First of all there is no such thing as 'islamist' this is the construct of an ignorant idiot media.
Islam means submission to God
Muslim means one who submits to God
Mu+Islam = Muslim
In arabic the prefix mu is ascribing to something.
Athan/Azan (the prior more correct spelling) = call to prayer
Muezzin/Mu'adhdhin = one who calls to prayer
Secondly for the last two hundred years, Muslim lands were under occupation and oppression by colonialist British, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. America took over that role and for the last 50+ years has been imposing secular dictatorships and tyrants. Military rulers.
The uprisings in the muslim countries is by Muslims. We follow Islam. Some are weaker in faith, some are stronger in faith. Some are less practice than others but they are all Muslims and ultimately would want to rule their lives and way of life by islam.
Islam is a way of life. It is not a 'religion' that it is a bunch of rituals while you live your life any way you want by your desires as a lot of christians tend to do. Go clubbing then the next day go to church. Complete contradiction.
Muslims are to be ruled by a caliphate that lives by God's law not by his desires or his own desire of power and wealth.
The first four rightly guided caliphs are the right example. They sacrificed everything of themselves to serve the Muslim ummah (nation). They did not wield power to serve their own interests or eat of the wealth of the community. They lived poor, they died poor. They did not live in extravangece. Everything that came after was gradual corruption until Muslims became so weak that they abandoned Islam and hence the down fall. God says in the qur'an hold onto the rope of Allah so that you are succesfull.
The US however doesn't want the muslim world united, so it imposes weak rulers, dictators and now so called 'democracies'. Puppets.
The british did the same thing during the 'great game' who could conquer more land and divide more land. They had a tactic of divide and conquer. Instilling nationalism, materialism amongst the arabs. Waking up ancient tribal ties, nationalistic and ethnic prides. While the knowledge of islam weakened and people were merely then following culture and not following islam.