Summary
Fundamentalism is sometimes seen as a mere label. In our view, it is more than
this. It is a concept despite the fact that it is a relatively new idea. Although
fundamentalism is often identified with religions, any ideology, no matter how
secular, can take a fundamentalist form. Fundamentalism is not about the ‘funda-
mentals’ of a creed. Fundamentalists exploit the creeds they espouse in order to
make them dogmatic, militant and violent in character.
Fundamentalists have an ambivalent attitude towards modernity. On the one
hand they oppose it: on the other they not only make use of it, but fundamentalism
can only be understood as part of the modern world. Fundamentalism sees deep
divisions between the ‘pure’ and the ‘contaminated’. It rejects dialogue and debate,
and regards violence as the only way of tackling conflict.
It is wrong to assume that Islam is necessarily (or has a particular tendency to
be) fundamentalist in character. Where Islamists turn to fundamentalism, this is not
because of their religion, but because of the particular circumstances in which they
find themselves. Fundamentalism can take a Christian form. If we look at the
Christian right in the USA, we see that not only are they wealthy, but they are
politically influential and reject democratic values. In Israel Jewish fundamentalism
has a love/hate relationship with Zionism. On the one hand, Jewish fundamentalists
are concerned at the way in which some Zionists treat religion purely as a national
identity rather than a sacred creed. On the other hand, they see the state of Israel
as a first step towards building an Israel of biblical proportions.
The ‘realism’ of Huntington (1996) can be viewed as a kind of academic quasi-
fundamentalism as a result of the author’s contention that differences between
civilisations necessarily lead to violence and antagonism.Questions
- Is fundamentalism simply about religion?
- Is fundamentalism inherent in Islam?
- Is the media treatment of fundamentalism fair?
- Is fundamentalism a modern phenomenon?
- How should democrats handle fundamentalists?
References
Abou El Fadl, K. (2003) ‘9/11 and the Muslim Transformation’ in M. Dudziak (ed.)
September 11 in HistoryDurham, NC: Duke University Press, 69–111.
Ali, T. (2002) The Clash of FundamentalismsLondon: Verso.
Armstrong, K. (2001) The Battle for GodNew York: Ballantine Books.
Bina, C. (1994) ‘Towards a New World Order: US Hegemony, Client-States and Islamic
Alternative’ in H. Mutalib and H. Taj ul-Islam (eds) Islam, Muslims and the Modern State
Basingstoke: Macmillan, 3–30.396 Part 3 Contemporary ideologies