The Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (Cairo) introduces this study series of Islamist movements with a novel and felicitous taxonomy of the Islamist spectrum. Serveral well-known groups, influential works and thinkers are scrutinized in detail and - a rare exception not only for an English-language work - have their practice and worldview cautiously juxtaposed with mainstream orthodox Islamic positions. This book does not only provide data about its subjects, which would make it one of many: more crucially, it gives a rare glimpse into the budding intra-Muslim discourse and reveals a perception of and an approach toward the challenge of Islamist movements that are at variance with those usually put forward for Western audiences.
