The fundamentalist mind
FUNDAMENTALISM is a controversial term, ascribed first to 19th-century American Protestant groups which preached strict adherence to basic biblical tenets.
It is now applied loosely to all groups exhibiting broadly similar tendencies. While a consensus definition eludes scholars, certain key characteristics are generally ascribed to fundamentalists.
Firstly, they desire strict adherence to their interpretation of an earlier ideology which they view as being perfect and timeless. Their interpretation often distorts the original ideology. Usually, the idealised ideology is religious since religious reverence makes it easier to recruit followers, though political, economic and nationalistic ideologies also occasionally spawn fundamentalism.
Secondly, fundamentalists see only black or white, viewing themselves as perfect and others as wrong.
Thirdly, fundamentalists often invoke the memory of a past community which prospered by supposedly following the idealised ideology.
Fourthly, they believe in manifest destiny, i.e., that they have been prophesised to prevail universally. The more a group exhibits these characteristics, the more fundamentalist it is.
Not all fundamentalists are terrorists nor are all terrorists fundamentalists. Fundamentalist groups fall into three categories.
The first includes reclusive fundamentalists who practise their traditions in isolation, e.g., the American Amish and the Pakistani Kalash, and show little interest in converting others. Beyond adherence to traditions, they share little else with other fundamentalists, being fairly egalitarian in their practices.
The second category includes pacifist fundamentalists who non-violently want to establish states run strictly on “divine” laws though no religion provides detailed divine rules to cover all or even most present-day complexities. Religions do however provide timeless general principles.
The third category includes violent fundamentalists, whom Pakistanis know well. Pacifist and violent fundamentalists believe that a small, morally superior vanguard group must carry the burden of converting the morally inferior majority. Thus, they generally adopt a top-down disciplinarian approach where the vanguard group leads while others follow their wisdom unquestioningly.
Fundamentalism has mushroomed recently largely in reaction to the uncertainty and tumult caused by the spread and dominance of Western liberal civilisation globally. A civilisation is a large national group spread over a large territory for several centuries with a distinct combination of cultural, religious, economic, political and epistemic institutions which make significant contributions to overall human progress.
The distinctive coordinates of Western liberal civilisation include capitalism, democracy, science/rationality, materialism, secularism, individualism and imperialism. Imperialism along with capitalism has been a key factor in spawning resistance to Western civilisation globally despite its other sterling features, e.g., democracy and science.
To date, Western liberalism has faced three generations of global challenges: Nazism/ fascism (a political philosophy); Soviet communism (an economic philosophy); and religious fundamentalism (a cultural philosophy). Common to all three were vanguard groups who attempted to convert the “impure” majority through strong discipline and even force.
Ironically, each succeeding challenger initially cooperated with the West to defeat its predecessor before becoming the West’s nemesis. Communism helped the West defeat fascism in 1945 and fundamentalism helped defeat communism in Afghanistan.
Fundamentalism exceeds the other two in the totality of its rejection of Western liberalism and the barrenness of its own ideas. While fascism and communism at least achieved significant geographical and scientific progress before their demise, fundamentalism cannot even boast of that and will fail too.
Humanity’s most glorious achievements ever have undoubtedly occurred under Western liberalism, notably the immense freedom provided by democracy and the spectacular technology provided by science.
However, it is equally true that individualism, materialism, free-market capitalism and imperialism are causing today’s most serious global threats, including climate change, nuclear proliferation, unsurpassed inequality, anomie and economic
depressions.
Thus, there is scope to challenge those specific liberal coordinates. Any successful challenge to Western liberalism must match its positive aspects (i.e., freedom and technology) while avoiding its weaknesses.
By basing their strategy on top-down discipline and even totalitarianism, the three challengers each instantly failed this test and consequently could not attract large numbers of people. Fortunately, other non-violent movements like the global green movement (a political, economic as well as cultural movement) meet this test better, though it has a long distance to travel before it becomes a coherent intellectual challenge.
While all major religions have fundamentalist groups, the most virulent ones today are Al Qaeda-cum-affiliates and the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (the former being far more potent globally).
Consequently, some argue that revealed Middle Eastern religions generally encourage fundamentalism more since each claims to be the only right religion unlike South and Southeast Asian ideologies, e.g., Hinduism, Buddhism etc. However, Abrahamic religions also emphasise rationality, tolerance and moderation.
Opinions differ on why people become fundamentalists. Some view poverty as the main cause. However, the motivations of its leaders rather than its foot soldiers represent the root causes of any movement. Poverty supplies fundamentalism its foot soldiers, but not its leaders.
What motivates the leaders remains a mystery. Psychologists define defence mechanisms as mental processes people adopt to deal with uncertainty and challenges. One such mechanism is regression, i.e., mentally living in the past when life was better instead of tackling present challenges bravely. The desire of fundamentalists to recreate the distant glorious past literally represents collective millennial regression. Something in the socialisation of fundamentalists gets them hooked to regression.
For anyone dissatisfied with liberalism’s downside and contemplating embracing fundamentalism, violent or pacifist, the message is clear — fundamentalism represents regressive escapism and a blind alley.
Despite their developing nature, progressive global movements already provide better answers to liberalism’s downside while embracing its many positive features. However, to wean impressionistic minds away from fundamentalism, progressives must articulate their ideas more loudly and clearly.
The writer is a political economist at the University of California, Berkeley.
History shows people the world-over have been forcing their political and religious beliefs on others long before the “liberal west” existed. The lesson to be learned here, is to live and let live. Believe whatever religion you wish (or none at all), but do not expect others to share your belief.
It’s a very well, thoughtful written short thesis. And the truth always get almost slaughtered but prevails. You, Mr Niaz, made my day by writing a wholesome essay, and it shows not all brains are dead.
Its a great reading. The ideas expressed here are a bit philosophical missing a cogent way forward for societies deeply afflicted with fundamentalism or more commonly the extremism. I, however, have reservations over leaders motivation part from sustainability of an extremist movement point of view. I think most of such challenges to a society are reactionary in nature. They are attempts by pseudo idealogues, the leaders, to fill voids created by ineficacy of prevalent systems. Strangely, the mantles initially carried by leaders loses charm when leaders are no more. Religions can’t be redefined over and over again. Its stricter versions propagated by these disgruntled elements never stand the test of time. A minority always fail when its point of view is rejected by the majority even if it has religious undertones. Kharijeens or Khwarij were an example in Muslim history. The damage in fighting and containing them has been quite huge though.
It is utter rubbish to say that fundamentalism in Islam has mushroomed recently and largely in reaction to the uncertainty and tumult caused by the spread and dominance of Western liberal civilisation globally.
Any proselytising faith is fundamentalist, primarily because it starts from the presumptuous position of ‘I know all’ and others are to be taught. Very soon this urge to teach becomes a need to teach. I am not going to answer the self-evident question ‘did the preachers of Islam go to wars so that they could convert or converted others after winning wars?’
The difference is that when victories were being had and the tide was high everything was hunky dory. Though the tide has turned now, the fundamentalism is still there and shows no signs of abating. Now that there aren’t wars to be fought with others, followers have turned on each other which is reflected in the violence that we see in Muslim countries.
The moment the urge to tell and make other believe hypothetical stories ends, Muslims will achieve peace within themselves and their society.
“A civilization is a large national group spread over a large territory for several centuries…”
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“Western civilization has its foundation in Greece in the sixth and fifth centuries BC. It is an extraordinary civilization, and it is not an extension of any ancient civilization, with the exception of Greek civilization, which is the source of contemporary civilization. I have completed a book on this great extraordinary civilizational leap, titled “The Qualitative Changes in Human Civilization”.
Western civilization is its own product and it is not indebted to any previous civilization except for the Greek one … It has revived the Greek achievements in the fields of philosophy, science, literature, politics, society, human dignity, and veneration of reason, while recognizing its shortcomings and illusions and stressing its continuous need for criticism, review and correction.”
Ibrahim Al-Buleihi, Saudi Shura council member
A article is of worth reading.But short of clear standing. The word fundamentalism derived from the basic word fundamental, a positive word and act as a basic fundamental of the thing. But when it iodolized with some extreme thought which is not acceptable to many but force upon them is fundamentalism.
This sort of fundamentalism is more seen in Abrahamic religion which are more younger than the religion of south Asia.
Communism,capitalism or western liberalism can be counter by any other better ism, but religious fundamentalism is very difficult to counter.Because religion is a opium, very hard to quit.
The Holy Prophet commanded Muslims to gain knowledge. And when the Muslims gained knowledge and advanced through science, astronomy, medicine and engineering, they prospered in Southern Spain for 800 years. And Europe’s capitals sent their youth to study in Muslim Universities. But that was 700 years ago
Since then darkness descended on the muslim minds. Instead of focusing on gaining knowledge and developing scientific skills, they focused on emotion and a fundamentalist approach to life. And their downfall started and continues todate except in countries like Malaysia and Turkey, where prosperity and skills start to emerge again as a result of emerging education and improvement of skills
Muslims must understand that the future belongs to those who gain advancement in science and technology. If they wish to become a stronger and more vibrant society, they must emerge stronger in their quest to gain knowledge and apply it in their daily lives for the good of their society. Instead If all they do in respective nations is to quibble as to who is a good muslim, indulge in sectarian prejudice, they will continue to remain backward and slide in further darkness.
THe future belongs to those nations who will develop the skill of their nations population. And darkness belongs to those muslims who reject knowledge & education for their children- because in doing so they are continuously dis-obeying the Holy Prophet’s commands to gain knowledge.
Brilliantly analyzed and written!
I love fundamentalists. They are so cute.
I think the mistake is of the analysts who sees our current conflicts somehow embedded in religions that date back over thousand years whereas in reality the conflicts and their aspects, like fundamentalism, are the impact of the current geo-politics of the world. Al-Qaida is thoroughly secular in that sense as it is a response to that geo politics. Al-Qaida demands that you leave our lands alone irrespective of how it justifies that demand. It does not matter whether the demand is justified or not the demand is a reflection of the occupation of the lands.
EXCELLENT!!!!
“Pacifist and violent fundamentalists believe that a small, morally superior vanguard group must carry the burden of converting the morally inferior majority. Thus, they generally adopt a top-down disciplinarian approach where the vanguard group leads while others follow their wisdom unquestioningly”.
Very well said.
In fact, terror and fear are the only means available to ensure conformity with an ideology.
For Stalin’s Russia, it was the fear of gulag or a bullet in the back of the head.
For our religions, it is the fire of the hell.
Take the fire of the hell out of the equation, and our religions will implode almost instantaneously.
Humanity’s most glorious achievements ever have undoubtedly occurred under Western liberalism, notably the immense freedom provided by democracy and the spectacular technology provided by science.
However, it is equally true that individualism, materialism, free-market capitalism and imperialism are causing today’s most serious global threats, including climate change, nuclear proliferation, unsurpassed inequality, anomie and economic
depressions.
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This is a quote from above article. Very true.
But Western liberalism is not a stagnant dogma which is stuck in the past like religious fundamentalism. It can constantly upgrade and refresh according to the changing times and correct itself.
I miss articles like this in the Indian media which is pumping out only trash on a daily basis.
I congratulate DAWN editorial board and the author for this wonderful contribution
Jay Raj
Riyadh
So true.
Western liberalism has the ability to evolve, and it evolves constantly as new situations and values arise.
Islam on the other hand is fighting a battle to prove that what was valid 1,400 years ago is are valid today in its exact form. The only way one can enforce such a view is absolute intolerance and use of extreme measures.
This is the root cause of all extremism. Extremism is embedded in the manner in which Muslims currently (and throughout my living memory) practice their faith.
“I miss articles like this in the Indian media which is pumping out only trash on a daily basis.”
Why? What is your concept of Indian media? Is it limited to Times of India? Do you even subscribe to any Indian newspaper or magazine? Can you name even 5 different Indian writers, thinkers, intellectuals, who have written volumes upon volumes on precisely these topics?
This is the problem with the pseudo intellectuals of the internet age. The first website they come across where they actually read something, instead of just furiously going through images, becomes the pinnacle of information for them.
Don’t blame your lack of intellectual curiosity on the Indian media.
And, for heaven’s sake, stop jumping on the bandwagon of overcompensation whenever you praise this newspaper. Yes, it is a good newspaper, but it is one of MANY in the region.
A truly superb article. Absoluely brilliant and clear as crystal. Hats off to you Sir!
If fundamentalism in Pakistan and Afghanistan emanated from a fear of the spread and dominance of Western liberal civilisation globally, then by he same token why are the same fundamentalists reaping the benefits of the glorious achievements made under Western liberalism, notably the immense freedom provided by democracy and the spectacular technology provided by science.
Surely, it is profound hypocrisy and the unmistakable double standards.
Right on!
Followers of Islam should follow Islam and not follow liberal ideologies and write such articles, even if they live in western secular places, as they are then becoming impure to their religion and beliefs. This author is therefore showing decadent pro liberal and secular tendency, which is not ok under Islam.
Is he talking about or propagating Islam? re read it with calm state of mind. Although there are some points where the writer shows total lack of knowledge of other religions, beside the Abrahmnic religions. But that is another lengthy subject matter.
Totally agree. We should never ever try to come out of the prison we are born in. We are more safe within than outside.
Great first part. But you lost me when you talk about Abraham. He committed adultery and was about to commit infanticide all because he heard “voices” in his head! Can’t be a good role model.
Good article, I would like to take issue with one statement though – However, Abrahamic religions also emphasise rationality, tolerance and moderation. There is just no proof of that statement – it is at best a conjecture.
I agree. It is just a belief, a myth really.
The proof is in the pudding.
Excellent article.
My pleasure to read a truly erudite column. The writer knows what he is talking about.
I dont think they have any brains at all. Or if they do it is only one way. To destroy and kill others in the name of whatever ideology they believe in.
They? Who?