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University of California Press

About the Book

In this groundbreaking study, Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr examines the origins, historical development, and political strategies of one of the oldest and most influential Islamic revival movements, the Jama'at-i Islami of Pakistan. He focuses on the inherent tension between the movement's idealized vision of the nation as a holy community based in Islamic law and its political agenda of socioeconomic change for Pakistani society.

Nasr's work goes beyond the exploration of a single party to examine the diverse sociopolitical roots of contemporary Islamic revivalism, challenging many of the standard interpretations about political expressions of Islam.

About the Author

Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of San Diego.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures 
Preface 
Note to the Reader 
Acronyms and Abbreviations 
PART 1 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
The Quest for a Holy Community 
2 From Holy Community to Political Party 
PART 2 STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL BASE
3 Organization 
4 Social Base 
PART 3 POLITICS
5 Prelude to Pakistan, 1941-1947 
6 Entering the Political Process, 1947-1958 
7 The Secular State, 1958-1971 
8 The Bhutto Years, 1971-1977 
9 Accommodation and Opposition, 1977-1988 
10 The Rebirth of Democracy, 1988-1993 
11 Islamic Revivalism in the Political Process 
Notes 
Glossary 
Interviewees 
Bibliography 
Index