Islamic Fundamentalism since 1945

by Beverley Milton-Edwards

Beverley Milton-Edwards analyzes the roots and emergence of new Islamic movements and the main thinkers that inspired them.

Providing a much-needed historical overview, the main facets of Islamic fundamentalism are put in a global context, with a thematic debate of issues such For students and anyone interested in the history, effects and consequences of these Islamic movements, Islamic Fundamentalism since 1945 is the book to buy.

Genres: Islam, Religion

176 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2004

Reviews

[Jim]

I will preface this review by saying I tend to side with armed militant groups in the fight against Western Colonialism, Neo-liberal Capitalism, and Anti-Muslim activity/rhetoric. When well-established nation-states start throwing around the word terrorist and terrorism for the groups that are reacting to decades, or even centuries, of oppression, murder, land theft, rape, natural resource theft, union busting, and invasions mistakenly called wars, I tend to perk up. Ask yourself why these groups were formed, and then think about how you can bitch about the spread of global capitalism or the slave trade or state-backed counterinsurgency or targeted assassinations or overthrowing legitimate regimes overseas or the abetting of war crimes or the Patriot Act or Militant Zionist Israel or White christian Nationalist USA. It is impossible to talk about Islamic Fundamentalism Since 1945, acting as if Pre-1945 history is non-existent or immaterial to what came afterwards. Once the christian West decided to spread their specific brand of oppression, manipulation, and subversion across the globe behind the oh-so-thin veil of "spreading democracy" the world became a horrorshow. Islam and the Muslim-majority countries were merely grist for their mills, lands to conquer, people to subdue, and resources to steal. WWI and the breakup of the Ottoman Empire into European puppet-states ended any idea of stability between Islam, Arabs, or Muslim states and the Imperialist West. WWII continued this uneven relationship, and with the creation, ex nihilo, of the State of Israel on Arab lands, there was never to be any chance that Islam, or Muslims, or Arabs would be allowed to co-exist with Western Colonial-Capitalist ambitions. M-E narrative barely touches on this past, and merely starts, for no apparent reason in 1945. Oddly, she completely misses or ignores that this year would be instrumental in the growth and expansion of Islamic resistance and Arab nationalism, as the end of WWII would usher in the beginning of the end of Muslim influence or independence. Since 1945, all Muslim states have been pawns of global politicking. Pawns in the truest chess-related sense: utterly powerless on their own but quite strategically useful for those utilizing them for their own gains. Most Muslim-majority nations are completely reactive, as they don't hold their futures in their own hands, but are subject to the whims of the USA, Western Europe, Russia, China, and Israel for survival. Any sniff of power grabbing is seen as Islamic Fundamentalism rearing its ugly, non-christian head. "War" ensues and the balance of power, or should I say the majority of the power, is reclaimed by the non-Muslim states. As bad as the power imbalances are now, could anyone imagine how much worse off Muslim nations would be if the world's oil had been first found in the USofA or Europe (outside of Russia, at least)?? Yikes!
Anyway, I have severely digressed.
M-E has entirely too much of a Western World View, and this warps all of her arguments about Islamic Fundamentalism. She admits nearly all the meaningful terms are hotly debated, but she almost immediately retreats to the Western World View for analysis of a non-Western religion. Until we start seeing the lies of the "Western Civilization Nations" and how they have warped the world to their selfish needs and desires, there can be no true analysis of Islam, whether moderate, reformist, or fundamentalist. When a religion has to continually apologize for its beliefs and culture, or measure itself against christian values, there can be no understanding or progress.
Maybe M-E should write about Militant Zionist Fundamentalism?

[Maciek]

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to claim an understanding of the deeper political, economic, and religious current that run below the surface in the Middle East. It is impossible to discuss Islamic fundamentalism without first understanding how, in the region, religion interacted with nationalism what was the effect of European colonialism, and what has changed after 9/11. One almost wants to exclaim, how the Western policy towards the region would be different if this book was required reading in American and European schools!

[Mills College Library]

297.09045 M6622 2014