Islamic Concepts and Political Movements

A collection of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to Islamic beliefs, political movements, and historical events.

What is the belief in no centralized government and voluntary cooperation called?

Anarchism

What is system disruption?

A tactic used by terrorists to interrupt critical infrastructure, such as power grids, transportation, or communication systems, to create chaos and weaken authority.

Which radical Islamic group straddles the Pakistan-Afghanistan border?

The Taliban

What is Marxism heavily focused on?

Class struggle between the working class (proletariat) and the capitalist class (bourgeoisie).

Another term for the upper class?

Elites

What nationalist group massacred Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics?

Black September (Palestinian nationalist group)

What is the transitional stage from capitalism to communism?

Socialism

What term describes inhabiting a foreign area and dominating its people/resources?

Colonialism

What agreement divided the Middle East into British/French control after WWI?

Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916)

Who created the partition plan establishing Israel?

United Nations (UN Partition Plan – 1947)

What religion has no holy sites in Israel?

Hinduism

What’s the relationship between the PLO and the PLA?

PLO = Political leadership; PLA = Military wing of the PLO

One reason the U.S. launched ground attacks in Iraq (2003)?

Belief that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all trace lineage to?

Abraham

Key attributes of the Qur’an?

Islamic holy book, believed to be the literal word of God, revealed to Muhammad, in Arabic.

Sunni-Shi’a split came from what event?

Disagreement over Muhammad’s successor (caliph)

What is the collection of words and deeds of Muhammad and companions?

Hadith

Key Sunni vs. Shi’a distinction?

Shi’a: Leadership must stay in Muhammad’s family (Ali); Sunni: Leadership by community consensus.

Holy city for Muslims?

Mecca

True meaning of “jihad”?

Internal struggle to live in submission to God (not inherently violent).

When did “jihad” shift toward violent interpretation?

Late 20th century, especially with the rise of Islamist extremist groups.

Five Pillars of Islam?

1. Faith; 2. Prayer; 3. Charity; 4. Fasting (Ramadan); 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca.

Muslim fasting during the 9th month is called?

Ramadan

Hezbollah is backed by Iran and active in which two countries?

Lebanon and Syria.

Muslim Brotherhood began in what country?

Egypt (founded 1928).

Strategy to preserve identity by retrieving past beliefs/practices?

Religious Fundamentalism (also called Revivalism).

What conditions help Islamic fundamentalist groups thrive?

Poor governance, economic hardship, corruption, foreign occupation/intervention.

Who influenced modern Islamic fundamentalism and why?

Sayyid Qutb — responded to Western influence and secularism with radical ideology.

What group traditionally supports blending Islam with government?

Islamists (e.g., Muslim Brotherhood, some Shi’a clerics, Salafists).