We have selected four essays from the SSRC collection on "Fundamentalism(s)" which we believe are particularly accessible and thought-provoking for advanced high school students and undergraduates.

"September 11 and the Struggle for Islam"
by Robert W. Hefner

Synopsis: Robert Hefner argues that the attacks of September 11th do not reflect a clash of civilizations between Islam and the West. Instead, he sees the attacks as the latest chapter in an internal debate among Muslims. He describes the history of this long struggle between moderate Muslims and Islamist hardliners, and the ways in which Islam and democracy can be reconciled. He calls for US support for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as a commitment to educational and economic programs in the Muslim world that insure the majority of Muslims a stake in government.

"Neo-Fundamentalism"
by Olivier Roy

Synopsis: Olivier Roy contrasts what he calls "neo-fundamentalist" Islamic groups (among which the Taliban and Al Qaida can be counted) with more traditional "Islamist" groups. Both of these brands of modern Islamic fundamentalism are similar in their view of Islam not as a mere religion, but also as a political ideology to be integrated into all aspects of society. However, neo-fundamentalism goes beyond Islamist movements, combining a new breed of the political Jihad against the West with a very conservative definition of Islam. Moreover, neo-fundamentalism is not tied to a particular nation or national identity; it is a product of contemporary globalization.

"The Future of Secular Values"
by Wang Gungwu

Synopsis: Wang Gungwu discusses secularism in relation to the major value systems in the world. While value systems, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, have been reconciled with secular principles at various points in history, Islam has not. Today, there is growing global resistance to secularism, among Muslims and others around the world, as the promises of capitalist and communist secularism are not realized. Wang Gungwu calls for the acceptance of people's need for spirituality, and for a less fundamentalist and more tolerant approach to secularism.