The Meaning of the Concept in this Book
Political Islam is presented as a tool of legitimate mobilization and as fuel for the struggle over power, not as merely a religious expression. It is criticized because it effaces the historical and spiritual dimension of the tradition and uses religion to consolidate legitimacy.
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
The concept appears within a critique of ideologization and politicization, where the transformation of religion into political discourse is seen as a distortion of its deeper meaning. In this context, it is also linked to criticism of extremist discourses and to the reminder that official Islam does not represent other Islams, and that religious display may obscure spiritual religiosity.
How It Works Inside the Atlas
This concept connects to several pathways within the atlas: it sits alongside the critique of ideologization and politicization, and it helps clarify how religious symbols are used in legitimate mobilization, and how political violence leads to the effacement of the ethical question. It also opens onto a distinction between what appears under the name of Islam and what the broader religious experience contains in terms of plurality, historicity, and spirituality.