The Origins of Al-Qaeda

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how Al Qaeda conceptualises the western world and in turn how the West chooses to envisage what is arguably its most potent threat. The paper first looks at the religious assumptions of Islamic fundamentalism and, in particular, how these conceptions of the Islamic faith impact upon the outlook of Al Qaeda and the religious factors that facilitate its continued development and increasing appeal amongst Muslims around the world. The paper then assesses how Al Qaeda impacts upon the individual and general society in the Islamic world and discusses the links between Al Qaeda and the previous Taliban rulers of Afghanistan.

From the Paper:

"We must take it as sacrosanct that the existence of Al Qaeda is destabilising and thwarts any wish to inaugurate a period of history based on peace and stability. However, the actions of the western world, in particular the United States does not in any way facilitate a move in this direction. There exists, within the bastions of American republicanism unfounded and misguided conceptions of how to deal with the question of Islam and international terrorist networks such as Al Qaeda. Such outlooks go a long way to compete with Islamic extremism in terms of their destabilising and dangerous connotations. Personally, I believe that if progress is to be made in understanding the current international situation, and if we are to safeguard a brighter future, free of extremism both Muslim and Western, it is the centre that has to prevail. We all have a role to play."

Sample of Sources Used:

• AbuKhalil, A. Bin Laden, Islam, and America's New War on Terrorism. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2002.
• Gunaratna, R. Inside Al Qaeda: Global Network of Terror. London: Hurst and Company, 2003.
• Hafez, M. M. Why Muslims Rebel: Repression and Resistance in the Islamic World. London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2003.
• Halliday, F. Islam and the Myth of Confrontation. New York: I.B.Tauris, 2003.
• Halliday, F. Two Hours that Shook the World, September 11, 2001: Causes and Consequences. London: Saqi Books, 2002.

More papers on The Origins of Al-Qaeda:

• Research Paper # 107902 : "The Origins of Al-Qaeda"
• Book Review # 102377 : "The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11"
• Analytical Essay # 128139 : "Threat Analysis of Al-Qaeda"

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