The second half of the twentieth century witnessed the infusion of Islam in the politics of the modem Muslim nation states, a phenomenon referred to as political Islam. Central to this phenomenon has been the idea of the Islamic state, characterised by the implementation of sharia as a legal code for state and society. A profound impression has been left on Muslim political identity as well as the perceptions of Muslims among non-­Muslims, particularly those of Western nations. On the one hand, the rise of political Islam has been viewed by its advocates as a realisation of Islamic identity that waned under centuries of European colonial rule and subsequent domination by Western nations. On the other hand, political Islam has been opposed by segments within Muslim societies and perceived by Western nations, particularly the United States, with suspicion and concern. According to this view, political Islam is an impediment to democracy, human rights, pluralism and the international order. However, political Islam has not remained static but has evolved in response both to internal domestic factors, including pluralism and secularism, and to external opposition from the West.