Political Islam : a fundamentalist comeback to Western supremacy?

Abstract

The end of the twentieth Century, and the beginning of the twenty-first, saw the dawning of rivalries between East and West; between the Islamic Civilisation and the Western World. Replacing the tensions prevalent during the Cold War, the new 'threat' is thought to be more explosive and more dangerous than any hazard the Western World has ever been exposed to. Extremist, and thoroughly violent, Islamic revival has ushered in a new era of insecurities. On the other hand, Islamic revival has been a counterattack to the infiltration by the West and the liberal idea of the Ummah. Infiltrating the political arena, these groups are succeeding in mobilising public opinion to their own advantage, forcing moderate regimes to use force and hard measures to suppress violence. Globalisation, the constant attack by the media as well as the renewed wave of colonialism promoted by the United States of America are all amongst the causes that are fuelling this growing divide existing between two amongst the largest of civilisations. In tum this continued bickering has been the motor behind a flourishing of literature concerned with this modem method of waging crusades as well as with a prophesized 'clash among civilisations'. Indeed the terrorist attacks that the Westem World has been faced with are but the first signs that the prophecy is not a prophecy at all, but the gruesome reality. This notwithstanding, among t.his sea of pessimism lies a ray of hope callling for negotiations, dialogue and comprehension to be embraced. What we are witnessing today on our television screens however, only highlights that these voices are being buried under wave after wave of incomprehension and hatred, which unless unchecked will truly result in Lewis's premise.