Violent religious extremism is to be found nearly everywhere in human history. Yet, it seems today, as if the Arab world – and most lately Syria – would be the 'hub' of religiously motivated terrorist activities. But where do these movements come from? What are their roots?
The key assumption of this paper is, that the origin of religious extremism (but not necessarily religious extremism itself) is to seek in the rise of political Islam in the middle of the 20th century. Therefore, the central question to answering the questions above is: How could a constructive force, like the political Islam, lay the foundations for such a destructive force as is Islamist terrorism?
Content
Introduction
1 What is political Islam
1.1 Where did political Islam come from
1.2 The main ideological characteristics of political Isla
2 Islamist terrorism: a characterization on the example of ISI
2.1 Where and how did ISIS emerge
2.2 How does ISIS recruit its members?.
2.3 The ideology and goals of ISIS and other violent Islamist groups
3 What's the link between violent Islamism and the political Islam?
3.1 Ideological links and transitions between the political Islam and violent Islamism
3.2 The transition of political Islam into violent Islamism
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the link between political Islam and violent extremism?
The paper argues that while political Islam emerged as a constructive force in the mid-20th century, its ideological foundations provided a framework that was later radicalized into violent Islamist terrorism.
How did ISIS emerge?
The paper examines the historical and political vacuum in the Middle East that allowed groups like ISIS to rise, characterizing them as a prime example of modern violent religious extremism.
What are the main ideological characteristics of political Islam?
Political Islam is characterized by the attempt to implement Islamic principles into the state's legal and political structure, often as a response to perceived Western influence.
How do violent Islamist groups recruit members?
Recruitment often relies on exploiting social grievances, religious identity, and the promise of a utopian state, as seen in the characterization of ISIS.
Is religious extremism a new phenomenon?
No, violent religious extremism has been found throughout human history, though its current "hub" is often associated with the Arab world and conflict zones like Syria.
- Quote paper
- Ulrich Roschitsch (Author), 2015, The Origins of Violent Islamism. Can the “political Islam” be seen as a cause for violent religious extremism in the Middle East?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/334507
