Post 1968 World. Islam, the Middle East and the West: Clash of Civilizations?

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1 Post 1968 World Islam, the Middle East and the West: Clash of Civilizations?

2 Clash of Civilizations? * [*see Clash of Civilizations?, Resources theory developed by conservative Political Analyst and Professor of Government, Samuel P. Huntington]

3 Clash of Civilizations? Video Deeyah Khan: Jihad A British Story [interview with Norwegian Film Maker about 2015 release ]* *excerpt; see full interview in Add l Readings.

4 Clash of Civilizations? Huntington vs Khan: -Huntington suggesting that today s global conflicts are more about culture than politics, about civilizations than nations -In context of 21 st century culture and civilization has come to be synonymous with Western and Eastern, with the West characterized by Capitalism, Christianity and Judaisim and the East with state-directed economies of various slants but most importantly, with Islam

5 Clash of Civilizations? Earlier focus on isms (Capitalism, Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Maoism, Stalinism, Communism etc.) defining nation states given way to cultures and civilizations without borders - fault lines drawn by differences between civilizations which in turn will determine when and where battles will be fought

6 Clash of Civilizations? Khan arguing that there is nothing really new in today s jihads or in todays jihadists (those willing to die for their cause) - She sees origins of todays extremist groups in politics of late 20 th century: treatment of Muslims, discrimination, racism - Likens Muslim Fundamentalism to Rightwing Racism [see article, Add l Rdgs]

7 Clash of Civilizations? Those who go to war for Islam believe they are fighting for a just cause, an ideal perfect society in which inequities (like racism) do not exist - In this sense no different from those who went and still do go to war for their beliefs in principles like democracy and freedom - (also not unlike those in so many countries, so many moments in time my interpretation): seeking purpose and trying to make meaningful contribution

8 Clash of Civilizations? Khan argues that what has changed is the method: from conventional war to terrorism - However: arguable that terrorism was part of urban warfare, guerilla warfare long before - And how are suicide bombers different from Japanese Kamakaze (for example)? - Worth thinking about critically

9 Clash of Civilizations? Main point here: Huntington and Khan represent two opposite ways of framing and understanding this topic of Islam, Middle East and the West -As we look briefly at several case studies, we need to keep these viewpoints in mind: while my approach (which reflects that of your textbook to a large extent) will be clear the decision as to how YOU want to understand this global situation is YOURS!

10 Clash of Civilizations? Case Studies: - tie into each other but also into histories we have looked at since Colonialism including the Cold War and its battle of ideologies, and Decolonisation and its challenges - Each illustrates how the local issues (initially political even if defined in ethnic and/or religious terms) become global and reflect the Huntington Khan debate

11 Clash of Civilizations? Case Studies: - Northern Nigeria: contemporary home of Boko Haram - Iranian Revolution/Iraq: sunni/shi ite Islam - Israel/Palestine: intifada - Afghanistan: the Taliban - Al-Qaeda: global networking 9/11 (2001)

12 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Issues in Northern Nigeria stem from: -Colonial legacy economic, legal development: north was Muslim underwent its own jihads in 19 th century -Islamic rulers, law, education respected BUT only with respect to local, family issues: controversies, resistance throughout colonial era -Economic development: favoured south (agriculatural commodities)

13 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Nigeria: according to wealth distribution (early 2000s) N o r t h e r n P r o v i n c e s Note disparity between North and South

14 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Independence: discovery/exploitation of offshore oil - central Federation sought to control: led to secession of southern province (where oil located) -Biafran war: international involvement (US, British oil interests involved) - Significant because it openly pitted north against south: north Muslim, less well developed little colonial investment

15 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram NORTHERN PROVINCES

16 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Irony: problems of poverty economic lack of development, inferior education, infrastructure etc. tied to earlier colonial policy about respecting culture (Islamic) of North -- But major issue of controversy following independence: degree to which north should have right to Sharia Law, Islamic education - Everytime Constitution revisited, government overthrown/replaced (it was very unstable): first issue on the table was Islam and the North

17 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram As Federal Government (often in hands of Muslim President) continued to insist on one country, one constitution, one law frustrations of North exacerbated -And economy did not improve

18 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram 2000: most of northern states adopted Sharia Law

19 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Muslim-Christian violence escalated, exacerbated ethnic conflict (ethnic groups tending to also be of one faith or the other) s killed in brutal violence across the North : government unable (some say unwilling) to control - Immediately spread into Middle Zone

20 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Central Plateau, Jos: 2008

21 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Central Plateau Region, Jos c.2010

22 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Boko Haram emerged in North (Maiduguri) in 2009 : in local language Western Education is Sacrilege

23 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram -wanted to spread Islamic law across not only north but whole of country - Government attacks, leader killed: moved underground - Adopted terrorist tactics: bombings not only in north but elsewhere, including capital city - Escalated attacks

24 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram

25 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram 2010: al-qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) - al-qaeda network produced AQIM: active in West Africa - announced support for Boko Haram: training, weapons - Tactics different: Boko Haram focussed on domestic targets, AQIM funded itself with kidnappings/ransoming of foreigners (Mali, Mauritania, Niger) -more than two dozen in last decade: included Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler (Niger 2011)

26 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Boko Haram c with al-qaeda support

27 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Significant Development: Spring/Summer Tuareg Independence Movement in Northern Mali became centre Islamist activity - secular movement allied with two Islamist groups (not a choice, latter better armed - Ansar al-dine and Movement of Unity for Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA also MOJWA, oneness ) - affiliated with al-qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

28 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Areas of Connected Islamist Activity, August 2012

29 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram MOJWA: committed to creation of Islamic State in all of Malian state Ansar al-dine: wanted Islamic State in North - Initial alliance with nationalists short-lived: secular interests could negotiate with Malian government, Islamic ones could not - French invaded: chased al-qaeda into the desert but not out of Mali

30 Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram Problems in Mali continue: no longer confined to North - March 2015: machine-gun, grenade attack on popular bar-restaurant central Bamako (Capital) 5 killed - November 2015: 170 taken hostage in international Hotel, Bamako 30 killed; French, US forces required to deal with attack - Boko Haram, MOJWA, Ansar al-dine home grown : al- Qaeda able to take advantage of local political issues, offer support, military assistance escalates into jihad

31 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war 1953: Post-War, Cold War, Decolonization - nationalist move by Iran s prime-minister (preceded Nasser): tried to take over British-owned but Anglo- Iranian Oil Company [ultimate outcome of WWI British Interests in region] - Forced Shah (western supported) out of country - Another example of post-war US involvement in formerly colonized world: CIA provoked coup using local military re-installed western-friendly Shah

32 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war Reza Shah (left) and Military General who worked with CIA to return Shah to power Mohammed Mosadeqq Overthrown by CIA and local military 1953

33 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war Story similar to elsewhere (e.g. Ghana, Egypt): set out to modernize but in order to undermine traditional and in this case Religious local power government increasingly authoritarian, corrupt -provoked resistance: articulated in terms of Islam - authoritarian, corrupt rule is by Western-leaning puppet who disrespects Traditional Muslim clerics, laws, values : therefore installing a conservative Islamic regime is the best way to counter this influence

34 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war Iranian Revolution of 1979: Ayatollah Khomeini - fundamentalist deposed Shah and tried to build their vision of a true Islamic State -Hugely important moment: first truly Islamic (as distinct from Arab, nationalist) revolution -Commitment to apply strict Islamic values, principles, law into Iranian life that had been corrupted, degraded, disrespected by Western secular values (embodied in Shah)

35 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war Ayatolla Khomeini: - sent into exile in France (with son) by Shah Returning 1979 (below); welcomed by supporters (right)

36 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war Revolution frightening to region but especially Iraq: -Second issue : there is not one but two powerful brotherhoods popular in whole Middle East/Africa/India Sunni and Shia Islam [see map Textbook p. 1001] -Iran (formerly Persia) was Shia, Iraq (formerly part of Ottoman Empire) was Sunni -While Shi ites vast majority in Iran, Sunnis dominant elsewhere

37 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war Significance of Revolution: -A political achievement -- Revolution -- gave unprecedented power, influence to a religious movement -A political power Iraq representing an opposing religious movement, launched war Eight-year Iran-Iraq war ended in 1988: technically an Iranian victory but cost both countries enormously in men and money

38 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war

39 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war

40 Iran-Iraq: revolution and war Fall-out from War: Iraq s invasion of Kuwait -attempt to control rich oil fields to help economy destroyed by war -Drew in UN forces united with Arab forces (from region): Desert Storm was unexpectedly short but had longerterm consequences in terms of Iraq West relations [see Textbook p. 1000]

41 Israel-Palestine: the intifada Yom Kippur War: 1973 reignited international involvement in region - war was Israel s successful effort to regain territory with respect to Arab Neighbours -Created complicated conflict throughout region involving Egypt, Syria, Palestine against Israel -Catalyst: Hezbollah militia formed in Lebanon

42 Israel-Palestine: the intifada Party of God : took religious stand as political entity

43 Israel-Palestine: the intifada Hezbollah: - Condemned Israel's actions in Lebanon - But also challenged local PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization led by Yassar Arafat) - Unlike PLO who are working with Israel and UN: Hezbollah declared that nothing but the complete destruction of the Israeli state can resolve the problems of the Palestinians (those still living in Exile as well as living and/or working in Israel)

44 Israel-Palestine: the intifada 1987: younger generation launched intifada (First) - prolonged campaign of civil disobedience against Israeli soldiers [textbook 998-9] - significance: influence of Islamic Fundamentalism -- whereas earlier resistance was largely secular, political (i.e. PLO), these youths were fighting a jihad by whatever means they had

45 Israel-Palestine: the intifada

46 Israel-Palestine: the intifada Second intifada: - Concerns by both political parties (in Israel and Palestine) about the escalating violence led to 1993 accord - Compromise in every sense: divided both Israel and PLO into more extremist groups - Crucial provocation was deliberate new Jewish settlements in West Bank : failed attempts to resolve led to second intifada

47 Second Intifada

48 Israel-Palestine: the intifada Building of the Wall : - Inability of either party to control violence led to the Wall - Literally built around the West Bank to control movement in and out [p. 998; see photo on p. 999 with Che Guevera image also below]

49 Israel-Palestine: the Wall

50 Israel-Palestine: the Wall

51 Israel-Palestine: the intifada Death of Yassar Arafat 2004: turning point new political party defeated PLO winning majority of parliamentary seats - Hamas: defined itself as Sunni Muslim party in contrast to secular PLO - Won hearts and minds of Palestinians through welfare programmes: provided health care/centres, housing, education

52 Israel-Palestine: the intifada Hamas regarded by Israel and the West as terrorist organization : -US, European Union suspended aid to West Band, Gaza -Living conditions for people deteriorated rapidly -Impact: nurtured conditions for continued popularity of Hamas

53 Afghanistan Story of Afghanistan returns us to Soviet Union and the Cold War: - Part of new Russian Imperialism: invasion of Afghanistan [see Lecture on ending the Cold War ] : almost ten-year war in which at least 1 million civilians, 90,000 Mujahideen fighters, 18,000 Afghan troops and 14,500 Soviet soldiers were killed - hugely costly for Soviet Union: Gorbachev withdrew as part of changing foreign policy 1989

54 Afghanistan Story of Afghanistan returns us to Soviet Union and the Cold War: - Mujahedeen: fighters defining themselves as Muslim war was form of jihad against infidel Soviets - Islam was basis of nationalism for them but not for all Afghans - US saw only military that could be armed to defeat Soviet Union: poured arms and training into Afghanistan

55 Afghanistan Mujahedeen Afghanistan (1987)

56 Afghanistan Civil War and Rise of Taliban: - withdrawal of Russia left political void, divided interests between many groups: central dichotomy between those who saw Afghanistan in purely nationalist terms and those who defined nationalism in terms of Islam -Latter hugely strengthened by years of war political party emerged rooted in strong, conservative Islam: Taliban

57 Afghanistan - Taliban rule: reflects point Khan makes about creating image of proper, perfect society based on religion -Sought to build this new Islamic society on strict basis of sharia law restrictive gender roles key - oppression women (purdah, burka, no education etc) attracted international attention: locally had fairly widespread acceptance after decade of war, becoming pawns in US-Soviet Superpower battle -became base for another Islamic movement: al-qaeda

58 Al-Qaeda Story returns us to legacies of Partition of India: creation of Muslim Pakistan - Pakistan bordered Afghanistan: affected by war -Government initially turned to US for support, later turned against: US unwilling to allow Pakistan to join group of nuclear powers -Fueled more radical of Muslim groups: anti-us, anti-west, opposed to government co-operation

59 Afgahan-Soviet War -

60 Al-Qaeda Rise of Al-Qaeda: - much of war fought from bases inside Pakistan: hit-andrun raids into Afghanistan from north-west of country [see Map, above] -Mujahedeen were not only Afghans: Arabs from elsewhere in Muslim world joined in war, camps in Pakistan in 1980s -One of these was son of billionaire Saudi businessman, Osama bin Laden

61 Al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden in Afghan-Soviet War 1980s

62 Al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden: - used family connections to funnel arms from Arab world into war: at this point fighting on same side as US -Some say bin Laden trained by CIA -When Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan Arab Afghans sought new battles: organized as al-qaeda ( the base ) -Shifted base to Sudan early 1990s: continued to train and recruit

63 Afghan-Soviet War: withdrawal

64 Al-Qaeda Return to Afghanistan: - with rise of Taliban, 1996 victory in Afghanistan: al-qaeda returned -Established headquarters, several training camps: worked with Taliban s: sponsored attacks on Western (mostly US) interests in Africa and Middle East -Led up to September 9, 2001

65 Al-Qaeda

Al-Qaeda 9/11 : considered watershed in history - co-coordinated attacks on US World Trade Centre ( the Twin Towers ), New York; Pentagon and White House in Washington (last failed,

66 Al-Qaeda 9/11 : considered watershed in history - co-coordinated attacks on US World Trade Centre ( the Twin Towers ), New York; Pentagon and White House in Washington (last failed, plane crashing in Pennsylvania) -Almost 3000 people killed See Viewpoints (Textbook p. 1036): George W Bush, President of United States vs Osama bin Laden, claiming responsibility for attacks

67 Al-Qaeda Taliban refused to give up al-qaeda leadership -led to US invasion of Afghanistan 2001 (joined by NATO forces 2003)

68 Al-Qaeda War in Afghanistan - ironic: US now at war against those it formally trained, armed and supported -Ousted Taliban government quickly but entered into protracted war against them -Continued to seek out al-qaeda: operations moved back into mountains of Pakistan and acts of terrorism increased [see textbook 1035]

69 Al-Qaeda 2011: killing of Osama bin Laden -Was not until May 1, 2011 that bin Laden was finally killed by US Special Forces -During intervening years ( ): many reports of his death but his location in Pakistan, just outside of the capital Islamabad, confirmed Pakistan government had either been complicit or incredibly incompetent -Worsened relations: death of bin Laden did not end al- Qaeda which has since generated network of resistance throughout Middle East and Africa

70 Al-Qaeda January 14, 2015

Palestine and the Mideast Crisis. Israel was founded as a Jewish state in 1948, but many Palestinian Arabs refused to recognize it.

Palestine and the Mideast Crisis Israel was founded as a Jewish state in 1948, but many Palestinian Arabs refused to recognize it. Palestine and the Mideast Crisis (cont.) After World War I, many Jews