New Islamic Actors in Middle Eastern Civil SocietyMarie Juul Petersen and Sara Cathrine Lei Sparre analyze new civil society actors in Jordan and Egypt In two new DIIS Briefs, Marie Juul Petersen and Sara Lei Sparre analyze the potential for social reform of a variety of Islamic civil society actors. In “Social Welfare Activism in Jordan: Democratisation in Disguise?”, Marie Juul Petersen ask the question whether religious social welfare organizations in Jordan can be considered potential agents of change or rather as preservers of the status quo. The brief comes to an ambiguous conclusion regarding the position of these organizations to issues such as women’s rights, participation and pluralism. In “Muslim youth organisations in Egypt: actors of reform and development?” Sara Lei Sparre looks as a new variety of Muslim youth organizations that engage in voluntary welfare activities. Thereby, she discerns among these organizations a new combination of Islam, social activism and self-empowerment. Both Briefs are based on the one-year research project on Islam and civil society organisations in Jordan and Egypt, carried out by Marie Juul Petersen and Sara Lei Sparre until November 2007. The whole project has been published as DIIS Report Islam and Civil Society: Case Studies from Jordan and Egypt. Social Welfare Activism in Jordan: Democratisation in Disguise?Marie Juul PetersenDIIS Brief, January 2007, 7 p. Download free (pdf, 80 KB) Muslim youth organisations in Egypt: actors of reform and development?Sara Lei Sparre DIIS Brief, January 2007, 5 p. Download free (pdf, 150 KB) |
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