Islamism and Origins of Radical Islam. 385 Spath Spring 2010

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1 Islamism and Origins of Radical Islam 385 Spath Spring 2010

2 Review: Distinct Categories of Islamists (Coffman-Wittes) Takfiri radical fundamentalist Nationalist Militant combine Islamist ideology with specific local political demands Institutionalist seek political role through state institutions

3 Jihad Greater inner struggle with self-discipline to be virtuous, moral, do good works, promote a just society. Lesser a struggle to protect Islam or to extend it. Defensive vs. Expansionary

4 Historical & Ideological Forces Muhammad s original Islamic community Against jahiliyya ignorance Threat to dominant order, likewise threatened Fighting necessary Ulama the learned developed Shari ah to guide the growing community The Kharijites earliest model of radical Islam

5 Radical Islam (not fundamentalism) Radical Islam is an uncompromising interpretation of Islam that focuses on violence and coercion against Muslims and non-muslims who they deem to be apostates and infidels. Fundamentalism is actually a Christian term (literal interpretation, divine origin, juxtaposed with critical and historical view of scripture) Means Violence and Coercion Uncompromising emulation of their view of the original community

6 Historical & Ideological Forces - 2 Ibn Taymiyyah (13 th c.) Lived during period of fitnah (disorder) Mongols and end of Abbasid Empire Fatwa against the Mongols 18 th century revivalism Focus on Wahhabi movement in Saudi Arabia Muhammad ibn Abd alwahhab Taymiyyah as exemplar Called for new interpretation of Islam Tawhid (God s unity) strict monotheism Alliance with Muhammad ibn Saud (legitimacy)

7 Historical & Ideological Forces - 3 Rapid expansion and Ottoman Empire Validation of Islam Colonial period Resurgent views that dominance and Muslim dependency were the result of veering off the path of Islam Response to colonialism and subsequent imperial rule-by-proxy brought about new jihad Hasan al-banna (created Muslim Brotherhood 1928) Sayyid Qutb

8 Al-Banna and Qutb

9 Basic components of the Islamist framework and ideology: 1.Islam is total and all-encompassing way of life, personal and political. 2.The Quran and Sunnah provide models for daily life and action 3.Shariah is the ideal blueprint for society 4.Dependency on the West and relaxation of religiosity caused Muslim decline. 5.Science and technology must be adopted and used to achieve goals. 6.Struggle (jihad) on the personal and communal level will bring reform and revolution and Islamization of society and the world.

10 Historical & Ideological Forces - 4 Conflict with Egyptian government Opposition to British occupation and dependency and decadence of King Farouk 1948 assassination of PM Al-Banna assassination (1949) by gov t police Nasser s repression and growth of radical organizations Qutb s visit in the US (1940s), creation of Israel, Egypt s Soviet turn Qutb s militant confrontation with Egyptian gov t Black and white, good and evil, no middle ground

11 3 Reasons for Islamic Resurgence Reclaim lost Muslim identity (in response to Western secularism & secular Arab nationalism) Urbanization and Economic Decline Embarrassing Military Losses

12 The Transnational Dimension 1980s Soviet-Afghan War contributed to making jihad transnational Globalization of jihad movements warriors from various parts of ummah coming to defense of Islam Globalization provides modern technology that can be used by militant groups Hizbullah Syrian and Iranian influence (Kfoury Reading)

13 Two general paths to change Violent revolutionary change through governmental overthrow Rejection of the political system Revolutionary change from below Hearts and minds Political engagement despite constraints

14 Defining Terrorism The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. --The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition \Ter"ror*ism\, n. [Cf. F. terrorisme.] The act of terrorizing, or state of being terrorized; a mode of government by terror or intimidation. --Jefferson. The systematic use of violence as a means to intimidate or coerce societies or governments -- WordNet 1.6, 1997 Princeton University

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