US Islam Fascist Paradox

http://www1.aucegypt.edu/students/caravan/images/07Nov04/big/islam-cartoon-e8.jpg

Interesting point raised by this cartoon! While we question the Fascist nature of Islamic fundamentalism, have we overlooked the global social, economic and political environment which Islam is embedded in?

Ironically, through Western ideals of secularism, economic liberalism and individualism claiming a hegemonic position in global politics, a sense of Western 'nationalism' is created. (Nationalism in this example is viewed in a globalised, Samuel Huntington sense, where the nation transcends state borders and is defined by religious, ethnic, racial and ideological commonalities). Western ideologies are supposedly "pure," and leave counter-hegemons no voice. So as the West strengthens its hold globally, Islamic fundamentalism likewise heightens in defence. Add the current economic recession to the messy situation, and a crisis is created - a precondition for Fascism.

While the negative stigma of Fascism remains; re-branded and distributed through the high level of telecommunications technology available today, there is potential for the mobilisation of the masses. The advancement of science also makes the logistics of Darwinism / ethnic cleansing more accessible and subtle than in the past.

While the cartoon may be jumping the gun in terms of labelling the US as Fascist, in a Fascist STYLE, Western imperialism is setting the foundation for not only Eastern, but Western "Fascist" potential.

It needs to be noted however, that Fascism follows no specific template and thus is highly circumstantial. While the nature of Fascism referred to in this example holds similar characteristics to European Fascist regimes of the past, it will ultimately be differentiated. For example, the sheer global magnitude of any contemporary "Fascist" movement will be clearly differentiated from Hitler and Mussolini’s Fascist regimes. Therefore conflict between the East and West may be building up to a completely new combination that may not even be defined as Fascist.