Islamist Movements Analysis - Assignment Example

In the wake of the events surrounding global political scenario of the 21st century, many Islamist movements have ascend in various parts ofthe world as a resistance. Among these, Osama Bin Laden, Leader of the Al-Qaeda network may yet be the most phenomenal and controversial figure. A similar figure is portrayed by the Palestinian Islamic organization called Hamas, over a period of several years, has created an extensive network of social welfare programs throughout the West Bank and Gaza, which explains part of the reasons for its popularity. Hamas is best known throughout the world for carrying out Suicide bombings and other homicidal attacks against Israeli civilians to further its goal of creating an Islamic Republic of Palestine in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. However, the views of these Islamist movements as portrayed by the Western media has also shifted ideologically even though they are still, at large, dispersed in both positive and negative directions. In particular, the way the media of the West has recorded speeches delivered by the leaders of these groups is moving in a different direction. This research study is, therefore, aimed to initiate an investigation into the area of an ideological shift in the portrayal of these speeches and rhetoric by Western media. To make it more precise, this issue will be addressed from the viewpoint of the British and French media and how they have shifted in depicting the speeches and rhetoric of Osama bin Laden and Hamas movement of Palestine. The aim here is to look into the underlying causes of this shift, the way these speeches were portrayed before and the way they are portrayed now. Literature Survey The west waged a war against Afghanistan's fundamentalist groups and then against the dictator leadership in Iraq. However, the true war started right after the collapse of the twin towers when the TV screens, newspapers and magazines of the west launched a media attack against those suspected in the attacks. Islam was defined as a portrait of Bin Laden and terrorism. The term Islamic Fundamentalist was given life as a very negative, degrading or anti-western term in the western dominated media. As a result, a counter attack was launched by Islamist movements. Interviews of Bin Laden were published in the Middle Eastern press, videotapes were launched, audio files released widely over the internet casting views of these movements. The reaction of the West to these releases can however be seen as a transition of responses in which, initially the portrayal was very negative but gradually it entered into reasonableness. Forums and discussions started taking place in which both Western ideologists and Muslim scholars took part. While a marked improvement in the perception of Islam within the Western countries can be acknowledged, yet the beleaguering tendency to portray a distorted image of Islam within their media still remains intact. This study will, therefore, enable a better understanding of why these media were biased, if ever and what exactly are the ways that should be adopted to remove any biasness if there ever was. According to a discussion conducted by the BBC on perceptions of Islam in the British media, "Islam in the British media will continue to improve. More and more journalists are now anxious to pursue the truth. The BBC world Service in English has frequently sought Liberty's opinion on and analysis of developments in various parts of the Arab world. Today many more journalists and producers than ever before are anxious to provide their audience with fuller stories, clearer pictures and fairer images.". (Perceptions of Islam in the BBC and other Western media) The fact cannot be denied about recent awareness on the part of some journalists, TV and radio producers and commentators of covering some Islamic issues in a more objective manner. The coverage of the Bosnian tragedy as well as of the Chechnyan problem by the British media has been quite fair in spite of the biased policy of the British government on both issues. Many would believe that a competition for survival has always existed between the Islamic and Western civilizations and that if one of the civilizations were to rise, that would have to be at the expense of the other. The Muslim community of Britain and France has also partly contributed to the distortion of Islam's image. The accumulated effect of the Muslim distortion of Islam is to generate a desire on the part of the British media to associate Islam with lawlessness and social unrest in Islamic countries whenever there is an opportunity and this in turn depicts the way they have portrayed speeches of Bin Laden and Hamas over the years. The path, which the media chooses from both ends, can truly shape the current state of affairs prevailing throughout the world. If one side decides to humiliate the other, the reaction will come, sooner or later, peaceful or violent. "We would like to inform you that labeling us and our acts as terrorism is also a description of you and of your acts. Reaction comes at the same level as the original action. Our acts are reaction to your own acts, which are represented by the destruction and killing of our kinfolk in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine". (Bin Laden, 2004) Framework and Methodology In order to analyze the current situation and offer recommendations, the study is planned to be organized into the following sections: Provide a synopsis and assessment of any previous related studies Global political scenario including the motives behind these Islamist movements and their reasons for issuing speeches which capture the attention of the Western countries. Instances of the speeches and rhetoric delivered by Bin Laden and Hamas over the years as shown in the British and French Media The current state of affairs revolving around the depiction of these speeches Behavior of these media in the past and depiction of events and speeches regarding other global conflicts and comparative analysis with current scenario. Interviews with experienced journalists, commentators and renowned media personnel. Tapes, videos and written material of speeches and rhetoric of Bin Laden and Hamas Proposition of the suggestions Research Questions - Conclusions After the collection of relevant informational data, an exploration into true facts underlying the ideological shifts in the British and French media. The following questions will be addressed throughout the study: What ideological shifts are deployed in portraying these speeches and their rhetoric in the British and French media What are the underlying causes of such ideological shifts What socio-cultural and political pressures are imposed upon these media Is there a connection between these pressures and the shift that is under review What sort of constraints these media have to face regarding depiction of such speeches How have such constraints and pressures varied in time and related to different global conflicts and their depiction Is there a difference in the portrayal of speeches and rhetoric of Islamists movement's between the British media and the French media In turn, what are the similarities they both possess What sort of implications these depictions have on the masses, particularly of the Muslim world Has there been an ideological shift in the reactions of the Muslim world as well towards the portrayal by the British and French media What are the possible recommendations against the issue under review This study will attempt to answer as many questions as possible and estimate the most effective solution to the problem. It is important to consider the methodology used by the authors since, depending on the type of data used, they results might be biased or insufficient. The study will be an explanatory analysis rather than a merely descriptive summary. The dissertation will be valuable in that it will synthesize the current ideologies and views of scholars, journalists and media personnel associated with the problem and contribute to the general discussion of the problem as well as propose solutions. Timeframe breakdown 6 months: survey literature and learn to use relevant tools 12 months: deepen understanding of the 'problem' and devise solutions 18 months: engrossed in research 24 months: begin to wind up data collection 30 months: complete solution and review recent literature References BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Full text: 'Bin Laden tape' Accessed on February 28, 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3628069.stm BBC NEWS | Magazine | Kicking the imperialist habit Accessed on February 28, 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4678586.stm Hamas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Accessed on February 28, 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas Islam and the West after September 11: Accessed on February 28, 2006 http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/cicr/ejournal/features/islamandwest.html Perceptions of Islam in the BBC and other Western media Accessed on February 28, 2006 http://www.ii-pt.com/web/papers/media.htm Targeting Islam Accessed on February 28, 2006 http://www.ummah.com/waragainstislam/islam.htm Why Hamas won Jim Lederman - openDemocracy Accessed on February 28, 2006 http://www.opendemocracy.net/conflict-debate_97/why_hamas_won_3250.jsp Read More