Beyond Fundamentalism

1. Cosmic War: The New Face of Religious Conflict

A cosmic war is a religious war. It is a conflict in which God is believed to be directly engaged on one side over the other.

Transcendent struggle. Cosmic war transforms earthly conflicts into divine battles, where participants believe they are acting out God's will. This mindset dehumanizes enemies, justifies extreme violence, and makes compromise impossible.

Eternal and unwinnable. Unlike political or territorial conflicts, cosmic wars are perceived as timeless struggles between good and evil. They cannot be won or lost in conventional terms, making them particularly dangerous and resistant to resolution.

• Key features of cosmic war:
  • Fought on both earthly and spiritual planes
  • Participants see themselves as divine agents
  • Enemies are demonized as evil incarnate
  • Normal ethical constraints are suspended
  • Victory is seen as inevitable but always distant

2. Globalization's Impact on Religious Identity and Nationalism

Religion has certain qualities that make it a particularly useful tool for promoting social movement activism.

Identity in flux. Globalization has eroded traditional national boundaries, leading many to seek new forms of collective identity. Religion, with its transnational nature and ready-made symbols, has filled this void for many.

Resurgence of religious nationalism. As secular nationalism declines, religious-based nationalism has surged. This trend is seen across faiths, from Christian Zionism to Islamic political movements. Religious identity becomes a powerful force for mobilization and a source of meaning in an increasingly interconnected world.

• Factors contributing to religious nationalism:
  • Weakening of nation-state boundaries
  • Disillusionment with secular ideologies
  • Religion's ability to provide clear in-group/out-group distinctions
  • Globalization's threat to local cultures and traditions

3. The Rise of Jihadism as a Global Social Movement

Jihadism is the child of globalization; it relies for its very existence on a world without borders, a world in which no barrier exists between religion and politics, between the sacred and the secular.

Beyond terrorism. Jihadism is not merely a terrorist ideology but a global social movement. It appeals to disaffected youth by offering a sense of purpose, identity, and community that transcends national boundaries.

Grievance-based narrative. Jihadist groups construct a master narrative of Muslim oppression, linking local and global grievances. This narrative resonates with many Muslims who feel marginalized or victimized by Western policies and their own governments.

• Key elements of Jihadism as a social movement:
  • Transnational network of supporters and sympathizers
  • Shared ideology and symbols
  • Use of modern communication technologies
  • Appeal to a sense of global Muslim identity (ummah)
  • Framing of struggle as defensive and just

4. Israel-Palestine: A Microcosm of Cosmic War

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is a battle that is taking place not in the streets of Baghdad or in the mountains of Afghanistan but in the suburbs of Paris, the slums of East London, and the cosmopolitan cities of Berlin and New York.

Symbol of wider struggle. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become a powerful symbol in the Muslim world, representing perceived Western aggression against Islam. This framing elevates a territorial dispute into a cosmic battle.

Radicalizing effect. The conflict serves as a radicalizing force for Muslims globally, particularly in Europe. It provides a tangible grievance that Jihadist groups exploit to recruit and mobilize supporters far from the actual conflict zone.

• Impact of Israel-Palestine conflict on global Jihadism:
  • Provides a unifying cause for diverse Muslim populations
  • Offers "evidence" of Western hostility to Islam
  • Serves as a recruitment tool for extremist groups
  • Complicates Western counterterrorism efforts
  • Fuels anti-Semitism and Islamophobia

5. The Crusades' Legacy in Modern Muslim Imagination

The Crusades have long loomed large in the Arab imagination, though, interestingly, not until some eight hundred years after they began, during the colonial era, when the image of cross-marked knights riding out to cleanse the Holy Land of heathen Muslim hordes became the most potent symbol of the imperialist aspirations of the West.

Historical reimagining. The Crusades, largely forgotten in the Muslim world for centuries, have been reinterpreted as a symbol of Western aggression against Islam. This narrative gained prominence during the colonial era and continues to shape Muslim perceptions of the West.

Justification for modern conflict. Jihadist groups invoke the Crusades to frame current conflicts as a continuation of this historical struggle. This rhetoric resonates with many Muslims, even those who reject violence, by tapping into deep-seated feelings of historical injustice.

• The Crusades in modern Muslim discourse:
  • Used to explain Western involvement in Muslim lands
  • Invoked to justify resistance against perceived Western imperialism
  • Shapes perception of Christianity as inherently hostile to Islam
  • Employed to create a sense of Muslim unity against external threats
  • Influences interpretation of current events through historical lens

6. America's Role in Shaping Islamic-Western Relations

By transforming the countless cultures of the Arab and Muslim world—from Morocco to Malaysia—into a single, homogeneous, and historically inevitable enemy, the Clash of Civilizations, insofar as it has served as the ideological underpinning for the struggle against Jihadism, is a blatant assertion that the War on Terror is in fact a war against Islam.

"Clash of Civilizations" fallacy. The framing of the War on Terror as a clash between Western and Islamic civilizations has been deeply counterproductive. It reinforces the Jihadist narrative of an existential conflict between Islam and the West.

Opportunity for bridge-building. America's unique position as a diverse, religiously tolerant society offers potential for improved relations with the Muslim world. The election of Barack Obama, with his Muslim family background, symbolized this potential for many Muslims globally.

• Challenges and opportunities in US-Muslim relations:
  • Need to move beyond simplistic "us vs. them" narratives
  • Importance of distinguishing between Islamist political movements and violent extremism
  • Potential for American Muslims to serve as cultural bridges
  • Role of public diplomacy and cultural exchange
  • Balancing security concerns with respect for Muslim communities

7. Democracy Promotion: A Double-Edged Sword in the Middle East

The fact is that on this one issue, President Bush was right: only through genuine democratic reform can the appeal of extremist groups be undermined and the tide of Muslim militancy stemmed.

Unfulfilled promises. The Bush administration's push for democracy in the Middle East, while well-intentioned, was undermined by inconsistent application and a failure to accept electoral outcomes that did not align with US interests.

Islamist participation. When allowed to participate in democratic processes, Islamist groups have often moderated their positions and focused on governance rather than ideology. However, their success has also led to backlash from authoritarian regimes and Western powers.

• Lessons from democracy promotion efforts:
  • Need for long-term commitment to democratic processes
  • Importance of engaging with non-violent Islamist parties
  • Risk of empowering extremists if moderate voices are suppressed
  • Challenge of balancing short-term stability with long-term reform
  • Role of civil society and institutions in sustaining democracy

8. The Internet: Breeding Ground for Global Jihadism

The Internet allows Jihadist leaders to conduct sophisticated media campaigns aimed at communicating their message to a global audience.

Virtual ummah. The internet has enabled Jihadist groups to create a global community of supporters, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. This virtual ummah provides a sense of belonging and purpose for disaffected youth.

Propaganda and recruitment. Jihadist groups use sophisticated online media campaigns to spread their message and recruit new members. These efforts range from slickly produced videos to interactive forums and social media engagement.

• Impact of internet on Jihadism:
  • Facilitates global networking and coordination
  • Provides platform for radicalization and recruitment
  • Enables dissemination of extremist ideology and training materials
  • Creates echo chambers reinforcing radical views
  • Challenges traditional religious authorities and interpretations

9. Integrating Muslims in Europe: Challenges and Opportunities

The crisis of identity faced by these young Muslims, many of whom feel they belong in neither the West nor the East, drives them to seek out new identities that cannot be contained by any culture or society, that in fact reach across all boundaries of race, ethnicity, and nationality.

Identity crisis. Many young European Muslims struggle to reconcile their religious and cultural heritage with their European identities. This sense of not belonging anywhere makes some vulnerable to extremist ideologies offering a clear sense of purpose and community.

Integration challenges. European countries have struggled to effectively integrate Muslim immigrant communities. Issues of discrimination, economic marginalization, and cultural misunderstanding contribute to alienation and resentment among some Muslims.

• Factors affecting Muslim integration in Europe:
  • Varying citizenship and immigration policies across countries
  • Tension between secularism and religious expression in public life
  • Economic disparities and lack of social mobility
  • Rise of right-wing populism and Islamophobia
  • Debate over the meaning of "European values" and identity

10. Engaging Islamist Parties: A Pathway to Moderation

Islamism, in other words, can act as a foil to Jihadism. Unlike Jihadists, whose aims and aspirations rest on a cosmic plane, Islamists have material goals and legitimate ambitions that can be addressed by the state.

Political participation as moderating force. When Islamist parties are allowed to participate in the political process, they often moderate their positions and focus on practical governance issues rather than ideology. This can undermine support for more extremist groups.

Risks of exclusion. Suppressing non-violent Islamist movements often backfires, driving supporters towards more radical alternatives. Engaging with these groups, while challenging, offers a potential path to stability and democratic development in the Muslim world.

• Benefits of engaging Islamist parties:
  • Encourages moderation and pragmatism
  • Provides legitimate outlet for religious political expression
  • Can undermine support for violent extremist groups
  • Promotes democratic norms and institutions
  • Offers representation for significant segments of society

Last updated: October 13, 2024