THE RISE OF MILITANT ISLAM AND MARXISM: AN ANALYSIS
Dr. Tanvir Orakzai
May 13, 2009
According to Marx all people can work in the same way and can earn the same wages. Such interpretation is appealing to the vast segments of society in the countries; who cannot climb up the social ladder due to a restricted and a classified system created by the ruling elites. The West may practice Capitalism; however their system is a reformed Capitalism that was put in place to stabilize their societies under pressure from Communism and revolutions. On the contrary Muslim countries are neither Capitalist nor Socialist; they are torn between Socialism and Capitalism with no direction. Today wealth in Muslim societies is accumulated in the hands of chosen ones, who are not only self-indulgent, corrupt, but also block upward mobility to guard their regimes. The denial of prosperity and power is creating gigantic inequalities in Muslim world; where some live in palaces and others survive on crumbs. In such milieu; majority have no self esteem nor have access to justice and equality; they survive in the middle of immeasurable inequalities, such situation is recipe for revolts and radical movements.
The revolutionary spirit in Marx Europe was anarchistic, a revolt by poor and peasants who were alienated by the industrialized world. This industrial revolution snatched their tools and land depriving them from their status ending as factory workers; a life they were not used to. Marxist philosophy sympathized with this situation played on this emotion asking for revolt, which did took place, but nothing could stop the march of industrialization. The same thing is happening in the 21st century, the world economy is expanding and old skills are no longer required. The unskilled segment that includes minorities, immigrants and radical groups are having a lower quality of life. Being unskilled, they see a vast difference among themselves and the skilled people who are having better life. It is natural for them to yearn for ideal equality regardless of gender, sex and education that only exists in Marxism.
With the advent of globalization Marx prediction seems to come true again; this time militants in Islamic world are the harbingers of violence in the name of Islam but with the agenda of Marx. Marxism offers a solution that has become a vision that carries different meanings for different people. In the 18th and 19th century frenzy industrialization and rampant poverty in the West gave rise to violence and revolution. In the 21st century, Marxism is creating the hope of Global Islamic Caliphate in the wake of shady Muslim regimes that are embattled with militants from Central Asia to Middle East. As modernization in Islamic countries has miserably failed; nostalgia of bringing back the tribal culture from the 7th century to fix the problems of 21st century is on rise. This naive belief that past can fix problems of the present is no more than a childish dream, however modernization has created unjust and alien environments– for which few in Muslim World are ready- going back to the golden past is an easy way out that is promptly offered by the radical movements.
In Muslim countries; hostility against the ruling elite existed long before 9/11, however 9/11 have added fuel to the fire. Bin Laden has nothing original; however he carries appeal like Marx for the deprived class. For example many consider Saudi Arabia a country full of wealth; where everyone is rich and affluent; however the reality is far from true. Big chunks of Saudi youth are unemployed due to lack of planning in the boom time. Majority of Saudi have degrees in Islamic and Social Sciences that are unwanted currency in the modern world; while these jobless youth witness the ruling elite enjoying life to the brim without any apparent reason. It is these out of a job youth; who find no meaning in life and fall prey to the militants.
Today Islamic extremists use Marxist ideology because it works as a potent vision. If Marx offered super equality, extremists sell the dream of social justice along with one way ticket to heaven. The people who resort to violent acts have nothing to lose because life in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan is no less than hell, thanks to US and its allies reactionary policies. All militant movement are based on ideologies, Taliban and Al-Qaeda are no exception. The West and its Muslim allies have to initiate reformation in their political systems to remove those real and perceived injustices that create sympathy for militant groups. Such constructive steps will segregate majority from minority and militant movements will be not able to thrive on escapist ideologies; failing which there will be nonstop violence for decades to come.
The revolutionary spirit in Marx Europe was anarchistic, a revolt by poor and peasants who were alienated by the industrialized world. This industrial revolution snatched their tools and land depriving them from their status ending as factory workers; a life they were not used to. Marxist philosophy sympathized with this situation played on this emotion asking for revolt, which did took place, but nothing could stop the march of industrialization. The same thing is happening in the 21st century, the world economy is expanding and old skills are no longer required. The unskilled segment that includes minorities, immigrants and radical groups are having a lower quality of life. Being unskilled, they see a vast difference among themselves and the skilled people who are having better life. It is natural for them to yearn for ideal equality regardless of gender, sex and education that only exists in Marxism.
With the advent of globalization Marx prediction seems to come true again; this time militants in Islamic world are the harbingers of violence in the name of Islam but with the agenda of Marx. Marxism offers a solution that has become a vision that carries different meanings for different people. In the 18th and 19th century frenzy industrialization and rampant poverty in the West gave rise to violence and revolution. In the 21st century, Marxism is creating the hope of Global Islamic Caliphate in the wake of shady Muslim regimes that are embattled with militants from Central Asia to Middle East. As modernization in Islamic countries has miserably failed; nostalgia of bringing back the tribal culture from the 7th century to fix the problems of 21st century is on rise. This naive belief that past can fix problems of the present is no more than a childish dream, however modernization has created unjust and alien environments– for which few in Muslim World are ready- going back to the golden past is an easy way out that is promptly offered by the radical movements.
In Muslim countries; hostility against the ruling elite existed long before 9/11, however 9/11 have added fuel to the fire. Bin Laden has nothing original; however he carries appeal like Marx for the deprived class. For example many consider Saudi Arabia a country full of wealth; where everyone is rich and affluent; however the reality is far from true. Big chunks of Saudi youth are unemployed due to lack of planning in the boom time. Majority of Saudi have degrees in Islamic and Social Sciences that are unwanted currency in the modern world; while these jobless youth witness the ruling elite enjoying life to the brim without any apparent reason. It is these out of a job youth; who find no meaning in life and fall prey to the militants.
Today Islamic extremists use Marxist ideology because it works as a potent vision. If Marx offered super equality, extremists sell the dream of social justice along with one way ticket to heaven. The people who resort to violent acts have nothing to lose because life in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan is no less than hell, thanks to US and its allies reactionary policies. All militant movement are based on ideologies, Taliban and Al-Qaeda are no exception. The West and its Muslim allies have to initiate reformation in their political systems to remove those real and perceived injustices that create sympathy for militant groups. Such constructive steps will segregate majority from minority and militant movements will be not able to thrive on escapist ideologies; failing which there will be nonstop violence for decades to come.
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