Islamic Extremism and the Clash of Civilizations
Islam vs. the West
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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.
Clash of Ideology & Religion
During the Cold War, the primary distinctions which divided the world were ideological and political: there was the capitalistic West, the communist nations, and those who decided to try and remain neutral. Today, however, ideological and political distinctions count for very little and the world is divided up along cultural lines. What this ends up meaning, in practice, is that the world ends up being divided along religious lines, because religion serves as an ancient carrier of cultural traditions and norms:Revival of Religion as a Source of Conflict
Because cultural divisions are playing a greater role in world conflicts and political ideologies are playing less of a role, we are seeing a resurgence of religious consciousness and even of religious fundamentalism. This, in turn, serves to reinforce religious differences and exacerbate tensions which already existed. Why has this revival occurred?Future Prospects for Peace
This conflict between the West and Islam is not, as some claim, simply a war against terrorism. The divisions are not simply between terrorists and anti-terrorists, no matter what the rhetoric says. We just have to look at who is actually engaged in the conflict to understand what is going on: Western powers against Islam in the Middle East.
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?
