Islamic Extremism and the Clash of Civilizations

Origins, Actors, and Conflicts

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According to many world leaders, the world is at war; but according to those same leaders, it is not a war between the West and Islam, but is instead a war against terrorism. Muslim religious leaders in the Middle East, however, are either silent on the issue or proclaim that it is indeed a war by the West against Islam - and Muslims in the streets in cities across the Middle East seem to agree. Who is right, and why?

Anyone who reads Samuel P. Huntington's book The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order will realize that, despite the superficial assurances offered by Western leaders, this is indeed a conflict of civilizations. It is not simply a criminal prosecution against terrorists, but a fundamental clash between the democratic West and the Islamic East.

As evident from the title of Huntington's book, this is a conflict between civilizations . As he and others define it, a "civilization" is a comprehensive cultural arena. Although religion is a fundamental defining force of culture, they are not identical. Thus, just because someone is a Muslim, does not automatically mean that they are a part of "Islamic Civilization," as described here.

Although Huntington's book is probably one of the most important works from the past decade on international politics, it is unlikely that his ideas would be very popular in today's ecumenical atmosphere. No one, it seems, wants to think that religion can reasonably form the basis of violent conflict. All "genuine" religion is supposed to be peace-loving, right? Not always - especially not the case when it comes to Islamic extremism, sometimes referred to as "Islamism."

What is "Islamism?" This term typically refers to the process of employing Islam for the purposes of state power. Anyone who wishes to reform a state along Islamic lines and strictly enforce Islamic law could be called an Islamist. Islamism is every bit as much a political movement as it is a religious one, and it takes on a different form in each country where it occurs.

Clash of Civilizations: Islam vs. the West
According to many world leaders, the world is at war; but according to those same leaders, it is not a war between the West and Islam, but is instead a war against terrorism. Muslim religious leaders in the Middle East, however, are either silent on the issue or proclaim that it is indeed a war by the West against Islam - and Muslims in the streets in cities across the Middle East seem to agree. Who is right, and why?

Highlights:
•  Clash of Ideology & Religion
•  Revival of Religion as a Source of Conflict
•  Future Prospects for Peace

Clash of Civilizations: Islamism and Political Islam
No one, it seems, wants to think that religion can reasonably form the basis of violent conflict. All "genuine" religion is supposed to be peace-loving, right? Not always - especially not the case when it comes to Islamic extremism, sometimes referred to as "Islamism."

Highlights:
•  Osama bin Laden's Goals
•  The Popularity of Islamic Extremism
•  Islam vs. the West

Islamic Extremists: Groups and Personalities
These are some of the most important individuals, groups and movements which have lead to the current radical Islamist ideologies.

Highlights:
•  Wahhabism
•  Muslim Brotherhood
•  Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri
•  Sayyid Qutb

Further Reading

Recent Books on Islam
What is Islam? Is Islam opposed to democracy and human rights? Are there good reasons to reject Islam and its theological claims? To what extent have politics and economics influenced the development of Islam in the Middle East? The books here answer those questions and more, presenting a critical and scholarly perspective.

Recent Books on Palestine & Israel
Few people are unaware of the violence which keeps occurring between Israelis and Palestinians. Why is this happening - what are the causes, and are there any solutions? Everything comes back to religion: the disagreement and violence between Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Understanding the role of religion in these disagreements is necessary to understanding the violence itself.

Recent Books on Religion, Violence, and Terrorism
Religious leaders normally argue that religion is a force for good and love in the world. Yet, at the same time, we see religion regularly used for war, mass murder, terrorism, and even genocide. Why does this difference exist - how can religion be claimed as a basis for peace while so many use it as a basis for terrorism?