New? Haha, how do you think the Arabic peninsula was islamised shortly after (in the historical sense) the conception of muhammads "islam"?
Islam has always, and will always be a political, all-encompassing totalitarian ideology. Brush up on your history.
Me thinks you're confusing Muslim nations and/or Muslim fundamentalists with the political ideology Islamism.
Two different things.
Islamism is eg what you see in Iran, building even the political system, taxes, foreign policy, health care, environmental policy, everything, based on the preachings of a bloke who married an 8 year old.
It is scholared fundamentalists muslims desperately trying to apply Islam to a modern society.
A bit disappointed that you didn't knew the distinction.
But I guess the imam's didn't tell you the whole truth at that little 'summer camp' in Afghanistan.