Comparison of Two Religious-Political Organizations - Essay Example

Religion, Politics and Fundamentalism and Comparison of Two Religious-Political Organizations Background In the current scenario of the world, where religious terrorism and extremism are on constant rise and shaping the global politics, manifest ‘politicization of religion’ and the ‘religionisation of politics’ is becoming a looming threat to the peace of the world. As the war against terror is gaining strength, the same is falling down. The sense of insecurity and consequent military intervention of world powers has made societies a part of the world, more unsafe and insecure. The deep repercussions of western military expeditions find its best refuge in the clog of religion. The use of religion in such situation to further their anti-west sentiments had threatened the whole world. Fundamentalist elements are the product of totalitarian regimes, which nurtured and developed it for their particular interests. The modern Al-Qaeda and ISIS has been the creation of fundamentalist totalitarian authorities with the aid and support from western powers lead by United States of America. Anti-imperialist sentiments are also part of fundamentalist uprising against the imperialist’s design to divide the region and support anarchies of their own choice after the World War I. The anarchies set at that time on the whims of their imperialist masters sowed the seed of Muslim fundamentalism to legitimize their totalitarian rule as Islam allows such authority under Sharia. Aim of the Study The focus of the paper will be on fundamentalism of the organization and its relevancy to their motives and political ambitions. In order to have deep understanding of the nature of organization this paper will also study their history and their religious-political development. Furthermore, the role of Western imperialists and their handpicked regional players and the resulting anti-imperialist sentiments culminating in these organizations will be discussed as a subsidiary part of the research topic. The ISIS and Al-Qaeda are the two fundamentalist organization nurturing terrorism. These organizations also have political ambitions inspired by religious notions. The concept of Islamic fundamentalist contradicts with their activities that are mostly driven by economic and sectarian ambitions. The fundamentalism depicted by these two organizations is too complex; hatred and atrocities on other Muslim and non-Muslim people; relationship between state and religion; and rivalry between the two bands in application of the same ideology. The history of fundamentalism and its link with ISIS and AL-Qaeda The Salafist-Jihadism is the ideology of ISIS commonly shared with all other fundamentalist organizations like Al-Qaeda and Taliban, Al-Nusra front, and Boko Haram others. Salafist-jihadist Islam integrates state and religion into one entity ruled by the strict Sharia law. Salafism started in Egypt as movement with the same ideological background during late 19th and early 20th centuries. Substantial part of this movement was increasing imperialist designs in Ottoman Empire. Theology proposed by Ibn Taymiyya provided the theme for their growing anti-imperialist fervors. Hassan Al-Banna, an Egyptian founded the Muslim Brotherhood 1928 supported by King Faruq. The Salafist movement roused with the Wahabbism; both advocating violent Islam and brutal implementation of Sharia. Wahabbi doctrine was spread by the Abd-al-Wahab, who was in favor of creating a pan-Islamic caliphate. Salafist as well as Wahabi ideologies are founded on pure form of Islamic teachings, i.e., Mohammad, and his earlier successors. The Salafist or Wahabbi ideology rejects the innovation in the religion as bid’ah and the followers as heretics. There also exists schism about interpretation of Islam among Salafists on relationship of religious with the political process, and on the extent of use of violence. However, all these organizations including ‘ISIS’, ‘Al-Qaeda’, ‘Al-Nusra’, ‘Boko Haram’, ‘Taliban’ and ‘Muslim Brotherhood’, are linked closely due to their ideological association. Origin of Al-Qaeda has strong roots in the Afghan jihad that nurtured these terrorist organizations with fully supported by western powers including United States, as well as regional regimes. The ‘Mujahideens’ were idealized as revolutionary Salafists. In the meanwhile, Zawahiri, a doctor by profession, lead a Jihad group in Egypt. On its campaign in Afghanistan met with Osama bin Laden in Peshawar, Pakistan. They merged their groups and formed the Al-Qaeda in 1998. Al-Qaeda’ success in Afghanistan, and attacks on Western targets popularized it throughout Jihadi world. Fundamentalist ideology of Al-Qaeda can be analyzed from the book ‘Knights under the Prophet’s Banner’ authored by Zawahiri in 2001, identifies the goals as; • organization and coherence and then struggle against the existing regimes of the Muslim world • establishment of a ‘genuine’ Muslim state in the heart of Arab (Henzel 76) Zawahiri saw the ongoing struggle as a part of global revolutionary Jihad against the secular Muslim regimes through violence, political manipulations, and effective media propagation. However, their fundamentalism is at least what fundamentalism meant. Fundamentalism and conservative ideology in Al-Qaeda did not support other sects of Muslims. Al-Qaeda has the same ideological discrepancy in their belief, i.e. they promote conservative beliefs and calls for anti-modernization. In contrast, the organization has overhauled itself to become a modern terrorist organization since the Afghan War. Their modernization in tactics, explosive technology, military strategies, and communication is a demonstrated fact. The conservative-modernized contradiction strengthens the assumption purported by Slavoj Zizek in his article (Henzel). While on the other hand, ISIS started as Jamaat al-Tawhid wa-i-jihad (JTWJ) founded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 1999. The creation of the organization was aimed to change the regime in Jordan. After U.S. invasion of Iraq, Zarqawi made fame in resistance against the American invasion and his hatred for Shia Muslims. In 2004, JTWJ formally became an affiliate of Al-Qaeda. Iraq insurgency gave the organization opportunity to be flooded with human and economic resources and links to military aid. However, it remained autonomous and developed an ultra-Jihadi culture in Iraq. After the death of Zarqawi, the group changed its name to Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi took the leadership of ISIS and expanded its activity to Syrian Civil War of 2013 leading to a permanent split with Al-Qaeda (Friedland 6-7). The fundamentalism demonstrated by all of these organizations show the same necessary characteristics. These fundamentalist movements call for abeyance from modernization and advocate for conservatism. However, according to Slavoj Zizek the phenomenon of fundamentalism shown by these organizations including ISIS and Al-Qaeda are not ant-modernization but a distorted or twisted modernization. He puts ISIS in a series of conservative modernization attributed Meiji restoration of Japan. This phenomenon includes industrial modernization while on the same time conservation or restoration of the full authority. This argument is supported by their strong recruitment and organization, advance military strategy, use of modern weapons (even alleged used of warfare chemical in Syria) and ultra-modern media propaganda techniques (Zizek). Methodology For this study, credible qualitative research was needed in order to make the research more reliable and relevant to the realities happening in the world. Instead of collecting large invalid data this study will focus on the opinion of the experts on the subject matter. This paper will collect quality data through personal interviews from two experts on the topic. Interview gives more detail information and analysis of the scenario for discussion particularly in the field of political science. For the interview, certain interview questions are designed in order to get a precise answer to the research question asked above as the aim of the study. While devising interview questions, it should be noted that question must comprehensive, precise to the topic of the research and relevant to the expertise of the interviewee. Irrelevant questions both to subject the title and to the expertise of the interviewee can affect the quality of the data/analysis. Moreover, the arrangement of the question ought to be in such a way that gives the expert understanding of the approach of the research. Although, questions may arise during the interview, and that must be included in the interview questions for the clarity of the matter. Interviews are very helpful in acquiring qualitative data about the subject matter. As the interviewer crafts it, therefore, interviewer can conduct the interview in at his whims and can the discussion more precise and relevant to the subject matter. In contrast to participatory discussion, where the discussion may get out of control of the researcher and stray from the subject of the research, interviewer keeps the discussion on the right track. Information shared through interviews also possesses clarity in meaning. In the interview, following questions will be focused: 1. What do you know about fundamentalism within the context of terrorist groups? 2. What are the root causes behind the origination of terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda? 3. Can dialogue make an impact on terrorist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda? 4. The dilemma of fundamentalism and modernism in these organizations 5. Concept of state and religion 6. Do you agree with the slogan of terrorist group i.e. ‘Islamic sharia first, and welfare of people will follow itself’ work? Or simply how much they are successful in public common good? 7. What Threats do these groups pose on a level of regional and global security? Findings and discussion From the interviews, reliable data of substantial quality were acquired about fundamentalism and its rise in the Middle East region. Fundamentalism is defined by Marsden as “the demand for strict adherence to certain theological doctrines, in reaction against Modernist theology” (Marsden). Islamist fundamentalism can be traced back to conflicts of Ottoman Empire with the western imperial powers like French occupation of Northern Africa and capture of Egypt by Napoleon in an invasion. Later during and after World War I, British and French imperial power directly involved in the region and designed the future of the Middle East as we see today. Particularly, the creation of Israel left deep resentments in the Muslims of Middle East against the Western powers. These powers also demarcated Ottoman Empire into present nation states and handpicked monarchies were installed (or supported either openly or secretly) to secure their imperial interests in the region. This was deprivation of people from their right of voting. These regional monarchies covered themselves with Islamic Sharia to placate the people and started nurturing fundamentalism, and the West supported it. Till the end of 20th century, United States and other western power remain involved in the region through intermittent military interference like Iran revolution, Iran-Iraq war, and Iraq invasion of Kuwait, etc. After 9/11 and U.S. invasion of Iraq along with popular Arab spring resulted in the rise of the disaffected people of the monarchies and western power. These sentiments were exploited to the best by these terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda and then ISIS to drive an anti-west campaign. Supported by the ideology widely held in that area i.e., the Salafist ideology, these organizations emerged as a huge power, even they were supported by various states including Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United States to serve their interests. This organization did not settle for overthrow of regimes rather they were enough powerful and resourceful that they established their state. Thus, the fundamental ideology of their faith, i.e., to establish a ‘genuine’ Islamic society came true with the establishment of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. However, they were more strategically and militarily modernized then the general society on which they rule. Therefore, these organizations become the only power in the region under them controlling all the resources and even the faiths of individuals. According to Slavoj Zizek, the genocide of minorities and ethnic cleansing unleashed upon people of various communities show that ISIS is more deviated from the fundamentalism of their religion. It’s about challenging the world’s moral and ethical standards, and challenging humanitarian law; furthermore, depiction of their brutality needed for media campaign. It is needed to frighten people to follow them or to motivate the sympathizers showing their strength. In fact, this is the fear that they are fraught with that is ‘if we failed to depict such strength we will lose support from people. It proves the fundamentalism of ISIS is self-contradictory (Zizek). Despite having similar ideology and plan of action both the organizations, that is Al-Qaeda and ISIS, are not on the same page. The reasons are various; first these organizations have two different backgrounds; Osama bin Laden belonging to an upper class and educated Jihadist while Zarqawi and followers are from poor backgrounds with limited education. The Zarqawi’s views on heretics or ‘takfir’ (accusing others heresy and justifying their killing) brought contradictions with Al-Qaeda that finally led to their breakup. Al-Qaeda is a globally operating organization with regional branches and possesses skilled experts for terrorism and have resources despite the fact that they do not hold any geographical area under them as their state. ISIS has a state with huge resources, good economy, and an infrastructure to recognize them as a regional power (e.g., recent offer of exchange of captives proves their authority). However, ISIS has an Arabic impression, till now they have no success outside of Arabic peninsula. However, both the organization has drawn huge number of fighters from western countries including Unites States and pose a serious threat to the security of these countries. Growing influence of ISIS is a matter of serious concern for the interests of United States and other western allies are being seriously challenged by it. Fundamentalist uprising also has created fears among regional monarchies and genial segment of Muslim societies. The stability of the whole region will be at stake if these organizations continue to grow and integrate other organizations in various part of world into it, making it able to operate widely and even globally (Zelin). Conclusion Fundamentalism is growing in the Islamic world with full zeal along with the rise of anti-west sentiments. Their fundamentalism is distorted, in fact, to accommodate the inevitable modernization process. They also accommodated brutality and genocidal tactics in their religious fundamentalism to get popular support from people to regime change and to nurture anti-west sentiments. Thus, the notion of fundamentalism in case of ISIS is self-deceptive and a farce. However, it has severely threatened the stability of the region and the world. The brutality unleashed by such organization has tramped humanitarian law and threatened the freedom and life of minorities. Their ideology has incorporated state into religion and declared ‘Sharia’ as the supreme law, which has failed to ensure human rights and welfare of the society. Thus, these organizations show modernism in military and strategic interests while the strictly defy the same notion in society. That means they are using the modernism as a tool to militarize the State they own and terrorize the people within that State. Works Cited Friedland, Elliot. A Special Report on the Islamic State. Special Report. New York: Clarion Project , 2014. Henzel, Christopher. “The Origins of Al-Qaedas Ideology.” 2005 йил April. Strategic Studies Institute. . Marsden, George. Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism. Grand Rapids, Mich: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1991. Zelin, Aaron Y. “The War between ISIS and al-Qaeda for Supremacy of the Global Jihadist Movement.” 2014 йил June. Washington Institute for Near East Policy. . Zizek, Slavoj. ISIS is a Disgrace to True Fundamentalism. 2014 йил 3-September. . Read More