Bernard Lewis justified the essentialist category of Islamic terrorism

Evidence

Lewis argued at the conference that the term “Islamic terrorism” was apt because “Islam is a political religion” and Muhammad, in contrast to other religious leaders, had “founded a state and governed it.” In other words, although terrorism carried out by Christians or Jews is not typically referred to as “Christian terrorism” or “Jewish terrorism,” linking Islam to the violence of Muslims was deemed appropriate. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 398

Categorization

• QUESTION: How does the asymmetric labeling (Jewish terrorism never used, Islamic terrorism apt) survive into present policy discourse?
• XREF: connects to: Lewis located Muslim hostility in Islam rather than Western conduct — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 217; Bernard Lewis supplied the clash of civilizations thesis to American foreign policy — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 213; Lewis attributed Muslim animosity to jealousy over Western dominance — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 218 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Clash of civilizations framing located terrorism’s cause within Islam itself #corroborates (0.70) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 266
• Terrorism and extremism are treated as exclusive to Islam #qualifies (0.50)