Clash of civilizations framing located terrorism’s cause within Islam itself

Evidence

The clash of civilizations explanation reduced the conflict between radical Muslim terrorism and the West to something inherent within Islam (and thus something that can only be fixed within Islam). On this understanding, the irrational anger and hatred of Muslims toward the West leads some Muslims to use the teachings of Islam to justify their terrorist activities against innocent people. Neither the Bush administration nor the larger political establishment devoted much effort to reflecting critically on the history of Western involvement in the Muslim world, nor did they seriously consider whether the particular economic and political grievances toward the West articulated by many Muslims, not just the small minority of terrorists, might require a significant rethinking of foreign policy to minimize the chance of future attacks. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 266

Categorization

• XREF: The ‘inherent within Islam’ logic parallels the essentializing move the author identifies in earlier chapters’ Islamophobic polemics. — connects to: European terror prior to 2004 came mainly from nationalist rather than religious movements — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 388; Majorities in Western countries blamed Muslims for the cartoon conflict. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 419; Media frames Muslim terrorists as religion-driven simpletons while psychologizing non-Muslim perpetrators — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 506 (+72 more)

Broader Connections

• The War on Terror was ideologically framed as a civilizational clash #corroborates (0.80)
• Clash-of-civilizations rhetoric ideologically legitimized both foreign wars and domestic attacks #expands (0.70) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 421
• Terrorism and extremism are treated as exclusive to Islam #expands (0.60)
• The War on Terror racially constructed Muslims as terrorists. #corroborates (0.60)
• Muslim bodies are treated as potential terrorists until proven otherwise #expands (0.60) — , Selod, Saher - Forever Suspect_…, 282
• Radicalization theory treats Islam as inherently violent like eugenics treated races #expands (0.60)
• American society explains rare Muslim terror through religion itself #corroborates (0.60)
• Islamophobia worldwide shares the core link between Islam and terrorism #corroborates (0.50)
• Political grievances drive terrorism more than religious ideology does #contradicts (0.50) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 284
• Religious framing of terrorism justifies state expansion that erodes due process #expands (0.50)
• Terrorism is not uniquely Islamic but also stems from corruption and state negligence #contradicts (0.50)
• Media and state mutually reinforce Islam-violence associations for distinct functional reasons #corroborates (0.50)
• Liberal universalism is reasserted as defense against Islamic terrorism. #responds-to (0.40)