Many of us in the left, particularly in Southasia, have chosen to understand the rise of violent Islamic fundamentalism as a response to poverty, unemployment, poor access to justice, lack of educational opportunities, corruption, loss of faith in the political system, or the sufferings of peasants and workers.
American imperialism is also held responsible. This, too, is a partial truth.
But like poverty and deprivation, imperialism and colonialism alone did not create violent Islamism.
Islamic radicalism is bad news for Muslims. It pits Muslims against Muslims, as well as against the world at large.
On the other hand, fundamentalist fury explodes when the Faith is seen to be maligned. For example, mobs set afire embassies and buildings around the world for an act of blasphemy committed in Denmark; others violently protested the knighthood of Salman Rushdie.
Had the US not cultivated them as allies against communism during the Cold War, history could have been very different.
clipped from: www.zmag.org