Islam and Muslim Politics in Africa (PDF)

BENJAMIN F. SOARES is a Researcher in the African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.

RENÉ OTAYEK is a political scientist and Director, Centre d'Etude d'Afrique Noire, Bordeaux, France.

'The timely interest of Islam in politics and in the international arena needs no emphasis in the context of the post 9/11 world. While much attention has been focused on these issues by academics and policymakers, sub-Saharan African has been largely ignored. This volume is thus a very welcome addition to the literature, filling a real need in terms of close, research-based accounts of the dynamics of Islam in a wide range of countries.' - Leonardo Villalón, Director, Center for African Studies, University of Florida

'The general subject of Islam and sub-Saharan Africa is in desperate need of an interdisciplinary and comparative study like this. This volume makes a significant contribution in this direction, and will be particularly valuable for scholars and students of African studies and Islamic studies, and policymakers in the region and beyond.' - Abdullahi An-Na'im, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law, Emory Law School

'This excellent collection of case studies fills an important gap in our understanding of African Muslims' engagement with political life in an era of globalization and political and economic liberalization. They present a fascinating picture of the range of African Muslim participation in the political arena, while challenging conventional assumptions about Islam in Africa. These essays will enable a wider audience to appreciate the diversity and complexity of Islam and political practice among one-fifth of the world's Muslims.' - Richard Joseph, Professor of Political Science and African Studies, Northwestern University