Islamism in Saudi Arabia

Western observers usually intend special meaning for “Islamism” according to which development of Islamist movements is interpreted as a serious threat to secular governments. According to this interpretation, “Islamist” is used to refer to extremist movements, groups and individuals which subscribe to religious values and ideals to serve a larger political agenda aimed at violently spreading or imposing special reading of Islamic law, either locally, regionally or internationally. This conception of Islamism is used by the author to investigate the phenomenon at three levels in Saudi Arabia: Islamist organizations, Islamism and society and the relations between Islamism and government.