抄録
Following the rising number of Islamist terrorist attacks, the evolution of political Islamist groups has attracted increasing attention from scholars and policymakers alike. A particular focus of interest has been on the moderation of some of the movements or organizations, including political parties in time. Based on examples drawn from Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey, this study aims to compare some of the leading external and internal factors that can account for such change. The concluding findings, it argues, can be instructive to the ongoing democratization efforts led by the western world on the region. On a theoretical level, it also aims to contribute to the body of literature that discusses the impact of international vs. domestic elements on democratization.
