The Complex History of Modern Islamic Militancy, Explained in Jason Burke's "The New Threat"

     I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a tough read. The history of Islamism is extremely complex, with a myriad of factors helping to shape the extremism we are all too familiar with today. To try and summarize the many intricacies of this book in a mere review would be nearly impossible, but there are several key phenomenon that, according to British journalist Jason Burke, have inspired the Islamic militancy seen throughout the world today.
     Arguably, the largest factor at play in fostering extremism has been grievances against the West. Whether it be the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement (in which the leaders of Great Britain and France created new territorial boundaries in the Middle East without the consent of native populations), the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980's, the Gulf War of the early 90's, or the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict, the individuals living in these majority-Muslim countries have a complicated relationship with Western states. Countries such as the United States, Great Britain, and France left negative colonial footprints throughout the Middle East by implementing foreign policy measures that only worked to foster poverty, destruction, and sectarian strife among the masses. These failed diplomatic efforts are, in part, why notorious groups such as Al-Qaeda and IS focused so heavily on targeting the West through their campaigns of violence, the most infamous example being the September 11 attacks.
     Another circumstance Burke references are the religious revivals that took place throughout the Islamic world during the 1960's and 70's, in response to the rapid cultural changes that occurred as many Arab states began gaining independence from colonial rulers. In several countries, the aftermath of this resulted in gross economic inequality and internal political strife, all while remnants of Western culture continued to leave their mark via popular media. Fundamentalists viewed all these happenings as a threat to the Islamic faith tradition. Radical Muslim leaders started gaining large followings, embracing a reactionary ideology by calling for the formation of a new caliphate (an Islamic empire similar to that which existed in the lifetime of the prophet Muhammad). Indeed this strong desire to return to the "good old days" (in which powerful Islamic empires such as the Ottoman's, Umayyad's, and Mughal's controlled vast swaths of territory, dominated trade, and possessed significant wealth), inspired countless extremists to take up militant campaigns.
     Burke also notes the demographics of those that find themselves attracted to terrorism, particularly "lone wolf" actors coming from Western states. Oftentimes, they are young men living on the fringes of society. Many are the children of immigrants, in search of identity or belonging as the first generation growing up in a new cultural context. Some are drawn to groups for religious reasons, but for most it is simply an urge to fit in and have a purpose for one's life that is the most compelling reason to join an extremist group. Easily susceptible to propaganda and having easy access to communication and travel networks (particularly within the European context), these young men are prime recruitment targets for Islamic militants. It is a sad reality, but a notable trend nonetheless, as seen through cases such as the Boston Marathon bombers, or the Charlie Hebdo shooters.
     While Burke's writing often turns into lengthy and intricate history lessons, he does an excellent job at examining modern Islamic militancy from all angles. He makes it clear that not one factor alone plays into the use extremist violence, on both a collective and individual level. Human beings are fascinating creatures, but incredibly abstruse in many ways. Burke may do his best to explain the numerous complications of Islamic militancy, but at the end of the day even his well-informed interpretation falls a bit short.
     Even if this particular form of extremism fades away, the use of terrorism altogether (religiously-motivated or not) will likely remain. For all the people who abhor and completely reject the use of terrorism, there will still always be those who--in desperation--believe that terrorist acts are their only way to be heard. In order to prevent more unnecessary strife and bloodshed, our society would do well to give these individuals a voice and a seat at the table before they come to the false assumption that violence is their sole option.