Background

Abstract

This chapter introduces the concept of Din-wa-dawla (unity of state and religion) and Anti-Semitism and analyses important earlier empirical studies on the subject. We highlight the erroneous judgements of past US administrations about ties to the Muslim Brotherhood highlighted in President Obama’s Presidential Study Directive 11 (PSD-11) in 2010. Earlier empirical studies, reviewed in this chapter, inter alia come to the conclusion that 75% of religious Muslims appear to support politically moderate Islam, while 25% show support for politically radical Islam, and that there is no Anti-Zionism without Anti-Semitism. In the present background chapter, we also debate changes in the global economy and indicators of Global Terrorism. This chapter introduces the contents of Part II of the present monograph.