Political Islam in focus of the new ZUKUNFT issue

10.12.2025

Political Islam in focus of the new ZUKUNFT issue

Cover of the November issue of ZUKUNFT magazine

The editorial team of ZUKUNFT magazine, in cooperation with the Documentation Centre Political Islam (DPI) and Terre des Femmes Austria, dedicated the November issue to the topic of ‘Political Islam’. Contributions from experts show that religious extremism poses a considerable challenge to liberal democracy on many levels. The joint editors of the November issue of the magazine were Alessandro Barberi, Viktoria Kriehebauer, Marlies Ettl and DPI Director Lisa Fellhofer. The head of the Documentation Centre also published an article entitled ‘Religious extremism as a challenge for the liberal West’.

In her analysis, she highlights causes, ideological structures and social consequences. Among other things, she discusses the definition of political Islam, also known as legalistic Islam or Islamism. Despite differing structures and traditions, Islamist movements share common patterns. These include dividing the world into ‘believers’ and ‘unbelievers,’ rejecting the separation of religion and state, and rejecting central elements of liberal constitutionalism.

Ideologies as a challenge to the constitution

The examples of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Milli Görüş movement clearly illustrate how concepts are developed that understand Islam as a comprehensive system for all areas of life. This leads to a conflict between individual self-determination and fundamental freedoms on the one hand and religiously based ideas of order on the other. In her article, the DPI Director emphasises that such ideologies not only challenge democratic constitutional orders, but can also put pressure on intra-Islamic diversity and Muslim communities themselves. Claims to religious interpretative authority and demands for special rights create social tensions and lead to the formation of parallel structures.

Dealing with religiously motivated extremism requires a society-wide effort that goes beyond criminal law measures and aims to secure fundamental and human rights for all. Other contributions to this issue come from Abdel-Hakim Ourghi, Necla Kelek, Andrea Romstorfer, Nina Scholz, Marlies Ettl, Armin Pfahl-Traughber, Hans-Jürgen Tempelmayr-Patay, Ruşen Timur Aksak and Susanne Wiesinger.

More information about the November 2025 issue of the discussion magazine ZUKUNFT

Article by Lisa Fellhofer in the November issue of ZUKUNFT magazine

Zur Übersicht

Following the publication of the DPI report “Hezbollah in Europe: Media and Mobilization,” several media outlets in Austria reported on it. The extremist content of the Hezbollah propaganda channel Al-Manar, which was highlighted by the DPI, is also available online in Austria. Among other things, the publication was discussed on the ORF program ZIB 1.

The new DPI publication examines how Hezbollah disseminates its content in German-speaking countries via its own media platforms such as Al-Manar. The Shiite Islamist organisation is active in various areas worldwide through its networks and structures.

In November, the Documentation Centre Political Islam (DPI) visited several federal states. A symposium was held on the campus of the University of Education Lower Austria in Baden, while a conference on extracurricular youth work took place in Salzburg and the Magdalena Discussion was held in Linz.

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