Shiism in the Modern Context: From Religious Quietism to Political Activism

The intention of this article is twofold. The first part tries to elucidate some characteristics of Shiism by briefly describing the background of this basic sectarian rift within Islam and its consequences for the Shiite worldview. The second part is a stocktaking of the situation of Shiites in the contemporary Muslim world and the role of Shiism in today's political landscape in the Middle East and beyond. Apart from Iran and the revolution of 1979 which has proved to be the decisive watershed in Islamic sectarianism, four regions are dealt with in particular: Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula, Lebanon, and Pakistan. In conclusion, the transition from quietism to activism will be illustrated by several key concepts of classical Shiism and their modern implementation.