understanding radical islamic fundamentalists the “new” global threat or history repeating...
Post on 22-Dec-2015
213 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Understanding Radical Islamic Fundamentalists
The “New” Global Threat or History repeating itself?
Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.Department of Psychology
University at Buffalo
www.PsychologyofTerrorism.com
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Islam and the Arab World
The People The Religion The Arab Conquest The Dilemma of Modern Islam
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Early Arabs
Prior to the 7th Century, Arab groups existed mainly as small tribal units, largely desert dwellers• few large cities and no central government• hardly a blip on the radar of civilization
Mohammed and his followers unified the Arab tribes under the banner of Islam
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Mohammed’s Gift to Arabian Civilization
Provided law and order• distinguished good from evil• charity and compassion for the weak
Provided a sense of ethic unity Provided the hope for a future
• limited on earth but Paradise awaits Provided a purpose in life Provided a religion
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Law and Order
The old ‘laws’ were made by powerful men• a ruthless society where “he with the most
power makes the rules”• constant fighting and power struggles to
determine who rules as the most powerful
Islamic law is God’s law• transcends the will of man• uniform code of law applies to all
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Ethnic Unity
Arabs identified with individual tribes and clans• other tribes were seen as outsiders competing
for control of limited resources• allegiance was to the tribal unit
Islam taught equality• fostered Arabic brotherhood• emphasized common purpose and beliefs• allegiance shifted from tribe to serving Islam
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Hope for the Future
Life is difficult, a constant struggle, but life• can be improved on earth by
following the Will of God (Islam)• is rewarded by an afterlife in Paradise
for the true believer and righteous practitioner of Islam
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Purpose in Life
To do God’s Will and follow the teachings of the prophets
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
A Religion
The Archangel Gabriel spoke to Mohammed, relaying the words of God
Mohammed memorized these holy words and taught them to his followers
Shortly after Mohammed’s death his followers wrote these sacred words down in what would become the Koran
The Koran is uncorrupted and supplants the Torah and the Gospels
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Basic Tenants
“There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His messenger.”
The Five Pillars of Islam Practical aspects
• Islamic scholars provide definitive interpretation of the Koran and other scriptures
• Caliph heads the faith and the nation
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Five Pillars of Islam
• Declaration of Faith acknowledging there is only one God and that Mohammed is His messenger (Shahadh)
• Five daily prayers (Salah)• Giving of alms (2.5% to charity, Zakaah)• Fasting from dawn to dusk during the month
of Ramadan (Sawn)• Pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Zul
Hijjah (Hajj)These “Five Pillars” follow the Sunni belief which includes around 90% of the world’s Moslem population.
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Descendents of Abraham
Common father (Abraham, Ibrahim), different mothers• Moslems: Hagar’s son Ismael• Jews (& Christians?): Sarah’s
son Isaac
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
“People of The Book”
Islam teaches tolerance and respect for people who revere the words of the prophets
Jews and Christians along with Moslems are considered “People of The Book”
“People of The Book” (dhimmis) are protected people under Islam
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Tolerance Towards Jews and Christians
"There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clearly from falsehood: whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the strongest rope that never breaks. And God is All-Hearing and All-Knowing." (Qur'an 2:256)
Non-Moslems pay a special tax (jizyah) but are otherwise free to practice their religion, engage in commerce, and own property
Some rulings (fatwas) have forced conversion or expulsion of nonbelievers from Islamic domains
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Prophets
Adam Noah Moses Abraham Jesus Mohammed
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Christianity & Islam Islam
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Primacy of the Koran
Moslems believe that the earlier Jewish and Christian writings were divinely inspired but have become corrupted over time• edited and re-edited by men• various (imperfect) translations
The Koran is widely used in its original Arabic without editing
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Historic Islam
Spread by the sword?• Mohammed conquered Mecca and
much of the Arabian peninsula• Immediate successors spread Islam
throughout the Middle East• Later Arab armies conquered
Northern Africa, India, parts of Southern Asia, and even parts of Europe
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Rapid Expansion of Islam
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Arab Conquest
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Western Civilization Under Siege
Moslem armies• conquered the Middle East• conquered Greece and most of the
Balkan peninsula and much of India• conquered North Africa• conquered Portugal and most of Spain• reached the gates of Vienna
Christendom was in retreat
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Golden Age of Islam
While Europe was in the dark ages The Islamic world
• excelled in art, literature, mathematics, textiles, and medicine
• kept the heritage of ancient Greek philosophy alive
• spread ‘civilization’ throughout much of the known world
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Decline of the Islamic Empire
Internal fighting within the Empire Reconquista of Christian lands Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire
after World War I (1918) Expanded Western interest in the oil
rich Middle East Aggressive Western intervention
during the Cold War era
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Arabia Today
Only remnants of a once great civilization—far behind the West
Dominated by despotic rulers who regressed to the pre-Mohammed “might makes right” principle
Few true Islamic states No true democratic governments Growing desire for Islamic dignity
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Seeds of Change
Islamic Fundamentalists • offer the promise to return to the Golden
Age of Islamic culture• view the decadent West as the source of
most problems
Few if any viable alternatives to produce desired change• status quo has stagnated Arab culture and
economic progress for centuries
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Fundamentalists Beliefs
God’s words are recorded in the Koran and other Islamic works
Islam is the source of all true law Society should strictly follow Islamic
law as interpreted by its senior scholars
Secular societies based on man’s laws deviate from God’s law
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Islamic Law versus Secular Law
• Man’s laws are corrupt because they follow the will and desires of mortal man
• Islamic law is prescribed in the holy works and must be interpreted by scholars who have dedicated a lifetime to study
• Democracies and other forms of self-rule are evil because they follow the whims and perversions of man
• Islam is to be lived not just preached—it dictates every aspect of life from social customs to commerce
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Fundamentalist Moslems and Christians
Share a belief that society should be directed by God’s laws• emphasize religious scripture• use a literal interpretation of most writings
which are seen just as applicable today as when they were written centuries ago
View civilization as a struggle between Godliness and manliness
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Practice of Islam
Strong devotion to religion Practice of the Five Pillars Focus on the Mosque Protectors of the faith
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Devotion to Religion
Religion is not something that is just practiced one morning a week or even with a daily prayer
Religion is a way of living that dictates every aspect of life• prayers five times each day• Friday services in the Mosque• fasting during Ramadan
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Mosque
Center for not only religious but cultural and political activities
Friday’s religious service is preceded by lectures, often expounding political views
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Protectors of Islam
Protect the faith, even at the expense of ones own life• answer the call of Jihad• death in defense of Islam is
martyrdom rewarded with Paradise Protect fellow Moslems Protect Islam from apostates and
heresies
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Seeds of Violent Conflict
The protection of Islam is a requirement for all Moslems
Spreading the faith is debatable• Islam teaches tolerance, especially for “People
of The Book” (e.g., Jews in Egypt)• Islam teaches that all of mankind are brothers
but does not tolerate apostates Most interpretations defend Moslem lands
and all lands that have been Moslem (demanding reconquest?)
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Radical’s View
The lands of Islam have been corrupted by the West• desire for the riches of Arab lands• support for Jewish world dominance• support for apostate rulers
Islam and the Arabic people are under threat from the infidels
The struggle against the infidels is the duty of every Moslem worldwide
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Radical’s Method
Political solutions are not possible—power is never willingly surrendered only taken by force
Direct military confrontation is not (yet) possible
Terrorism is the only viable method
Note: All three of these views are shared by most revolutionary movements
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Radical Fundamentalists and Terrorist Acts
Terrorism is not just associated with radical Islamic fundamentalists
Terrorism is practiced by extreme radicals found in most religions and in many social-political movements (e.g., anarchists, Marxist-Leninists)
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Terrorism and Christian Fundamentalists
Like Islamic fundamentalists, most Christian fundamentalists are nonviolent
But strong fundamentalist beliefs are sometimes brought to extreme expression by advocates of violence and terrorist acts
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Terrorism Under the Banner of Christian Fundamentalism
Some white-supremacist organizations such as the KKK view themselves as Christian fundamentalists, protecting the “Christian way of life” as they interpret it
Some other Christian fundamentalist groups have racist views, although they are not organized explicitly with a white-supremacist mandate
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
To help view radical Islamic fundamentalism in its proper perspective, consider a case of domestically grown, radical Christian fundamentalist terrorism
The case focuses on the polarized American opinion on women’s reproductive rights (i.e., abortion)
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Murder of Dr. Barnett Slepian
Amherst (NY) physician who performed legal abortions in a local medical clinic
Murdered (assassinated?) in his home on October 23, 1998 by James Kopp• Kopp viewed himself as saving the lives of
hundreds of unborn babies• Kopp’s escape was aided and abetted by like-
minded ‘Christians’ who saw him as a hero for their antiabortion cause
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Capture of James Kopp
Placed on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List Escaped to Ireland and later to France where he
received assistance from others active in the antiabortion movement
Apprehended in France, March 29th, 2001 Sentenced 25 years to life on May 9th, 2003 Allegedly shot other physicians who performed
legal abortions in the U.S. and Canada Expresses no remorse over his killing Viewed as a martyr by some antiabortionists
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Attacks on Medical Clinics Performing Abortions
Types of Attacks• clinic bombings and individual assassinations
Clearly constitute terrorist acts• terrorizes physicians performing this service• terrorizes people using this service
Loosely organized terrorist movement• few practicing blatant violence• many more supporting violent acts• tacit support from some religious leaders
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Threat from Radical Fundamentalists
Radical beliefs from various religious groups sometimes lead to terrorist acts, but
Radical Islamic fundamentalists remain the most serious threat to peace and global stability• active terrorists constitute a very small
minority, but support for their actions is rapidly growing worldwide
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Combating Radical Islamic Terrorists
Responding to Islamic terrorism requires a thorough understanding of Islamic culture and beliefs
“More of the same” is not working• U.S. foreign policy needs to be carefully
reexamined• U.S. needs to win the propaganda war
which it is badly losing to date
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Steps Toward Combating Global Islamic Terrorism
Continued support for Israel balanced with strong support for the Palestinians
Strong support for moderate Moslem leaders and progressive Arab countries• aggressive economic aid• expanded cultural and educational exchange
Calculated response to terrorism• quick and decisive action, but sanctioned by
moderate Arab nations and by European allies
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Dilemma of Modern Islam
To move forward or to move backward?• Should traditional Islam be adapted to
a changing world?• Should the changing world be
adapted to traditional Islam? Split between progressive and
fundamentalist Moslems
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Modern Egypt—Predominantly Moslem with a Progressive Secular Government
top related