The term ‘'radical Islam'' has been used on numerous occasions while discussing the war on terrorism. Radical Islam can be described as an Islamic movement that is characterized by literalism, moral conservatism, and the perpetual attempt to enforce Islamic values on different aspects of life. Whereas many people have drawn a cross relationship between the radical Islam and terrorism, opponents have argued that this is an unjustified hatred towards the Muslims citing that the non-Muslims make up the highest number of terrorists in the United States. In the Londonistan, Melanie Phillips attempts to explain Britain's failure with regards to addressing Islamic extremists thereby lacking the capacity to deal with radical Islam that led to negative implications in the country. The American society is also a victim of Londonistan views with the imminent danger of radical Islamist as a result of groups taking root and prospering in the country.
According to Phillips (2012), the central claim of Londonistan is that Britain had lost it sense of Culture, values, and identity rendering it ill-equipped to deal with the extreme Islam movement that sprouted in its borders. She castigates New Labor that led to the opening of Britain's doors to extremely dangerous groups emanating from the Arab World who enjoyed the hospitality in the United Kingdom and subsequently went ahead to radicalize the Muslims living in Britain. The same can be thought of with regards to the American society. The US is attractive to many people who come to search for the American way of life. However, there is a quarter that has since been accused of attempting to change the way of life chief among them the Muslim Brotherhood. Wiktorowicz and Kaltenthaler (2016) asserted that the Muslim Brotherhood led to the formation of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) which according to the National Security and Terrorism Correspondent is a radicalization hub for homegrown terrorism.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
In Londonistan, Phillips highlights how the security services played a massive role in the radicalization process. The security services ignored appeals from the foreign intelligence agencies of their need to counter the extremists. The agencies believed that their soft approach towards the radicals would keep Britain way from any potential attack and secondly, they also feared that any attack would lead to their labeling as institutional racists. Today, the US government headed by Donald Trump is cognizant of the terror threat that is posed by Islam terror groups such as the Islam State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Trump is determined to keep these militants from stepping in the US through a spirited fight. ‘’We will defeat radical Islamic terrorism. And we will not allow it to take root in our country’’ (McGurn, 2016). Unlike the in Britain where the security agencies underestimated the danger posed by the radicalized Islam on them, the US remains alive to the matter that the extremist's main aim is to lead a genocide campaign and commit atrocities in many parts of the world. In this regard, Trump has promised a fight against radicalisms through the use of the US military.
Phillips further asserted that the multiculturalism in Britain created an atmosphere where the dominant culture did not impose on the minorities even when their philosophies and values significantly undermined the norm. Therefore, the overall effect is prejudice against the majority leaving them in a position of hollow and weakness. In America, the war on terror is fundamentally based on the war against the militant Islam. Just in British, the militant Islam is an ideology that is based on the fact that a minority grows a certain degree of faith that exudes hatred towards Western ways and ideas such as individualism, capitalism, and consumerism and instead seeks to implement ideologies based on the Koran and Islamic laws. It is also important to note that this minority accordingly back their belief and words with actions. Eumann (2013) pointed out that they have a history of violence and aggression towards the Americans such as the 9/11 attacks thereby painting the entire Muslim religion in bad light.
It is therefore apparent that a danger exists with the rise in Islamic ideas and groups taking root and prospering in the US. It is also important to appreciate the fact that the American society is founded on fundamental freedoms and liberties outlined in its Constitution. Therefore a question arises as to whether there is a legitimate way of challenging all the radical groups in line with the hallmark of the American society. Having in mind that only a minute percentage of Muslims are radicalized, it is vital to research on radicalization by finding why youths, men, and women are drawn to these acts. Azumah (2015) asserted that the country must also base its strategies on discrediting harmful ideologies and withdrawing their support to nations supporting terror. The radical Islam must be narrowly defined to avoid stigmatization and prejudice. It is also crucial for the nation to alleviate the conditions of Muslims and Muslim states so that they cannot join such radicalized movements.
I fear the danger posed by the ‘’Newyorkistan,'' and my reason is rationally based. It is mostly made up of homegrown terrorists who understand and know the country well and therefore their attacks can be more severe and well calculated. In conclusion, the Londonistan mainly highlighted the British complacency in dealing with Islam radicalization and the adverse effects in which it had on the country at large. Similar groups have since taken a toll in the US with the emergence of many extremist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood whose ideologies are a major threat to the country's security.
References
Azumah, J. A. (2015). Challenging Radical Islam. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion & Public Life , (249), 33-37.
Eumann, P. R. (2013). The trouble with radicalization. International Affairs , 89 (4), 873-893. doi:10.1111/1468-2346.12049
McGurn, W. (2016, June 14). Trump Plays the Radical Islam Card. Wall Street Journal - Online Edition . p. 1.
Phillips, M. (2012). Londonistan: How Britain Created a Terror State Within . Gibson Square.
Wiktorowicz, Q., & Kaltenthaler, K. (2016). The Rationality of Radical Islam. Political Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell) , 131 (2), 421-448. doi:10.1002/polq.12480
