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> All generalizations are false, including this one. My problem is simplistic explanations tend to be very misleading. And I am very skeptical of cultural exis
by unmole 5y ago
> All generalizations are false, including this one.
My problem is simplistic explanations tend to be very misleading. And I am very skeptical of cultural existentialism being a useful tool in understanding societies.
> pattern but plenty of other Muslim countries do.
I'm asking again, which ones?
> (I don't know, I'm genuinely interested): in Pakistan, today, is the military more or less Islamist
Pakistani society is probably the most Islamist in the world. The elite, both civilian and military are considerably less so.
> They execute actual Islamists who are a threat to their power.
They'll execute blasphemers, apostates, homosexuals and adulterers too. Along with liberals and communists.
- slibhb 5y ago> Pakistani society is probably the most Islamist in the world. The elite, both civilian and military are considerably less so. Okay, so why is it such a stretch to say "if the military didn't dominate Pakistan, I wonder if there would be [an Islamist regime] right now"? Maybe that wouldn't be the case, maybe the elites who are also less Islamist would dominate, but it's not a crazy idea. Having opinions about "Islam" or "governance" or "politics" is going to get you into a corner somewhere. But we have to have opinions about these things. What keeps us from paradox, as far as I'm concerned, is that some opinions are more right than others and actual events that occur out in the world confirm or refute certain opinions.