Why Islamists Go Green - (Edinburgh Studies of the Globalised Muslim World) by Emmanuel Karagiannis (Paperback)

About the Book

Investigates the environmental policies of transnational and militant Islamist groups

Book Synopsis

From North Africa to Indonesia, Muslim populations have struggled to cope with the new environmental realities. However, in the era of globalisation, institutionalised Islamist parties, particularly in government, are increasingly addressing green issues and suggesting policies in order to help protect water supplies, reduce pollution and increase tree plantation. This applies to Islamists who participate in electoral politics, as well as those who are classified as transnational or militant. Delving into the causes of this new environmentalism phenomenon, Emmanuel Karagiannis explores the religious and political motivations of five Islamist groups and assesses the degree of influence that Islamic texts, rulings and principles have on the green policies pursued.

Review Quotes

Why Islamists Go Green is the first study of its kind to comprehensively examine the Islamist movements - the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Hizbullah, Hamas, and jihadist-Salafi groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS - and their relationship to the environment.--Laura Wickström "The Donner Institute"

Drawing on his extensive experience as a political scientist studying Islamist movements, Emmanuel Karagiannis has expanded his research with an examination of their wider agendas through the lens of eco-theology. By addressing this largely understudied aspect of Islamist activism and ideology, Why Islamists Go Green provides a welcome addition to the literature on militant political Islam.

--Carool Kersten, Kings College London

Karagiannis's well-researched work outlines Islamist approaches to environmental issues. Its analysis of six organisations, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizbullah and ISIS, shows that political self-interest, rather than a theological rationale, drives the shift to environmentalism. This excellent volume enriches our knowledge of Islamist ideas and policies and exposes the secular motivations behind the religious veneer that overlays them.

--Katerina Dalacoura, London School of Economics

The book provides a fascinating glimpse into the unique world of Islamist groups and how they can shed light on universally relevant questions: how are environmental problems framed? How are solutions pursued at the global vs local levels?

--Charlotte Hulme, United States Military Academy "International Affairs Vol. 100, No. 1"