Author: Stephen C. Pelletiere
Publisher:
Published: 2013-01-28
Total Pages: 64
ISBN-13: 9781482099454
DOWNLOAD EBOOKConcern about fundamentalism is widespread and this has led policymakers to turn to experts, looking for answers to what the movement is about.1 The experts have been only too happy to oblige. The experts' advice, however, must be seen as suspect. This is because their theories--almost uniformly--assume knowledge about the movement that is not certain. Anyone who has looked into the problem of fundamentalism knows that it is terribly complex. Many mysteries are associated with it, and these are absolutely crucial to understand. Until light can be thrown on the gray areas, fundamentalism will remain an intractable phenomenon.2 This study looks at fundamentalism as it exists today throughout the Middle East, and tries to show what information about it is sound, and what is lacking or is suspect. The study focuses on the problematic aspects, arguing that they must be resolved, or policymakers are going to be compromised. Fundamentalists are adept at exploiting misleading information about their movement. When adversaries of the fundamentalists make wrong assumptions, on which they then attempt to build policy, the fundamentalists invariably seem to capitalize on this. Indeed, it appears to be a favorite tactic for advancing their cause. The way to proceed, the author claims, is to return to the origins of the various groups to determine what caused them to come into being. Once an understanding of this is achieved, it then becomes possible to reorient one's approach, to construct a theory which, because it is based on sound assumptions, has some predictive capability. This is what the author has attempted to do; he has contrived a theory, the basic assumption of which is that fundamentalism--widely perceived as a radical movement--did not start out that way. It actually began as a movement of reform. The reformist current dissipated quickly, but this did not occuruntil the reformers found themselves balked by the regimes that they were trying to influence. Unable to carry their reforms into action by peaceful means, the original leaders withdrew from the movement. Then new elements took over--mainly from among the youth--and initiated what must be viewed today as an area-wide populist revolt.
Book Synopsis A Theory of Fundamentalism: an Inquiry Into the Origin and Development of the Movement by : Stephen C. Pelletiere
Download or read book A Theory of Fundamentalism: an Inquiry Into the Origin and Development of the Movement written by Stephen C. Pelletiere and published by . This book was released on 2013-01-28 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Concern about fundamentalism is widespread and this has led policymakers to turn to experts, looking for answers to what the movement is about.1 The experts have been only too happy to oblige. The experts' advice, however, must be seen as suspect. This is because their theories--almost uniformly--assume knowledge about the movement that is not certain. Anyone who has looked into the problem of fundamentalism knows that it is terribly complex. Many mysteries are associated with it, and these are absolutely crucial to understand. Until light can be thrown on the gray areas, fundamentalism will remain an intractable phenomenon.2 This study looks at fundamentalism as it exists today throughout the Middle East, and tries to show what information about it is sound, and what is lacking or is suspect. The study focuses on the problematic aspects, arguing that they must be resolved, or policymakers are going to be compromised. Fundamentalists are adept at exploiting misleading information about their movement. When adversaries of the fundamentalists make wrong assumptions, on which they then attempt to build policy, the fundamentalists invariably seem to capitalize on this. Indeed, it appears to be a favorite tactic for advancing their cause. The way to proceed, the author claims, is to return to the origins of the various groups to determine what caused them to come into being. Once an understanding of this is achieved, it then becomes possible to reorient one's approach, to construct a theory which, because it is based on sound assumptions, has some predictive capability. This is what the author has attempted to do; he has contrived a theory, the basic assumption of which is that fundamentalism--widely perceived as a radical movement--did not start out that way. It actually began as a movement of reform. The reformist current dissipated quickly, but this did not occuruntil the reformers found themselves balked by the regimes that they were trying to influence. Unable to carry their reforms into action by peaceful means, the original leaders withdrew from the movement. Then new elements took over--mainly from among the youth--and initiated what must be viewed today as an area-wide populist revolt.
