Western hostility to Islam shifted from theological to political rationales across the centuries

Evidence

If the following historical overview demonstrates anything, it is that both discontinuity and continuity characterize the link between premodern and modern hostilities toward Islam. The most obvious discontinuity involves the overt theological interpretations of Islam at work in the Middle Ages, such as the common medieval conviction that Islam was a form of Christian heresy. By the time we reach the modern era, Western critics are much less concerned with demonizing Islam in order to promote and protect a particular version of orthodox Christianity. An important continuity pertains to the political rationale behind presenting Muslims as the ultimate enemies. From the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century, the West has feared Muslims because it has seen them as significant obstacles and threats to the building and preservation of Western empires and nations. Put simply, Western perceptions of Muslims as religious and political rivals drive most of the antagonistic renderings of Islam throughout history, with political rationales increasingly dominating religious ones in the modern period. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 106

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes the book’s core analytical frame: continuity of political enmity, discontinuity of theological framing.
• XREF: Connects to Edward Said’s Orientalism thesis about political rationales masking as cultural critique. — 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; Medieval theological justification for opposing Muslims has faded in Europe. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 88; Western attitudes to Islam have shifted across history rather than forming a constant clash. (+31 more)

Broader Connections

• Western attitudes to Islam have shifted across history rather than forming a constant clash. #corroborates (0.80)
• Elites mobilized Islamophobia to advance their political agendas across centuries #corroborates (0.70) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 98
• Islam has been framed by passion, prejudice, and political interests since the Middle Ages #expands (0.60) — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 699
• Islam has varied regionally and adapted to historical transformations. #corroborates (0.60) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 160
• Accurate knowledge of Islam did not soften early Christian hostility toward it #qualifies (0.50) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 132