Jim Devine wrote: "I remember someone giving me a hard time
on pen-l because I referred to Osama bin Laden and Taliban as "clerical
fascists." It's not a perfect analogy, but few are."
I don't think it is a mere
analogy. I heard a talk by Reza Afshari, a historian and human-rights
specialist (with whom I work), in which he pinpointed a direct genealogical
link. Apparently, one of the main developers of Islamic
fundamentalist ideology borrowed heavily from and credited the writings of
a fascist physician (from France, who emigrated to the U.S).
Unfortunately, I've forgotten both their names.
In any case, it is an important
point that fundamentalism is at least partly a modern, "Western" import, and not
-- contrary to common portrayal --
the traditional, indigenous ideology of the
people.
