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Islam Quote by Pankaj Mishra

“Shaped by political considerations, and then driven by geopolitical urgencies, Khomeinism was always a hybrid: the beneficiary of an ideological account of Islamic tradition, which borrowed from modern idioms and used secular concepts, particularly those of Shariati, and also incorporated a Third…” quote by Pankaj Mishra
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““Shaped by political considerations, and then driven by geopolitical urgencies, Khomeinism was always a hybrid: the beneficiary of an ideological account of Islamic tradition, which borrowed from modern idioms and used secular concepts, particularly those of Shariati, and also incorporated a Third Worldist revolutionary discourse. Islamists negating top-down modernizers ended up mirroring, even parodying, their supposed enemy, cancelling their own simple oppositions between Us and Them.””

Pankaj Mishra

About This Quote

Source Book: Age of Anger by Pankaj Mishra, 2017

The quote explains that Khomeinism blends religious tradition with modern and revolutionary ideas, creating a hybrid ideology that both adopts and mocks its opponents, blurring simple binaries.

In simple terms: Khomeinism mixes old religious ideas with modern revolutionary ideas, making it a complex hybrid.

Key Takeaway

Recognize ideological hybrids and avoid simplistic us‑vs‑them thinking.

Themes

politics ideology religion revolution identity

Mood

critical analytical thought‑provoking

Type

analytical critical political

When to use this quote

  • Middle‑East politics
  • academic analysis
  • policy making
  • media commentary

Key Concepts

Hybridization parody ideological borrowing third‑worldism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does hybrid ideology affect policy?
  • Can we separate religious and political motives?
A Different Perspective

Simplifies complex motivations to a single political agenda.

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