*{Understanding Fundamentalism in Its Modern Context [http://www.weforum.org/site/knowledgenavigator.nsf/Content/Understanding%20Fundamentalism%20in%20Its%20Modern%20Context?open&topic_id=300600000&theme_id=300] 02.02.2002 Annual Meeting 2002} Panellists agreed that fundamentalism isn't a uniquely Islamic phenomenon; it has surfaced in every single religion, typically as a reaction against rising secularism. The modern culture of pervasive materialism, sexual permissiveness and violence has created an environment where people who care about the spiritual feel under siege. It is important for society to understand the source of the tension and to appreciate the need for moderation, this session concluded. Panellists said economic development and education could help solve some of the problems presented by "perverse reactionary fundamentalism." Zainah Anwar, Executive Director, Sisters in Islam, Malaysia, said the role of women, public behaviour and dress codes have become the first battleground for Islamic fundamentalists. They have also used the issues to legitimize unpopular government. "I think it's high time, especially post-11 September, for the moderates, the liberals and even the non-Muslims living in Muslim-majority society to engage in a discourse on Islam. Islam is too important to leave it to the mullahs alone," Anwar said. She added that the struggle for Islam cannot be divorced from the struggle for democracy. Karen Armstrong, Author, United Kingdom, said fundamentalists want to drag god and religion back from marginal position to centre stage. They fear that pervasive modernity will wipe out religion, and this fear has caused them to lash out violently. "The history of fundamentalism shows that attempts to suppress it can become counter-productive because of this fear of annihilation," Armstrong contended. Benjamin R. Barber, Professor and Kekst Chair of Civil Society, University of Maryland, noted that the modern secular culture has put religion on the defensive. The separation of church and state in America was necessary in a world permeated by religion. Today, that's not the problem. There is a need, he stressed, for a real understanding of the role of religion in the modern world before the "twisted, perverse, reactionary fundamentalism" that has grown like a "cancerous tumour" can be reversed. Orrin G. Hatch, Senator from Utah (Republican), USA, said in seeking to understand those who advocate violence in the name of religion, he is reminded of a rabbi's advice: "Judge them by their best not their worst, (and) to seek to understand them as they wish to be understood not as you care to understand." Osama bin Laden may be fighting a religious war against the United States, but the US, said Hatch, is fighting a war against intolerance, violence, bigotry and terrorism. Guity Nashat, Associate Professor of History, University of Illinois, USA, outlined the historical background to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. Until the 19th century, Muslims believed they were the best community in the world because they were doing god's will. But in the last 100 to 200 years, Muslim governments have pushed religion out of the public arena and punished those who rebelled against the rise of ideologies that were western, militaristic and highly centralised. Fundamentalism became more entrenched with the creation of religious schools called "madrassahs". "This is why I am not very optimistic that this will be a passing phenomenon," Nashat said. The inconsistencies of the West, reinforced by the perception that American foreign policy is hypocritical and supportive of repressive regimes in the Middle East, "gradually coalesced a lot of these unhappy groups who have found no relief in nationalism, in socialism and who have turned to religion as a way of restoring their greatness." Ahmed Rashid, Analyst for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia, Far Eastern Economic Review-Dow Jones, Pakistan, said global jihad was able to take place in failed or failing states, and both the West and Muslim regimes have to share part of the blame for the phenomenon. The West had walked away from these states and, in particular, had not stay engaged in Afghanistan after the 1989 siege of Soviet forces by Afghan mujahideens, which marked the watershed for Islamic fundamentalism. Muslim regimes, on the other hand, had succumbed to the demands of the mullahs for Sharia laws and for the madrassah system without any kind of internal debate on how they can be modernized and adapted to national ethos, national identity, democracy and economic development. Karim Raslan, Partner, Raslan Loong, Malaysia, called on Muslim businessmen to agitate and work within business groups to ensure good economic management within their countries. They should also address the issue of income inequality and involve themselves in Islamic education to ensure that those who teach the faith are exposed to social science and economics. John Simpson, World Affairs Editor, BBC TV News, United Kingdom, said the word "fundamentalism" has been tarnished by insults and sloganeering and has become another way to put down the enemy. Fundamentalism should not be repressed: Iran is a good example of a country that went through "the whole business of Islamic revolution" to "come out on the other side." In the recent presidential election, with the defeat of a fundamentalist candidate, "we should address this movement of blind globalization ... and the notion that we know what is best for the world and we should force it [globalization] upon them whether that is [appropriate for] their society or not." Finally, what happened in New York on 11 September had its origins in US foreign policy, in America's "unconditional and unthreatening support for Israel, " Simpson declared. *{Contributors: Anwar Zainah Armstrong Karen Barber Benjamin R. Burgat François Castells Manuel Esposito John L. Fernandez Armesto Felipe Hatch Orrin G. Marinoff Lou Nashat Guity Nizami Farhan Ahmad Rashid Ahmed Raslan Karim Simpson John}