Jihad, as it is not known today, is not guided by any specific logic, and it is not meant to achieve any political objectives', said Dr. Faisal Fatehali Devji, Professor of History at Yale University, while making a presentation on 'Jihadism', at Observer Research Foundation, on August 24, 2004.
Jihad, as it is not known today, is not guided by any specific logic, and it is not meant to achieve any political objectives', said Dr. Faisal Fatehali Devji, Professor of History at Yale University, while making a presentation on "Jihadism", at Observer Research Foundation, on August 24, 2004.
Dr Devji, who has just completed writing a book entitled "Landscape from the Jihad", spoke about the various facets existing around the so-called notion of 'Jihad'. In his book, he has primarily dealt with the Al Qaeda. In order to understand how their actions are stimulated, Dr Devji has examined in great detail Western perceptions of the Al Qaida and has carefully read the interviews given by the various members of this group, especially those by the fugitive terrorist mastermind, Osama Bin Laden. Through the use of theoretical knowledge available, he has made certain points regarding the general nature of the 'Jihadi' movement.
'Jihad' or 'Islamic Jihad', as it is known the present time, is not guided by any specific logic, according to Dr. Devji. Although the Jihadis are funneled by a genealogy, they are not autonomous in nature. They claim to be segregated from the rest of the world, yet their actions depict the contrary. He said the 'Jihadis' are aware that they have to be a part of the western world in order to optimise their actions, 9/11 being one example. Among the other characteristics that distinguish the 'Jihadis' apart is that they are not politically motivated. They are not trying to create a specific political corner for themselves but are in fact carrying out their activities by being a part of the existing global political scenario. Despite all the rhetoric about martyrdom, 'Jihadis' also think about financial outcome. Some of the interviews carried out by Osma Bin Laden describe his willingness to find means of maximising economic benefits, if given a chance.
The present genre of 'Jihadis' is also very different from the radical or fundamental elements of the past. Present day Jihadism is by no means comparable to the radical movement that existed before. According to Dr Devji, a time gap exists between the old and the new. As a global movement, Devji said the jihad can be compared to environmental groups such as the Greenpeace because networks like the Al Qaeda are also structured in a similar manner as these organisations. Since the 'Jihadis' do not have any specific political aims, they can be looked at as ethical movements.
However, whatever might be the actual characteristics or identities of these groups, the fact remains that these networks are deeply enrooted in the domestic scenario of countries such as the United States where according to Osama Bin Laden, it is only fair to kill the American people as they are the ones who have chosen the present government due to the sheer fact of being a democratic country.
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