An alternative way of fighting Islamic extremism

In the war against terrorism, the U.S. aims to eradicate the threat of Islamic fundamentalist groups such as al Qaeda through military means. Despite limited U.S. success, long term fighting against Islamic fundamentalism through military means might not solve the root of the problem.

On the contrary, it might exacerbate the enmity of the Muslim world against the West, particularly the U.S. Currently, the strategies of the U.S. are perceived as an effort to recolonise or utterly wipe out the Islamic civilization about which Muslims are quite obviously emotive. In addition, the American position on the Israeli-Palestinian issue and the attack on Iraq have further enhanced the doubts of people in the Middle East. Taking advantage of the frustration and disappointment of Muslims toward the policies of the Washington administration, groups like al Qaeda claim to base their activities according to so called Islamic principles, reasoning that the West are infidels crusading against the believers and the Quran orders Muslims to fight against enemies of Islam.

Using military power to eradicate the belief system of Islamic fundemantalists can only strengthen their belief on their holy war (jihad) and justify their claims. Consequently, Washington must find ways to sideline groups like al Qaeda, marginalise their rhetoric among Muslims and  ify their idea of Islam by showing that it does not represent the real face of Islam, which is originally tolerant, peaceful and just. To do this, the U.S. needs to invoke and support moderate elements from the pages of Islamic consciousness itself. The Islamic civilization after all, is not devoid of them. Islam, in its 1,400 year history in the Middle East was not a monolithic philosophy but rather a myriad of philosophies bound together by a central belief in a supreme deity.

During the ideologically turbulent era towards the dusk of colonialism, the Middle East was the setting of heated debates about the correct interpretation of Islam. At the time, the ‘correct interpretation’ was never close to the terrorist-oriented ideology that is currently highlighted by the media, rather an interpretation revitalizing the moderate elements in Islamic consciousness.

At present there are many enlightened Muslim scholars, intellectuals, religious men and groups embracing open minded, critical approach towards Islam. These entities do not perceive the West as a threat, find the coherence between the Western values and Quranic concepts and interpret its principles in line with today’s conditions.

Cooperating with these moderate Muslim elements may bring many advantages to the U.S. First of all, since such approach will emerge from Islam itself, it will be tuned with the history, psychology and culture of the Muslims. Furthermore, it may serve to the advancement of Muslim societies in a wide range of issues, from human rights to education, in concert with the rest of the world. It may also be an alternative to the extremist approach that is presented as if it were the original Islam. This may help the dilution of extremist tendencies and prevent the reinforcement of anti imperialist/anti West feelings among Muslims. Finally, Western support for moderate Islam may endorse the construction of bridges between Islam and the West.

By using such policy, the U.S. can eliminate Islamic fundamentalism without using military means, which will never bring long term success other than justification and embedment of the idea of "the clash of civilizations", the prophecy of Samuel Huntington. The results of this strategy may not be immediate, yet, it can solve the problem from the root. Regarding the possibility of realization of the above mentioned points in the long term, it is worth consideration.

Damla Aras is a research assistant at King’s College, London.