Regional diffusion of post-Islamism? Ennahda’s lessons from Turkey’s AKP and Morocco’s PJD

Alencar A (2025)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

DOI: 10.1080/13569775.2025.2590646

Abstract

This article explores the transnational diffusion of post-Islamist models among moderate Islamist parties in the aftermath of the Arab uprisings, with a focus on Tunisia’s Ennahda. While existing literature often prioritises domestic factors, this study emphasises the role of cross-border influences, particularly the strategic learning derived from the Turkish AKP and Moroccan PJD. Drawing on diffusion theory, content analysis, and sixty interviews with Ennahda members, the article shows how Ennahda selectively emulated aspects of these parties’ experiences, while adapting them to Tunisia’s context. Positive diffusion occurred through learning and collaboration, while negative diffusion emerged in response to the AKP’s authoritarian shift and the PJD’s close ties to its religious parent movement. The findings highlight the agency of Islamist actors in shaping their trajectories and illustrate how transnational engagement has contributed to the evolution of post-Islamism as a context-dependent, pragmatic trend, rather than a coherent or uniform ideological project.

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How to cite

APA:

Alencar, A. (2025). Regional diffusion of post-Islamism? Ennahda’s lessons from Turkey’s AKP and Morocco’s PJD. Contemporary Politics. https://doi.org/10.1080/13569775.2025.2590646

MLA:

Alencar, Aline. "Regional diffusion of post-Islamism? Ennahda’s lessons from Turkey’s AKP and Morocco’s PJD." Contemporary Politics (2025).

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