Geopolitical Futures
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
Presence of Salafism in the Middle East and North Africa
April 14, 2017 Salafism originated in the mid-18th century in an area that now encompasses
Saudi Arabia. It can best be described as a tendency that envisions an austere form of Islam.
This modern trend within Islam began as a corrective movement in 18th century Arabia to bring
Muslims back to the religion’s original creed.
For many decades, the kingdom exported Salafism and associated ultraconservative ideas by
constructing and purchasing mosques, underwriting seminaries, publishing literature,
dispatching clerics, supporting charities and so on. Over time, however, it gradually lost control
over the Salafist ideology itself, and three distinct branches formed: quietist, jihadist and
electoral.
Quietists are the most dominant strand of Salafism and seek to promote ultraconservative
interpretations of Islam through peaceful proselytization. This structural contradiction between
Saudi Arabia’s geopolitical behavior and the religious ideals it supported led to the growth of the
jihadist branch. Jihadists also pursue an ultraconservative religious agenda but believe in the use
of armed insurrection to achieve it. The electoral branch grew largely out of the Arab Spring
movement and involves Salafists who want to use the electoral process as a means to
operationalize their orthodox religious views via government.
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Geopolitical Futures
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
Though Salafism has spread to different parts of the Muslim world, its core is rooted in the Arab
world where it was born. This area is also experiencing the greatest turmoil created by the
jihadist strand of Salafism. So far, there have not been any cases where jihadist Salafists have
embraced electoral Salafism – this space is currently dominated by those who were formerly of
the quietist Salafist realm. However, when exhaustion from war produces political settlements in
the distant future, electoral Salafism could have a role to play as a potential way for some of
today’s jihadist Salafists to join mainstream politics.
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