The Foreign Service Journal, October 2006

Islamism in the Context of Democracy God Willing: The Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh Ali Riaz, Rowman and Littlefield, 2004, $28.95, paperback, 230 pages. R EVIEWED BY K APIL G UPTA I recommend God Willing: The Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh to readers interested in the relation- ship between political Islam and democracy. Although the author’s patchwork of writing styles — his- torical narrative, academese, poetry and thick description — sometimes compromises readability, he still succeeds in illuminating several points that may be of particular interest to a general foreign-policy audience. Dr. Ali Riaz, a professor at Illinois State University, begins by dismissing prevalent “theologocen- tric” cultural and religious essential- izations that lead to trite conclusions about political Islam. He deplores a diminished sophistication in public discourse following the 9/11 attacks: “The demarcation between Islam (a faith), Islamism (a political ideolo- gy), Islamic revivalism (a social movement), and Islamic fundamen- talism (a transnational religio-politi- cal movement) became blurred almost instantly.” Riaz makes two key distinctions to frame the discussion. First, Islamism is inherently a political phenomenon and by no means something Islamic. A second, no less important point is particularly relevant to the project of countering Islamism: “Islamists who have a nationalist and country-specific Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (required by 39 U.S.C. 3685) 1) Publication Title: Foreign Service Journal 2) Publication No. 01463543 3) Filing Date: October 1, 2006 4) Issue Frequency: monthly with July/August combined 5) Number of Issues Published Annually: 11 6) Annual subscription price: $40.00 7) Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 8) Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters of General Business Officer of Publisher: 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 9) Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor and Senior Editor: Publisher: American Foreign Service Association, 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990; Editor: Steven Alan Honley, 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990; Senior Editor: Susan B. Maitra, 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037- 2990 10) Owner: American Foreign Service Association, 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20037-2990 11) Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent of More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: none 12) For completion by non-profit organizations authorized to mail at special rates: the purpose, function and non-profit status of this organization and the exempt status for Federal income tax purposes: (1) has not changed during preceding 12 months 13) Publication’s Name: Foreign Service Journal 14) Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: October 2006 15) Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average Number of Copies of Each Issue During Preceding 12 months: A. Total Number of Copies: 16,000 B. Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (1) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors and Counter Sales: 0 (2) Mail Subscription: 15,175 C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 15,175 D. Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, Complimentary and Other Free): 351 E. Free Distribution Outside the Mail: 350 F. Total Free Distribution: 701 G. Total Distribution: 15,876 H. Copies Not Distributed: (1) Office Use, Leftovers, Spoiled: 124 (2) Returns from News Agents: 0 I. Total: 16,000 J. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 95% Actual Number of Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date A. Total number of copies: 16,000 B. Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (1) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors and Counter Sales: 0 (2) Mail subscription: 15,175 C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 15,175 D. Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, Complimentary and Other Free): 361 E. Free Distribution Outside the Mail: 450 F. Total Free Distribution: 811 G. Total Distribution: 15,986 H. Copies Not Distributed: (1) Office Use, Leftovers, Spoiled: 14 (2) Returns from News Agents: 0 Total: 16,000 Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 95% I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. (signed) Susan B. Maitra, Senior Editor O C T O B E R 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 85 B O O K S