In this groundbreaking study, Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr examines the origins, historical development, and political strategies of one of the oldest and most influential Islamic revival movements, the Jama'at-i Islami of Pakistan. He focuses on the inherent tension between the movement's idealized vision of the nation as a holy community based in Islamic law and its political agenda of socioeconomic change for Pakistani society.

Nasr's work goes beyond the exploration of a single party to examine the diverse sociopolitical roots of contemporary Islamic revivalism, challenging many of the standard interpretations about political expressions of Islam.

Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of San Diego.

"A valuable addition to the study of Islamist groups that participate in multiparty politics."—Middle East Insight

"[This book] has an important story to tell: that religion and politics make uneasy partners."—Middle East International