Ummah or Nation? Identity Crisis in Contemporary Muslim Society

Ummah or Nation? is a study of identity crises in modern Muslim society. It surveys the literature on the development of nationalism in Muslim countries, examines the status of the ummah and nation-state identities in contemporary Muslim nation-states, and studies cooperative activities of Muslim nations through the OIC. The book argues that nationalism in Muslim countries was different in character from nationalism in European countries in that it did not originate from a secular thrust. Therefore, after the failure of nationalist elites to solve problems, Islam returned to challenge the legitimacy of nationalism and nationalist elites. Although Islamic forces have not been able to replace nationalist forces, they have succeeded in drawing the attention of the nationalist elites to adopt some Islamic slogans. Meanwhile the society suffers from a crisis of identity between ummah and nationalism.