Toluu : Religion Compass Exchanges

The Pax Islamica: Totalitarianism, Islamism and 'Islamo-fascism'October 28 2008: In this frank and relevant interview, Matthew Feldman, one of the editors of the 'Political Religions' section of Religion Compass talks with Ana Belén Soage, of the University of Granada. They candidly discuss the nature of contemporary and modern politicised Islam. Soage argues that the so-called 'moderate' forms of politicised Islam differ from the more radical forms (epitomised by groups like Al Qaeda) in degree only, not in kind. Any form of Islamist movement, she argues, necessarily requires the formation of a 'Pax Islamica' an essentially totalitarian aim. Islamist movements are therefore inimical to democracy as commonly understood. She also sketches out a surprising profile of her typical Islamist, and explains why the term ‘Islamo-fascism’ is so offensive to ordinary Muslims.