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> This strange metaphysical fancy lies behind the fashionable theory that when people leave advanced countries to join ISIS they do so because they have undergo
by x5n1 11y ago
> This strange metaphysical fancy lies behind the fashionable theory that when people leave advanced countries to join ISIS they do so because they have undergone a process of “radicalization.” But who radicalized the tens of millions of Europeans who flocked to Nazism and fascism in the interwar years? The disaster that ensued was not the result of clever propaganda, though that undoubtedly played a part. Interwar Europe demonstrates how quickly and easily civilized life can be disrupted and destroyed by the impact of war and economic crisis.
The reason people go join ISIS is because they feel their needs are not met by modern society. Certain needs such as the need to feel important and powerful, to have some sense of metaphysical meaning are not met by modern society. Especially for some Muslims living in the West who have not yet integrated fully into Western society. For them Islam frames their identify and the metaphysical meaning of their lives.
ISIS in theory and propaganda offers a way to have those needs met. The same reason people supported Nazis, the British and the French made Germans feel as if they were a powerless underclass under continuous economic tyranny. Nazism made them feel powerful and important again, it gave them a sense of community and meaning.
The West has worked hard to make Muslims feel impotent, and their religious class has exploited this rhetoric to gain and maintain social power, ISIS then co-opted this rhetoric and promises to make them feel powerful, at least in theory. Its acts of brutality reiterate this idea.
The only way to deal with this is either get rid of Islam, and help Muslims frame their needs in terms of Western society. Or to re-frame Islam in a way that is compatible with modernity, capitalism, and modern society. The second being a much harder goal.
- vixen99 11y agoI suppose you might be saying that, as a matter of fact, (it happens that) their needs are not met by modern society. Or are you saying it's all our fault as usual? I'm probably missing something but how has the West worked hard to make Muslims feel impotent? Totally agree with your final point. There's not much sign if any that a re-framing of Islam is going to take place. Ever tried asking a Muslim if there is any bit of the Koran that should be ignored or altered? "Pew Poll Finds Overwhelming Support For Executing People For Apostasy In Afghanistan and Other Muslim Nations" https://jonathanturley.org/2013/05/03/pew-poll-finds-overwhelming-support-for-executing-people-for-apostasy-in-afghanistan-and-other-muslim-nations/ https://jonathanturley.org/2013/05/03/pew-poll-finds-overwhe...
- x5n1 11y ago> Or are you saying it's all our fault as usual? I dunno. Do all people have the right to feel important and powerful, even when don't work in the framework of capitalism and modern economics to do so? Is that not their own fault for not integrating into the modern system like China, South Korea, or Singapore have? > I'm probably missing something but how has the West worked hard to make Muslims feel impotent? Various wars, alliances, propping up Israel, and British Empire before that. Muslims in general don't want to see other Muslims attacked by non-Muslims. They are fine if Muslims attack each other though.
- Kristine1975 11y agoReport on the Pew Poll: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/05/01/64-percent-of-muslims-in-egypt-and-pakistan-support-the-death-penalty-for-leaving-islam/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/05/01... Majorities of Muslims in Egypt and Pakistan support the death penalty for leaving Islam Not "other Muslim Nations" as the blog author claims. And: Pew notes that many respondents said sharia should apply only to Muslims and, just as importantly, that "Muslims differ widely in how they interpret certain aspects of sharia, including whether divorce and family planning are morally acceptable."