Back to the future: 'Islamic terrorism' and interpretations of past and present

Citation
S. Vertigans et P. Sutton, Back to the future: 'Islamic terrorism' and interpretations of past and present, SOC RES ONL, 6(3), 2001, pp. NIL_55-NIL_60
Citations number
26
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Sociology & Antropology
Journal title
SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ONLINE
ISSN journal
1360-7804 → ACNP
Volume
6
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
NIL_55 - NIL_60
Database
ISI
SICI code
1360-7804(20011130)6:3<NIL_55:BTTF'T>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
Commentaries on September's acts of terrorism have tended to rely upon secu lar accounts to explain both the terrorism and the wider, less violent Isla mic resurgence. This has meant that the explanatory focus has been upon thr eats to Muslims, the negative impact of globalization and interrelated mode rnization and the role of America within global relations and the Middle Ea st in particular. These generalisations are problematic because they fail t o explain the broader appeal of Islam, the character and contemporary natur e of Islamic movements and in the instance of the terrorists and al-Qa' ida , the relatively wealthy and educated backgrounds of a significant number o f the terrorists. As a corrective, the paper expands the focus to include the awareness of co ntemporary problems and the historical origins and successes of Islam that are both seen to legitimise the need for a radical form of Islam, interpret ed as a comprehensive way of life. This awareness has been significantly ai ded through contemporary developments in technology, mass communications an d transport networks allied to the rapid growth of education across Muslim countries. These factors, rather than diminishing the appeal of religion, a s secularists have argued, are instrumental in the Islamic resurgence gener ally and specifically in facilitating terrorist activity.