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Mamdani believe that the Afghanistan War played a part in not only the increase of violence amongst Islam, but the role in which the West (USA) played in forming the link between what we commonly see now, Islam and violence.

 

USA’s decision to fund the Afghan War had an adverse effect on the Afghan people and the Western World. Russia’s decision to leave Afghanistan sparked a set of internal conflicts (Mamdani, Asian dude), and the effect on USA was that “some of these groups turned against the USA” (Ghadbian, 2002, p. 100). At the end of the war the USA left because they decided their job was done, leaving Afghanistan war-torn and in dire straits.

 

Also towards the end of the war, Afghan Arabs (led by Osama Bin Laden) were encouraged to continue waging war against other cultures, especially the USA. This decision was based on Bin Laden’s thought that: “The collapse of the Soviet Union...goes to God and the mujahedeen in Afghanistan” (Bin Laden, Howarth, & Lawrence, 2005, p. 50; March 1997 interview with Peter Arnett). Essentially, Soviet withdrawal resulted in the thought that Islam could overcome any enemy with the use of violence, “commitment and belief” (Ghadbian, 2002, p. 101). This belief is still held by Muslim’s today and can be seen by the September 11 attacks, as well as various terrorist activities globally.

 

However, it is important to understand that violence such as the September 11 attacks are not committed and accepted by all of Islam. Thus it is important to establish the difference between violent (extremists) and non-violent (moderates) Muslims, which acknowledges that all Muslims are not ‘the same’. Ghadbian contrasts ‘moderate’ and ‘extremist’ Islam, and believes that politics and religion underscore the way in which actions are pursued by these groups. Whilst differences are what set these groups apart, they share one commonality; their actions are justified through their interpretation and understanding of the Qur’an. This largely affects whether the way they pursue their goals; through violent means or “gradual and peaceful means” (Ghadbian, 2002, p. 91).

 

In conclusion, both the West and the East complement each other; they both helped to form each other’s identity. The East’s perceived inferiority helped the West build its superior, modern, secular, and global identity by comparing itself with the East. And by the same token, Western dominance resulted in the rise of fundamentalism in Islam, which in turn, resulted in Islam’s violent identity.

 

Fundamentalist activity, such as the September 11 bombings formed the perception that Islam and violence/terror are synonymous. This activity represents only the views of ‘extreme’ Islam; those that are willing to instrumentally use violence, or any means necessary to achieve their goals. This form represents only the minority. ‘Moderate’ Islam, however, due to racial discourse, are being perceived and homogenised by Western society to carry the same beliefs本论文由英语论文网提供整理，提供论文代写，英语论文代写，代写论文，代写英语论文，代写留学生论文，代写英文论文，留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。