-informed diplomacy that address- eyed approach that recognizes that Islamist lead- es the religious debates and ideological currents in ers often employ short-term tactics that may fall in the country; and policies that prioritize empower- line with democratic processes, while maintaining a ment of women and religious minorities. long-term strategy that seeks to weaken democracy. The U.S. should not promote democracy in a vac- This Special Report seeks to explain what is hap- uum or without regard for the broader strategic con- pening in five key Muslim-majority countries that text. It can, however, implement a freedom agenda in are important to U.S. national security, have active countries of critical strategic interest to the U.S. and and influential Islamist political parties, and some in which it can have the greatest impact. level of a functioning democratic process: Bangla- desh, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Tunisia. In Islamism and Democracy each of these five countries, the authors have exam- President Barack Obama stated that the policy of ined issues such as the role of Islamist political par- the United States will be “to promote reform across ties in the politics and governance of the country, the the region [greater Middle East] and to support factors that influence the popularity of the Islamist transitions to democracy.”2 But with the increasing parties, the role of sharia (Islamic law) in gover- involvement of Islamist parties, promoting reform nance and society, the status of religious minorities, and democracy has become an ever-more complicat- and terrorism trends. ed endeavor. Islamism is not a monolithic phenom- enon, and Islamist politics are increasingly defined throughout the region by a widening spectrum of The Islamist parties in Egypt, Pakistan, political thought and practices.3 and Bangladesh currently stand for The rise of Islamist parties over the past few years has occurred in the context of democracy move- democracy in a formal sense, that is, ments throughout the Middle East, especially in they support free elections, but they Egypt and Tunisia. This has raised questions about generally oppose democratic values U.S. democracy promotion and whether it has helped such as freedom of speech, freedom fuel instability. This report argues that U.S. democ- of religion, and gender equality. racy promotion activities are more important than ever and will ultimately assist these nations in devel- oping into stable, democratic societies. This will be In order to understand the roots of Islamism, a long-term endeavor, and will require U.S. policy- this report offers a brief introduction to historical makers to exercise patience as they consistently pro- Islamic political movements and intellectual figures mote the basic building blocks of democracy, includ- that have influenced the development of modern ing regular elections, political party development, Islamist parties. protection of minority rights and religious freedom, Finally, the report provides a list of recommen- a constitution that enshrines division of powers and dations for U.S. policymakers as they grapple with an independent judiciary, and a free media. developing effective policy responses to the chang- The political struggles taking place in the Middle ing political dynamics and rise of Islamist parties. East represent reactions to autocratic rule as well U.S. policies should be tailored to the circumstanc- as divisions within society about the role that Islam es of each individual country, and the U.S. should should play in shaping laws and state institutions.4 apply specific tools where they are most likely to Public polling reveals wide divisions among Muslim- have impact and best serve U.S. interests. The tools majority countries on the issue of the role of religion in for refuting Islamism include public diplomacy that governance. A 2012 poll by the Pew Research Center counters extremist, anti-Western ideologies; target- demonstrates that while 82 percent of Pakistanis and ed aid programs that support a vibrant civil society, 60 percent of Egyptians prefer their laws to strictly help build democracy at the grass roots, and encour- follow the teachings of the Koran, only 22 percent of age economic freedom and private-sector-led eco- Tunisians and 17 percent of Turks support the same.5 nomic growth; consistent messaging that supports Islamist parties such as the Muslim Brotherhood the democratic process and condemns terrorism in in Egypt and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Pakistan 2 SPECIAL REPORT | NO. 159 NOVEMBER 17, 2014 and Bangladesh have participated in the democratic When a coalition of religious parties in Pakistan’s processes of their respective countries even as they Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province came to power in support an all-encompassing role for Islam in soci- 2002, the grouping immediately instituted sev- ety and politics, and strive for a governing system eral draconian policies and passed a bill seeking to based solely on sharia. These Islamist parties cur- declare sharia law in the province. As time passed, rently stand for democracy in a formal sense, that the coalition tempered some of its hardline positions is, they support free elections, but they generally and its leaders became targets of Pakistani militants oppose democratic values such as freedom of speech, opposed to the democratic process. freedom of religion, and gender equality. The Egyptian military’s ouster of Morsi in July Other political parties, such as the ruling Paki- 2013 and its harsh crackdown on Brotherhood sup- stan Muslim League/Nawaz Party (PML/N) and porters has further undermined democratic devel- the National Mandate Party (PAN) in Indonesia, opment in Egypt. Human rights organizations emphasize Muslim identity but strongly value the say that nearly 1,150 protesters were killed by the democratic process and nature of the state.
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