They are the SAME THING.

As Ramadan states, Muslims “emerge as subject of their own history,” meaning that they dictate their own future and society and have the right to develop and cultivate their government, without the influence or affects of others. (97) Their demand for “Islamic state” is just more than a religious transformation or isolation, but rather it derived from their struggle to have a state and it is logical to use Islam as a resource to separate away from colonialism. This Islamic state was a civil state “leading to independence.” (102) Many Islamist movements avoided the terms like secularization and secularism because of their negative connotations. However, Islamism and secularism are a false dichotomy because they both carry the same aspect; both are seeking for liberation, but both the Western and Islamic cultures have preconceived notions and ideas that we are blinded to see the true meaning and impetus behind each movements.