New Version of my research paper proposal

The place of Islamic religion on politics of 2 political organizations:

The Hamas and the Hezbollah

My Subject:

My research paper will talk about two important political organizations in Middle-East: the Hamas and the Hezbollah. Islamism is a new movement which is more and more often put in the headlines. Thus, in my research paper, I will try to demonstrate that Islamic faith has an impact on the politics of these two political organizations which are the Hamas, a Palestinian party, and the Hezbollah, a Lebanese party. By the same way, I will try to make understand to my readers that an Islamist organization does not mean a terrorist organization.

Approach:

In my research paper, I will try to establish a relationship between Islamic religion and politics of these two parties. I will also make a contrast and comparisons between American (Time) and Canadian (The Globe and Mail) press with Middle East press (Al-Jazeera, Arab Times), to show the divergence in the definition of Islamist and terrorist organization.

Audience:

Because my audience does not necessary knows Islam and some of its notions, I will have to make a short historic of this religion and also, I will have to include some definitions in an appendix. I will do also the same for the two parties studied, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Defence:

I think my topic worth to be considering because we heard everyday about terrorist attacks, about Muslim world, about the relationship between the United States and Middle East, but we only have a single point of view. Moreover, newspapers’ articles or news on televisions do not take a lot of space and time for international information. Thus, they only relate the events and do not analyse it or try to explain it. The audience makes in own analyse without having previous or basic information of a subject. So it is the reason why this subject worth to be considering; to see the situation from another point of view and try to understand the context, and also to learn more on these two political organization.

Methodology:

First, I will have to read many articles from different points of view. I will take notes from them. Afterwards, I will analyse my readings to the most objective as possible. Lastly, I will explain how the Islamic religion is used in Hezbollah and Hamas’ politics.

Outline:

Part 1: Hezbollah

1.1 Its creation

1.2 Its goals

1.3 Its activities

1.4 The religious implication

Part 2: Hamas

2.1 Its creation

2.2 Its goals

2.3 Its activities

2.4 The religious implications

Part 3: Contrast and comparison of the two parties in the press (Canadian-American vs. Middle Eastern)

Notes from my sources

Title: The Shia vs. Sunni Split? Not on the Arab Street
Author: Graham E. Fuller

In this article, the author explains that the fact that some Sunni leaders blamed Hezbollah comes not from the difference religious beliefs, but comes from the fear of seeing other groups becoming powerful. Face to American influence in the region and face to Israeli policies, there is no more "Pan-Arab" or "Pan-Muslim" solidarity. Among people, it does not matter if Hezbollah or Palestinian victims are Sunni or Shia.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-5842.2006.00845.x?journalCode=npqu


Title: The Unholy Alliance
Author: Tanveer Ahmed

In this article, Ahmed explains that the increasing number of supporter of new islamlist organisations and of supporters of the resurgence of Islam is due to the fact that Islamic religion supports poor and oppressed.

Policy Magazine Vo. 22 No. 4 Summer 2006-2007


Title: Hezbollah Is Not a Puppet of Syria or Iran
Author: Reza Aslan

The author concluded here that Iran does not use Hezbollah, because Hezbollah has been reached this point in the Lebanon politics by itself. The party will continue this way because it would be stupid to prefer externals supports that popular supporters.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-5842.2006.00843.x


Title: Religion and Civil Society: Whiter Political Islam?

According to this article, Hezbollah has gained power and supporters because it helps people by building school and providing help to the population, and in a better way than the Lebanon government.

http://nvs.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/28/1/83.pdf