Introduction
“On 26th February 1993, at approximately 12.18 p.m., an improvised explosive device exploded on the second level of the World Trade Center parking basement…”(1) Killing five people and injuring a couple of hundred people, the World Trade Center bombing still is present in the USA. “On Wednesday, 21 December 1988 at 7:03 pm GMT a Boeing 747 airliner owned and operated by Pan American World Airlines and cruising at 31,000 feet exploded above the small town of Lockerbie. Pan Am Flight 103 had taken off from London Heathrow some 38 minutes before and was en route to JFK Airport in New York. Aboard the aircraft were 243 passengers and a crew of sixteen. None survived.”, another tragic moment in world history(2). What do these two incidents have in common? They are both acts of international terrorism. But they share another common characteristic. They are religious motivated acts of terrorism. And this is quite important. In my personal opinion this kind of terrorism is rapidly increasing.
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1 Compare to URL: http://www.interpol.int/Public/Publications/ICPR/ICPR469_3.asp (3-21-01)
2 Compare to URL: http://www.thelockerbietrial.com/from_lockerbie_to_zeist.htm (3-21-01)
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
2) Characterizing Terrorism
3) Characterizing the Islamic fundamentalism
4) Why is religious fundamentalism dangerous?
5) Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the rise of religiously motivated terrorism, specifically focusing on Islamic fundamentalism, and evaluates its implications for Western security and international relations. The study explores whether such terrorism confirms the "clash of civilizations" hypothesis or if it represents a more complex socio-political phenomenon.
- Analysis of the relationship between religious ideology and terrorist violence.
- Investigation of the strategic objectives behind modern terrorist acts.
- Evaluation of the "clash of civilizations" theory in the context of Western and Islamic relations.
- Assessment of the challenges in predicting and countering religiously motivated terrorism.
- Review of diplomatic and political approaches to mitigating cultural radicalization.
Excerpt from the Book
3) Characterizing the Islamic Fundamentalism
It is important to know about the Islamic Religion and Tradition in order to understand the motivation for Islamic fundamentalism. Therefore I’d like to point out the important facts that are interesting for this topic. Muslims believe in just one god, “Allah”. “The universe is regulated by one single law which binds all its parts in a harmonious and orderly sequence. This systematic and congruent arrangement is the creation of one will, or the expression of one god.” (Choueiri 1990, 121) This states that there is no distinction between religion and state. Of course there are other examples, like Turkey. It was Atatürk who divided matters of state and matters of church. Other than that, most Islamic states don’t differentiate between state affairs and religion. The “sharia”, religious law, becomes state law. According to Youssef M. Choueiri, “the Muslims […] have forfeited their right to be attributed to their religion, and should be deprived of their present appellation.” (Choueiri 1990, 125) Within the religion of Islam the world is divided into the “dar ul-islam”, the so called “House of Peace”, and the “dar ul-harb”, the “House of War”. (Hunter 1998, 64) This distinction states nothing else than the dividing of the world into the “World of Islam”, and the “World of Non-Islam”. It has been the goal of Islam ever since, to gain power over the “World of Non-Islam”.
Summary of Chapters
1) Introduction: Provides an overview of international terrorist incidents and introduces the connection between religious motivation and modern global security threats.
2) Characterizing Terrorism: Defines terrorism as a political weapon and distinguishes between various types, highlighting the specific threats posed by organized, internationally active groups.
3) Characterizing the Islamic fundamentalism: Explains the theological and traditional foundations of Islam and how interpretations of concepts like "jihad" are utilized to justify violence against the West.
4) Why is religious fundamentalism dangerous?: Discusses the tactical difficulties in combating religious terrorism, specifically focusing on the decentralized nature of cells and the support from certain political regimes.
5) Conclusion: Summarizes the threat level of Islamic radicalism and suggests that a diplomatic, nuanced approach is necessary to address the cultural roots of the conflict.
Keywords
Terrorism, Islamic Fundamentalism, Clash of Civilizations, Jihad, Radicalism, Political Power, State Sponsorship, Middle East, Western Societies, Security Threats, Global Politics, Cultural Struggle, Religious Motivation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper investigates the nature of religiously motivated terrorism, with a particular focus on Islamic fundamentalism and its perceived role in the global conflict between the West and the Muslim world.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the characterization of international terrorism, the theological justifications for radical actions, the political impact of state-sponsored terror, and the diplomatic challenges of cross-cultural conflict.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine why the West perceives Islamic fundamentalism as a major threat, to analyze the motives behind these terrorist acts, and to assess whether they truly represent a "clash of civilizations."
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author utilizes a descriptive and analytical approach, synthesizing existing literature, historical political theories, and contemporary case studies to examine the motivations of radical organizations.
What does the main body cover?
The main body covers the definition of terrorism, an exploration of Islamic religious traditions and the concept of "jihad," an analysis of the "West" as a target, and the tactical dangers associated with terrorist planning.
Which keywords define the work?
Key terms include Terrorism, Islamic Fundamentalism, Jihad, Clash of Civilizations, Political Power, and International Security.
How is the term "jihad" interpreted in the context of the paper?
The author notes that while "jihad" technically means "struggle," it is frequently misunderstood and misused by political leaders and radicals to justify acts of violence in the name of religion.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the "clash of civilizations"?
The author concludes that while radical movements may appear as signs of a clash, they should not be conflated with the entire religion of Islam, and that fighting terrorism requires addressing its cultural roots rather than simply reacting to the violence.
- Quote paper
- Sebastian Hergott (Author), 2001, Terrorism in the name of Allah - Islamic fundamentalism as sign of the 'Clash of civilizations'?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/651
