religion and politics in middle east

as always I need an answer to this question from the mentioned readings. please take under consideration that I am muslim from the Middle East. (just so the professor and collegues believe I wrote it)

PLEASE MAKE SURE THE ANSWER IS FROM THE READINGS.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THE ANSWER IS FROM THE READINGS.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THE ANSWER IS FROM THE READINGS.

1. Write an initial post (maximum 100 words) that makes a concise observation or point on the basis of one or more of the readings.

question:

In what ways did religion become a potent idiom for debating politics in the late twentieth century? Was a religion merely a way to speak about material concerns (economic and social concerns) or does it have a political content of its own?

readings : Gelvin, The Modern Middle East (text by Qutb) , Burke/Yaghoubian, Struggle and Survival, Chs. 20, 23, and 24

2. Respond to another colleague’s post. Do not simply state that you agree or like the post–it must be a substantive comment (maximum 75 words)

Middle Eastern Governments became increasingly more authoritarian in nature over the course of the 20th century. This increasing authoritarianism was thanks in large part to the entrenchement of “secular” institutions which promoted small ruling, military, and business elites to the detriment of popular society. This entrenchment was detrimental to the diversity of political participation in that it had displaced the popularity of leftist and liberal parties alike. This displacement of the traditional (leftist and liberal) opposition gave birth to Islam as the guiding political sentiment. This is true in Egypt where Muslim Associations made up a large portion of the opposition post-revolution as well as in Algeria where association with Islamic groups was a social benefit to those in previously undesirable social stations (Ahmed’s joining of the GIA).