Muslim fundamentalism
“A number of postures and attitudes towards the West have developed in response to Western hegemony, and, from a Muslim point of view, the domination of the world by the wrong authority.” (Geaves, 209)
I found this passage interesting for the question it poses against the Western societies and the automatic assumptions that they are the global powers. Because of the prevalence of the West in matters of economics, technology and politics, it has been assumed that they are the global powers. This fails to recognize the long history of nations who are predominately Muslim and their heritage, which stands much longer than that of Western civilization.
Being raised in the Western culture, I found it curious that this presumption that the West was the dominant power was something so opposed to in the East. By using the words “the wrong authority,” the hatred and resentment felt for the West is apparent and makes clear why there is so much terrorism aimed directly at Western culture from Muslims. I can understand how for Muslims, the West assuming authority that is not deity-based can be looked upon sorely. A religion such as Islam that requires so much humility from its followers and is so contradictory to the lavish and material-based lifestyles of the West will always find disagreement to those with authority when they come from such a background.
Of all the possible “postures and attitudes” towards the West, those of it being a materialistic and consumption-based culture are understandable. However the attitude that the West if the “wrong authority” of the global arena is certainly one that caught me off guard since it has never once crossed my mind that another nation or culture would see itself as the “rightful authority” when the rise and dominance of the West seems to have been accidental to begin with and not one that was strived for by powers in the West.
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