In this research paper, I intent to analyse Islamism and its effects on the western world. Does Islamism really represent a danger to western civilisation? Is Islamism in decline, as written by the French scholar Gilles KEPEL? What measures does the European Union take to ensure the security of the people and to protect them from terrorist acts?
To describe people’s view on the Orient and the Arabic world, I begin in a first chapter with a monograph written by the U.S. – Palestinian author Edward SAID on Orientalism and the representation of Muslims and Arabs in western media.
In a second chapter, I will continue with Gilles KEPEL’S thesis on the decline of Islamism and oppose it in the third part to Bassam TIBI’S counter thesis. I will base my analysis mainly on KEPEL’S book about the jihad , where he develops his thesis on the ascension and decline of Islamism, and on Bassam TIBI’S writings “The Challenge of Fundamentalism: Political Islam and the New World Disorder” and “Der neue Totalitarismus” where he describes Islamist fundamentalism and its impacts on the West.
The fourth part of this paper deals with the anti-terror measures of the European Union and the question on how they affect people’s privacy.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Definition of “the Orient”
III. The Occident and Islamic Fundamentalism
1. Decline of Islamism?
2. Islamic Fundamentalism a danger for the Occident?
3. Combating Islamist Terrorism
IV. Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Topics
This research paper explores the conceptualization of Islamism and its perceived impact on Western society, primarily through the critical analysis of the scholarly debates surrounding the "Islamic threat" and the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures. The primary goal is to determine whether Islamism is in a state of decline, as suggested by Gilles Kepel, or if it remains a significant and destabilizing force in global politics, as argued by Bassam Tibi.
- The academic and ontological construction of "the Orient" via Edward Said’s Orientalism.
- The conflicting theses regarding the decline versus the political resilience of Islamist movements.
- The socioeconomic and structural dynamics contributing to radicalization and terrorism.
- The tension between national security, anti-terrorism measures, and the preservation of individual privacy in the European Union.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Combating Islamist Terrorism
Islamism, fundamentalism and terrorism are often considered the same. However, they are quite different. Not all Islamists approve terrorism and there are also fundamentalist and terrorist movements outside a Muslim background. Nevertheless, lots of the terrorist acts during the past decades legitimated themselves by religion, mostly referring to Islam. Only a few days ago, a suicide bomber murdered 21 and wounded at least 96 Egyptian Copts in the name of Allah. As I am analysing Islamism in this paper, I will only refer to terrorism with an Islamist background and motivation.
Since the 1970s, when international terrorism raised, countries are trying to find some common ground on strategies, to fight and suppress the phenomenon of terrorism. In reaction of the common terrorist threat, the liberal democracies, most concerned about terrorism techniques, to prevent terrorist attacks from happening and to capture the perpetrators after an attack occurred. Other methods are negotiation techniques, hostage scenarios, aviation security, target hardening, the protection of diplomatic premises, as well as the fight against terrorist finance.
International exchange of secret-service and police information on terrorism and terrorists, as well as the establishment of special commando units, were the main challenges of international cooperation. However, special commando units being of no more use since the advent of suicide bombing, intelligence has become the most important antiterrorist measure, especially after 9/11.
As an answer to the global threat caused by international terrorism, the threatened states formed an alliance to fight terrorism. New security measures were developed, concerning the competencies of the army, the police forces and the intelligence service.
Chapter Summary
I. Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the rise of the "Islamic threat" in Western consciousness following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and outlines the comparative approach to analyze the theories of Gilles Kepel and Bassam Tibi.
II. Definition of “the Orient”: This section examines Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, illustrating how Western academic and cultural discourses have historically constructed and dominated the perception of the Orient.
III. The Occident and Islamic Fundamentalism: This central chapter compares Gilles Kepel’s thesis on the decline of Islamism due to internal social fragmentation with Bassam Tibi’s counter-argument that political Islam remains a dangerous, evolving challenge to global stability.
IV. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, suggesting that while Islam as a religion is not a threat to the West, Islamist fundamentalism remains a complex issue that requires nuanced approaches beyond short-term, privacy-restricting security measures.
Keywords
Islamism, Fundamentalism, Terrorism, Occident, Orient, Orientalism, Gilles Kepel, Bassam Tibi, Jihad, Radicalization, Counter-terrorism, Civil Liberties, Globalisation, Political Islam, Security
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental scope of this research paper?
The paper investigates the perception of Islamism in the West, particularly following the events of September 11, 2001, and examines the varying scholarly perspectives on whether this movement poses an existential threat to Western civilization.
What are the central thematic areas addressed?
The work focuses on the construction of the Orient, the debate over the rise and decline of Islamist movements, the motivations behind Islamist terrorism, and the legal and political dilemmas regarding Western security measures.
What is the primary research question?
The core research question asks whether Islamism is currently in a state of terminal decline or if it represents a resilient and enduring challenge to international order.
What scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a comparative literature review, contrasting the sociological and political theses of key scholars like Gilles Kepel and Bassam Tibi to evaluate their relevance in light of contemporary geopolitical developments.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main part of the paper discusses the theoretical framework of Orientalism, analyzes specific case studies and arguments concerning Islamist social dynamics, and critiques the effectiveness of anti-terrorism strategies implemented by Western states.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Islamism, Orientalism, Jihad, political Islam, and counter-terrorism, reflecting the academic and political nature of the discussion.
How does the author evaluate the "decline of Islamism" thesis?
The author finds the "decline" thesis proposed by Gilles Kepel to be insightful but ultimately problematic, as it struggles to reconcile its core premise with the continued political success of various Islamist groups and the persistence of terrorist activities.
What is the author's stance on counter-terrorism and privacy?
While the author acknowledges the necessity of some security measures, they express concern that such actions, like mass data storage, may infringe upon personal liberty and ultimately fail to address the root, socioeconomic causes of terrorism.
- Quote paper
- Isabelle Schleich (Author), 2011, Islamism, a threat for the West?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/168722
