Skip to main content

Radical Islamism and the Clash of Civilizations

Historically, radical Islamism emerged in the 20th century, influenced by various historical events. The end of colonial rule in many Muslim-majority countries, the Cold War, and the Iranian Revolution in 1979 all played significant roles.

Ideologically, radical Islamism draws inspiration from extremist interpretations of Islam and  hatred against western civilizations. This interpretation often rejects secularism and seeks to establish Islamic states governed by strict Sharia law.

The concept of violent jihad, or holy war, has been a central component of radical Islamism. Some groups and individuals have used this idea to justify acts of terrorism, as a war against secularism.

Influential figures like Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian Islamist, and later Osama bin Laden, played pivotal roles in promoting radical Islamist ideologies and justifying violence as a means to achieve their goals.

The Afghan Jihad against the Soviet Union in the 1980s attracted many radical Islamist fighters and served as a training ground for future leaders of extremist groups. The 9/11 in 2001 happened as a result of this.

In 1993, political scientist Samuel P. Huntington proclqimed  the theory of "The Clash of Civilizations".

Huntinton argued that in a post-Cold War world, conflicts would not primarily be driven by ideology or economics, but by differences in culture and civilization.

 He identified several major civilizations, including Western, Islamic, Confucian, and others, and suggested that future conflicts would arise along the fault lines between these civilizations. It's important to note that this theory has been both influential and controversial, and its predictions have been a subject of debate in international relations and political science.

Beside, not all Muslims are radical Islamists, and many Muslims and Muslim-majority countries have actively opposed and condemned radicalism and terrorism. 
However, Radical Islamism remain a complex and evolving phenomenon with multiple causes and manifestations, globally. 

The Hamas assault on Israel expands the frontier of the radical islamic jihadism and the clash of civilizations theory. This is because the future global conflicts would be shaped by cultural and civilizational differences rather than ideological or economic factors.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Biri marung?

Biri marung" is a term in Chewa/Nyanja, a language spoken in Zambia, Malawi, and parts of Mozambique. It directly translates to "hyena in the sky" or "flying hyena.  It is often used in folklore and traditional beliefs in African cultures to refer to supernatural beings or mysterious occurrences, particularly those associated with witchcraft or spirits. In music, "Biri Marung" is a popular Amapiano track released in November 2024 by South African artists Mr Pilato, Ego Slimflow, and Tebogo G Mashego, featuring Sje Konka, Focalistic, DJ Maphorisa, Scotts Maphuma, and CowBoii.  The song has gained significant attention, with its official audio available on YouTube.  Additionally, it has been featured on various music platforms, including Apple Music.  The track has also inspired dance challenges and covers on social media platforms like TikTok, contributing to its viral status.  "Biri Marung" has been recognized for its impact in the music industry...
Post a Comment
Read more

The world needs the Gifts and Skills that only you have

 TAP THE UNTAPPED. RELEASE THE RESERVOIR. Learn more at the Ransford Online School. Your life has the potential to fulfill your purpose. If, however, you imprison that potential, you rob your life of its purpose and fulfillment.  You and every other individual on this planet possess an awesome treasure. Too much of this treasure is buried every day, untapped and untouched, in the cemeteries of our world.  Much talent, skill and creativity have been lost to the world for want of a little courage. Many obscure men and women enter eternity pregnant with potential, with a still-born purpose. Living with ability brings responsibility. Dying with ability reveals irresponsibility. Everything in creation was designed to function on the simple principle of receiving and releasing. Life depends on this principle.  What if the plants refused to release the oxygen they possess or if we human beings refused to release the carbon dioxide we produce?  The result would be chaos...
Post a Comment
Read more

Worldview Matters

Worldviews are rules, values, beliefs and biases that an individual customer brings to buying situation.  If Jude got completely screwed the last time he bought a car from a used-car salesman, the worldview he has when visiting a dealership four years later is a little different than that of someone who is buying her third car in four years from the same place. If Nkechi sees her job as purchasing agent for a big company as one where she should avoid risks, she’ll view that new salesperson in her office very differently than if her understanding of her job is that she should cut costs by innovating and trying new alternatives. Different people, different worldviews. People can see the same data and make a totally different decision. Worldview Affects What's bought ! People don’t buy what we sell. They buy or want to buy what it will do for them. They want the way it will make them feel. What we sell is a means to an end. They are roads to achieve...
Post a Comment
Read more