Islamic fundamentalism, nationstate and global citizenship: The case of Hizb ut-Tahrir

Abstract

Contrary to common understanding among observers, this essay argues that Islamic fundamentalism is not anti-globalization movement, but rather as parts, participants, and interpreters of globalization. Focusing on the case of Hizb ut-Tahrir, it shows that regardless of its utopian nature of the ideology it promotes, Islamic fundamentalism is a globalizing force that constitutes a return of old world religions to modern society, which is characterised by its rejection of the validity of nation-states and vision of a global citizenship through the establishment of Islamic Caliphate as a single global community of believers (ummah) with its universalistic rules and laws within contemporary Muslim world.