AndrewMarchrespondstoIslamismandtheLeft

MichaelWalzerhastaughtmultiplegenerationsofpolitical
theoristsabouttheimportanceofbelongingandconnectionin
politicaljudgment.Althoughinthisessayheiseagertostressthat
individualliberty,democracy,genderequality,andreligious
pluralismarentreallyWesternvalues;theyareuniversalvalues,
thedistinctivefeatureofWalzerspoliticaltheoryisitsdistrustof
abstractpoliticaljustificationanditscelebrationofpolitical
strugglesthattransformcommunitiesfromwithin.ForWalzer,the
moralherohasalwaysbeentheprophetwhospeakshistribesown
idiominanefforttoremindhispeoplenotsomuchofthebestof
whichtheyarecapableasrationalbeings,butthebestthatthey
havealreadycommittedthemselvesto.
Inonesense,IslamismandtheLeftcanbereadasanexercisein
thismodeofpoliticalargument.WecanhearinWalzerhimselfthe
voiceoftheanguishedanddisappointedcritic.Heisnotspeaking
tothedemagoguesofFoxNewsortotheevenmorebelligerent
purveyorsofantiMuslimracism.Heisspeakingtothetribehe
stillclaimsashisownthegloballeft.Buthisalienationfromthat
tribeismuchmorepalpablethanhisconnection.Walzeris
addressingtheleft,butneithersharinginitsanxietiesnormoving
withitsmoralandemotionalrhythms.
TwoaspectsofWalzersessaybearobservationhere.First,Walzer
doesnotseemtodisagreewithaparticularjudgmentmadeby
particularsegmentsoftheleft.Hedoesnotthinkthatintheir
effortstobalancemultipleendssupportingequalityandopposing
imperialismcertainleftistshavesimplyfailedtoweighoneof
themenough.Hethinksthatthey(we)areoperatinginbadfaith
atleastthoseleftistswhoaremoreconcernedwithavoiding
accusationsofIslamophobiathantheyarewithcondemning
Islamistzealotry.Hedoesntthinkthatleftistsareactually
sympathetictoIslamists;hejustthinksthatbecausetheymusthave
nogoodreasonsfornotspeakingabouttheIslamistthreatinthe

waythathedoes,theymustbemotivatedbysomethingotherthan
reason.
Second,Walzeraccusesleftistsofbeingsoafraidofappearing
Islamophobicthattheyhavedifficultyexplainingwhatsgoingon
intheworld,buthisownanalysisofwhatsgoingonintheworld
isboththinandselfcontradictory.Ontheonehand,hethinksthat
leftistscanttaketherevivalofreligionseriouslyinitsownterms
(sincethelefthasalwayshaddifficultyrecognizingthepowerof
religion)andsocantseeIslamismasthereturnofthelefts
traditionalenemy.Butthenhewantstoassureusthatitsnot
religionweshouldbeafraidof(Islamitself)buttheperverted
ideologyofBanna,Qutb,andMawdudi.Moreover,whileclaiming
totakethepowerofreligionmoreseriouslythanothersontheleft,
hisonlypoliticalproposalistofigureouthowtodefendthe
secularstateinthispostsecularage.
Moretroublingly,notonlydoeshefailtoofferanontautological
analysisoftheriseofIslamismsomethingotherthanradical
Islamisthereturnofreligiousmilitancybutthegoalofhis
essaypracticallyforbidsit.Toprovideahistorical,political
analysisoftheriseofradicalIslamisminparticularcountriesand
particulartimeswould,Walzerimplies,runtheriskofsuggesting
causesorexplanationsotherthanthemoralthreatofIslamism
itself,andthatwouldbetosomehowapologizeforIslamism.But
howcanitbealeftresponsetotheriseofglobalIslamismtosay
thatthestudyofcolonialism,imperialism,andglobalcapitalism
(wordsthatappearinWalzersessayonlyasevidenceofothers
analyticalfailures)mustplayonlythesmallestpossiblerolein
explainingwhatisgoingonintheworld?Isitreallyhelpfulto
speakabouttheleftsattitudetowardIslamisminsuchgeneral
terms,withoutlookingatspecificleftdebatesaboutSyria,Turkey,
Tunisia,orIran?Somethingunhelpfulisgoingonwhenweare
askedfortheumpteenthtimetopanicaboutthemoralpathologies
ofagroupofwritersintheWestratherthanfocusonspecific

strugglesforjusticeintheworld.
Itishardtoarguewithsomeonewhothinksthatyourjudgments,
yourintellectualefforts,andyourmoralstrugglesareallinbad
faithbecauseyouhaveanirrationalfearofbeinglabeled
Islamophobicwhoassumesyouwillsupportanyforce,whoever
vile,aslongasitisfightingWesternimperialism.Iunderstandthat
itiseasiertodiagnosewhyothershavegonewrongthanitisto
persuadethemhowtheyarewrong.Yetthis,ratherthanthe
practiceofcritiqueorthinkingwith,isthelogicofWalzers
polemic.Infact,Walzerisquiteclearthathisessayisnotaneffort
tothinkthroughadifficultproblemwithhisintellectual
companionsonthelefthowcanglobalsolidaritybeachievedin
thetwentyfirstcentury?butratheradeclarationofintenttojoin
theideologicalwars.
Worse,thechargethatonedoesnotdenounceenoughis
notoriouslyslippery.LikedemandsforMuslimstofinally!
speakoutandcondemnterrorism,forAmericanJewstocondemn
Israelisettlements,orforblackleaderstocondemninnercityrage,
Walzersessaysuffersfrombothconfirmationandselectionbias.
Hehasexperiencedfrustrationwiththekindsofleftistsheruns
into(mostlyontheinternet,itappears)notsayingtherightthings
attherighttime,andthenextrapolatesfromthisthattheleftin
generalhasaproblemwithIslamism.Buthowmanyexceptions
doesittakeuntiltheoriginalpremiseneedstobecalledinto
question?Theproblemisthatnoamountofcontradictoryevidence
isevergoodenough.Theonewhohasmovedfirstcanalways
reply,Well,yes,therearetheseexceptions,ofcourse,butIstill
donthaveenoughcomradesdeclaringIslamistzealotsourprimary
enemies.Thisresponseisasslipperyasitisdisappointingly
parochial.Wearetreatedtothesameoldstoriesofthesame
peoplesayingthingsthataresupposedtoshamethem,butreally
howmanytimescanwetalkaboutEdwardSaid,PaulBerman,

andAyaanHirsiAlibeforewestarttosoundsilly?
Itseemsmuchmorehonestforustoacknowledgethattheproblem
isnotthatleftistsareguiltyofappeasingIslamistsbutthatwe
havealessblackandwhitedisagreementaboutpoliticaljudgment
inspecificcontexts.Theproblemisnoteasytoresolveinpractice
butisquitestraightforwardintellectually:howshouldwebalance
criticismofIslamistpracticesagainstaconcernnottobandwagon
withbroaderrightwingdemonizationofMuslims?Buteventhis
questionisderivativeofthestillbroaderoneofhowtoassess
Islamismasachallengeforleftpoliticsinthetwentyfirstcentury.
Insteadoflistingallofthetimespeopleonthelefthaveproved
theirmoraldecencybycondemningIslamism,Iwouldliketotry
todiscusshowwemightthinkaboutIslamismasanintellectual
andmoralproblemfortheleft.

1.
AfirstdimensionisaconsiderationofthewaytheIslamist
challengetopostEnlightenmentleftprinciplesmightcausethose
ontheliberallefttorethinktheircorecommitments.Themodel
hereisMarxscritiqueofbourgeoisrightsinOntheJewish
Question,theurtextforallsubsequentleftistskepticismabout
formalrights,legalequality,andindividualnegativefreedom.
Thereare,ofcourse,hardandsoftversionsofthis.Ahardversion
dismissesrightsandparliamentarydemocracytoutcourtas
bourgeoisfictionsthatobstructratherthanadvanceemancipation.
Asofterversionmerelycautionsusagainstseeingtheachievement
ofrights,representativedemocracy,andnegativefreedomsasthe
finalvictoryratherthanasanecessaryfirststeptowarddeeper
formsoffreedomandsolidarity.
IsanythinglikethisgoingonwiththeleftandIslamism?Iam
unawareofanycommittedleftistswhohavebeenmovedto
questionthevalueofreligiousfreedom,genderequality,andsocial
justicemerelybecauseIslamistshavecalledthemintoquestion

fromareligiousperspective.NoonereallydoubtswhetherIranian
womenshouldbefreetounveilorwhetherfemalegenital
mutilationisanabomination.NoonethinksthatYazidisand
Bahaisshouldbesubjectedtopersecutionorslaughter.
Itistruethatsomehavequestionedtheuniversalityofparticular
formsoffemaleemancipationafterhearingtheviewsofpious,
veiledMuslimwomen.Butthecriticalbitehereisapurelyliberal
one:itisonthegroundsofthefreedom,autonomy,andself
representationofthewomeninquestionandnot(asthepious
themselveswouldassert)onthegroundsofsovereignreligious
normsthatastrictoppositionbetweenfreedomandreligionis
calledintoquestion.Itisalsotruethatsomeonthelefthave
expresseddoubtsabouttheapplicabilityofEuropeanconceptions
ofstrictsecularismtoMuslimcountries.Butthecriticalmotive
hereisademocraticone:itisonthegroundsofthefreedom,
autonomy,andselfrepresentationofthepeoplesinquestionthat
theuniversalityofoneformofsecularismiscalledintoquestion.
ThiswayofthinkingaboutpoliticsintheMuslimworldis,infact,
straightoutofWalzerianpoliticaltheory:politicalcommunitiesare
responsiblefordevelopingtheirownnorms,practices,and
commitmentsthroughinternalstruggle,andarenotjust
interchangeablesitesforapplyingtranscendent,apriori
conceptionsofjustice.Manyleftists,truetothisspirit,realizethat
theadvancementofdemocraticjusticemustunfoldthroughactual
localstrugglesinMuslimcountries.OnewouldhopethatWalzer
himselfwouldappreciatethispracticeofcontextualpolitical
analysis,ratherthanmerelysearchingforthenarrowestbandof
goodseculariststopraise.

2.
WhereasWalzersuggeststhatthedivideontheleftisbetween
thosewhoarefaithfultoleftprinciplesandthosewhoarenot,I
proposethatthedisagreementactuallyliesataseconddimension

ofpoliticalthinking.Thisdimensionisourjudgmentaboutwhich
horrorsandinjusticesintheworldtoprioritizeoppositionto.
WalzerthinksitisthehorrorscausedbyIslamism.Butapersonon
theleftislikelytoreadWalzersessayandrespond,Iwasnt
awarethatfiercecriticismofIslamismissomethingtheworld
lacksforrightnow.ArethepowersthatbeinWashington,
Moscow,Cairoreallywaitingforleftpressuretofinallydo
somethingaboutIslamists?Formypart,Idoubtthatfuture
historianswilllookbackattheperiodbetween2001and2014and
rememberitforitscultureofappeasement,excuse,andapology
towardIslamistterrorism.
ThewaragainstviolentIslamismistakingcareofitself.Itsalittle
stunningtoreadthatinthefaceofthismassivestateviolence
againstIslamiststhepriorityofthoseofusontheliberalleft
shouldbetoclearlynamethezealotsourenemies.Instead,
shouldnttheleftreactionbetoprovidemorehopeful,inspiring,
andadmirablealternativestothisongoingwar?Whatisthepoint
oftheleftifwecantdothat?
Admittedly,thesealternativesareinshortsupply.Anditisnotat
allclearthatpeoplestrugglingforjustice,equality,anddemocracy
inMuslim(andotherpostcolonial)countrieswantthehelpof
Westernersinsupplyingthem.Rather,theywantourhelpin
restrainingtheinterferenceofdecidedlynonleftistWesternpower
intheircountries.Walzerisasawareofthisasanyoneelseonthe
left.Iwillnotfliptheadhominemscriptbyquestioninghisgood
faithindeploringWesternimperialism.Itrustthathedeploresit.
ButIwillaskthis:ifthoseofuswholive,vote,andpaytaxesin
theWesthavedecidedthatthemostimportantthingwecandois
focusonourownongoingcrimesandperniciousinfluences
abroad,howcanWalzerbesosurethatthisjudgmentiswrong?
Doesntthischoicereflectthebestofthecriticaltraditionofthe
leftnotlettingyourfearanddisgustofthecrimesofothersblind
youtoyourown?Anddoesntit,furthermore,reflectthehighest

aspirationofWalzerianpoliticaltheorystrugglingwithinyour
owncommunitytohelpitachieveitshighestmoralaspirations?
Withamassivemilitary,political,andmediaapparatusalready
doingafinejobturningIslamistsintoenemiesandcorpsesI
insistinsteadthatweshouldbeproudofthefactthatthereremains
asegmentoftheWesternpublicspheredeterminedtoquestion
this.

3.
AthirddimensionistheSchmittianone:whoismyenemy?
Walzerisunabashedlypoliticalinthissenseinthisessay.He
saysweshouldclearlynamethezealotsourenemiesandcommit
ourselvestoanintellectualcampaignagainstthem.Thisseemsto
mealittlefauxheroic.Iknowthatitissatisfyingtokeepwriting
piecesthattakeastanceagainstkillingapostates,mutilating
genitals,andkidnappingschoolgirls.Butwhodoubtsthatweare
againstthesethings?Whatkindofmoralcouragedoesitreally
taketosaythisintheWest?Andwhatbattlesareweavoidingif
wethinkthatthisisonlyoneworthfighting?
WhateventuallybecomesapparentisthatWalzerisnotonlynot
talkingabout,butalsodoesnotappeartohavemuchinterestin,
politicsintheactualMuslimworld.ItisnotleftistsinMuslim
countriesthatarefailingtostanduptoIslamismanditisnottheir
strugglesthathereallycaresabout(hisreferencetothegroup
WomenLivingUnderMuslimLawsnotwithstanding).Itisthe
parochialquestionofwhodidordidnotembraceHirsiAliwarmly
enough,whoiswritingtherightblogpostsandopeds,andwhois
signingtherightpetitions.TryasImight,Icantkeepongetting
workedupaboutthat.
Whatwouldhappenifwetookabreakfromourselfregardand
askedhardpoliticalquestionsaboutwhatitwouldactuallytaketo
advanceleftliberalpoliticalgoalsintheworldtoday(bracketing
thequestionofhowvaluableitisforushereoneithersideofthe

MetroNorthtoponderhowtoadvancethosegoalsfromMorocco
toIndonesia)?Justfouryearsagowewouldhavesaidthatwe
shouldplaceourhopesinthewaveofdemocratizationripplingout
fromTunis,Cairo,andDamascus.NoonesaysthatnowthatSyria
andIraqareburning,Egyptislivingaretro1960spantomime,and
theIranianhardlinersaremoreincontrolthenever.(EvenTunisia,
atthistimeofwriting,appearstobefreelyvotingforcounter
revolution.)Sodoweturnourhopesbacktotheprojectof
spreadinghumanrightsthroughinternationallegalinstruments,
alongwithsomeadvocacybylocalNGOs?Idonthavethe
disdainfortheinternationalhumanrightsmovementthatsomeon
theleftdo(andthattheWalzerofthe1970sand80smighthave).
ButIamnotexpectingmanyvictoriestoemergefromitinthe
Muslimworldinthenearfuture.
IdonthaveabetteranswerthanthisbutneitherdoesWalzer.I
dontblamehim.Idontexpecthimtoendorsethevisionofa
globaluprisingoftheexcludedmultitudeexpressedbythelikesof
iek,Badiou,Hardt,orNegri.InmanyMuslimcountries,sucha
revolttodayseemsmorelikelytotaketheformofinternational
jihadismthanegalitarianrevolution.ButthenIthinkitisonly
honesttosaythatWalzersfrustrationwithleftistswhodontjust
wanttodeclareintellectualwaronIslamistzealotsissymptomatic
ofanumberofthingsthathavenothingtodowiththoseleftists
moralpusillanimity.
Itissymptomaticofourlackofanswersandourlackofpower.I
dontknowhowtostopglobalwarming;Idontknowhowto
reversewideninginequalityandglobaloligarchy;Idontknow
whetherIshouldputmyhopesforprogressinthetwentyfirst
centuryinprogressivestruggleswithinexistingnationstatesorin
somekindoftransformativerevolution;Idontknowwhetherthe
contemporarytechnologicalrevolutionisagoodorabadthing.In
thefaceofthis,Walzerisofferingus,moreorless:ButIdoknow
thatIhatetheIslamistsandamnotafraidtousemypowerofthe

penagainstthem.
Itisalwayseasiertofocusonthecrimestheothercommitsagainst
youthanonthecrimesyoucommit,orabet.Itisalwayseasierto
inflatetheothersmoralgrotesquenessandyourowngood
intentions.Notfallingvictimtothemoralnarcissismof
nationalismandcommunalselflovetakesenormouseffortandisa
preciousachievement.Itishardworktoruthlesslysubjectyour
ownaffectivefeelingsofdisgusttothetribunalofhistorical
perspective.ButIbelieveitisthisimpulse,inthebesttraditionof
leftandliberalpolitics,thatinformsleftistsintheirassessmentof
Islamismtodaynotmoralrelativismandtimidfearofthe
accusationofIslamophobia.
And,so,yesIamdisgustedbybeheadings,massexecutions,and
thesellingofYazidigirlsintoslavery,andIhopeferventlyforthe
defeatofISISanditsassociates;butIamalsodisgustedbymy
owngovernmentsuseofdepleteduraniuminIraq,widespread
torturingofdetainees,andentrenchmentofanunaccountable
surveillanceapparatus.Itwouldbeinhumantositbackandcoldly
runatallyofdeathsoneachside,asifthejihadisgetapassuntil
theyhavekilledasmanyonthegroundaswehavefromtheair,
althoughasWalzerwrites,itisntwrongtorecognizewherethe
greatestdangerslie.Butitistheveryleastwecanexpectof
ourselvestokeepinmindthatifyouliveintheUnitedStatesyou
arefarmorelikelytohaveappallingviolencedoneinyourname
thanagainstyou.Foranyseriousperson,supportinguniversal
equalityandopposingWesternimperialistviolenceshouldnotbe
nottoomanyballstokeepupintheairatthesametime
intellectually.Walzermayberightthatsomeontheleftdofind
thistoomuchtojuggle,andstruggletoendorsefreedomand
equalityjustbecausetheythinktheStateDepartmentwantsthem
to.ButbecauseIconsiderMichaelWalzernotonlymyteacherbut
alsomyally,Iwouldliketoseehimworryingasmuchabout

imperialistviolenceandtheactualrealitiesofMuslimsocietiesas
hedoesaboutIslamistzealotry.

AndrewF.MarchisAssociateProfessorofPoliticalScience,Yale
University.HeistheauthorofIslamandLiberalCitizenship:The
SearchforanOverlappingConsensus(2009),andnumerous
articlesonIslamicpoliticalandlegalthought.

MichaelWalzerreplies
Severaltimesinthispiece,AndrewMarchwritesthatItakethe
leftistsIamcriticizingtobeoperatinginbadfaith(his
emphasis).Ihaverereadmyessayseveraltimesnow,andIcant
findanythingthatsuggestsbadfaith;thatisMarchsinvention.I
dothinkthatmanyleftistsarewrongheaded,silly,politically
correct,andafraidtobecalledIslamophobes.ButIdidnt,and
dont,chargeanyonewithbadfaith.Well,oneexception:Marchs
flatteryofmeatthebeginningandendofhisresponseiscertainly
anexampleofbadfaith.Butfortherest,hisargumentsare
arguments,andIwilltrytogivethemtheattentiontheydeserve.
Icanseefourargumentshere,alongwithsomebitsofprofessorial
pomposity(thetribunalofhistoricalperspective)thatIwill
ignore.ThefirstargumentisthatIdidntdealwitheffortsto
explaintheriseofIslamisminspecificplacesforspecificreasons
actually,notveryspecificreasons;thisishislist:colonialism,
imperialism,andglobalcapitalism.Heisrightonthefirstpoint:
inmyarticle,IdidntdiscussSyria,Turkey,Tunisia,orIranor
anyotherofthemanyMuslimmajoritycountries.Iconsidered
Islamismasaninternationalmovement.Nodoubt,ittakes
particularformsineverycountrywhereitarises(asIsaidinthe
article),butthereisalotoftheologicaloverlap,andgroupslike

ISIScanrecruitfightersfromacrosstheMuslimworldandinthe
West,too.Anyexplanationforthisextraordinarysuccesshastobe
ageneralizingexplanation.
Andwhataboutcolonialism,imperialism,andglobalcapitalism?
Thedifficultyhereisthatthesecausesarethecausesofeverything
thathappensorcouldhappen.Aleftistuprisingwouldcertainlybe
explainedwithreferencetothesethree.Sowouldarightwing
nationalistuprising.Marchwantstoexplainaradicalreligious
uprisinginthesameway;hecondemnsmeforassigningonlythe
smallestpossibleroletothesefactors.Myactualclaimisthat
thesefactorsdontgiveusadistinguishingreasonforreligious
zealotry.WhydoesIslamisttheologyhavesuchgreatappealand
notMarxistideology?Surelytherehavetobeculturalandinner
religiousreasonsforthisappeal.Ididntexplorethosereasonsin
myessay;Ionlycriticizedwriterswhopretendthattheydont
exist.Ihaveabookcomingoutinafewmonthsthatbeginsan
exploration:TheParadoxofLiberation:SecularRevolutionsand
ReligiousCounterRevolutions(YaleUniversityPress).
ThesecondargumentisthatIdidnotaddressorengagewiththe
realleft.HowmanytimescanwetalkaboutEdwardSaid
beforewestarttosoundsilly?Marchandhisfriendshavenothing
todowiththelikesofZizek,Badiou,Hardt,orNegri.My
frustrationisonlywiththekindsofleftists[I]runinto(mostlyon
theinternet,itappears).Loandbehold,IhaverunintoAndrew
Marchontheinternet.Thereisalotgoingonontheinternet,
andIdontseehowanyuptodateleftistcansuggestthatIshould
belookingelsewhere.Anyway,Iaddressedmorethanadozenleft
writers,andmanyofthemwritebookswhichgreatlyoutsellmy
ownandMarchsbooks.Iwroteaboutaveryimportantpartofthe
left(notthewholeofit)asitactuallyis.
Marchsthirdargumentistheoneheseemsmostcommittedto
sinceherepeatsitseveraltimes:ThewaragainstviolentIslamism
istakingcareofitself.Hefindsitstunningthatinthefaceof

massivestateviolenceagainstIslamists,Ishouldbecallingfor
anintellectualwaragainstthem.HethinksthatIshouldinsteadbe
arguingagainstthemassiveviolenceandlookingforinspiring
andadmirablealternativestothisongoingwar.(Hedoesnt
suggestanyinspiringalternatives.)Marchmaynotbeawareof
howfamiliarthisargumentistosomeonemyagethoughifIwas
actuallyhisteacher,ashesaysIam,hewouldknowthis.The
argumenthemakeshereisexactlytheargumentthatwasmade,
againandagain,againsttheleftwinganticommunismofDissent
initsearlyyears.TheUnitedStatesanditsWesternallieswere
alreadymobilizedagainstSovietCommunism.Didtheyreally
needleftistpressuretofinallydosomethingaboutcommunism?
Shouldntwe,wholive,vote,andpaytaxesintheWest,be
focusedonourownongoingcrimesandperniciousinfluence
abroad?
TheeditorsofDissentactuallyhadalottosayaboutAmerican
crimesabroad(andstilldo),buttheywerealsointerestedinthe
moralandpoliticalhealthoftheleft.Theydidntthinkthatleftists
whoweredefendersoforapologistsforStalinistcrimeswould
everbeaforcefordemocracy.Andtheywereright,formanyof
thosedefendersandapologistswentontodefendorapologizefor
thirdworlddictatorswhocallthemselvesantiimperialistsandfor
terroristswhocallthemselvesliberatorsandnowforIslamist
zealots.
ButMarchisntoneofthosethisishisfourthargument.Heis
disgustedbybeheadings,massexecutions,andthesellingof
Yazidigirlsintoslaveryandsoareallhisfriends.Whodoubts
thatweareagainstthesethings?HedoesntseemtonoticethatI
amnotadoubter;Iagreethatjustabouteveryoneissimilarly
disgusted.ButIamlookingforapoliticalwayofexpressingthis
disgust,andMarchemphaticallyisntdoingthat.Heisobviouslya
politicallyengagedperson,asmuchasIam.Despitehisdisgust,
however,herefusesanyseriousengagementwithIslamistcrimes;

heisengagedwithAmericancrimes.Itsalwayseasier,hesays,to
focusonthecrimesthattheotherscommitratherthanonthe
crimesyoucommit,orabet.Marchisproudthathedoesnttake
theeasyway.
Butthenonehastowonderaboutthepoliticalormoralforceofhis
disgust.FortheAmericaheexcoriatesisrightnowtheonlyforce
effectivelyopposingor,atleast,containing,thepowerofISISand
thereforethebeheadingsandthemassexecutionsandthe
enslavementofYazidigirls.Ofcourse,Iwouldpreferasecularist
uprising,apurelylocalstruggle,againstISISandagainstevery
otherIslamistgroup.Iameagertosupportliberals,social
democrats,andfeministsinMuslimcountries.Marchpretendsto
endorsemylongstandingcommitmenttotheintegrityofparticular
communitiesandtotheimportanceofpoliticalactivityfrom
within.Heapparentlywantstoarguethatthiscommitmentrequires
leftwingactiviststowaitforthevictimsofIslamistzealotryto
defendthemselves.
Buthisendorsementofmypoliticalargumentsishighlyselective,
forIamalsoanoldfashionedinternationalist,andovermany
yearsIhavesupportedastronglyinterventionistpoliticsinextreme
casesandmassexecutionsandenslavementarestill,eveninour
frighteningworld,extreme.Theyrequiremorethandisgust;they
requireapoliticalresponse.Andtheleftshouldbeactively
engagedinadvocatingsucharesponseandintalkingaboutits
agents,itsmethods,anditslimits.
Marchrejectsthisengagement,andhemocksmyinvitationtojoin
theintellectualwars.Hisreasonfortherejectionandthemockery
isourlackofanswersandourlackofpower.Exceptforpolitical
activityathome,hebelieves,thereisnothingtodo.Ihopethat
Marchisspeakinghereonlyforhimself.Thoseofuswhoarestill
committedtosomeversionoftheEnlightenmentprojecthave
plentytodo.Superstitionsetstheworldinflames,Voltaire
wrote,philosophyquenchestheflames.

Finally,IwanttosaysomethingaboutMarchsmostserious
chargeagainstmethatIdontsharetheanxietiesormovewith
themoralandemotionalrhythmsoftheleft.Iamoutofstep.Of
course,therearemanylefts,andoneofthemismine;oneofthem
istheDissentleft,wherewehavealwaysmarchedtotherhythmof
ourowndrum.WithMarchsleft,Iamindeedoutofstepandhave
beenforaverylongtime.
MichaelWalzeriseditoremeritusatDissent.

IslamismandtheLeft
MichaelWalzerWinter2015
ThisarticleisfollowedbyaresponsebyAndrewF.March,along
withMichaelWalzersreply.Toreadtheexchange,clickhere.
InthethreeandahalfdecadessincetheIranianrevolution,Ihave
beenwatchingmyfriendsandneighbors(anddistantneighbors)on
theleftstrugglingtounderstandoravoidunderstandingthe
revivalofreligioninwhatisnowcalledapostsecularage.Long
ago,welookedforwardtothedisenchantmentoftheworldwe
believedthatthetriumphofscienceandsecularismwasa
necessaryfeatureofmodernity.Andsoweforgot,asNickCohen
haswritten,whatthemenandwomenoftheEnlightenmentknew.
Allfaithsintheirextremeformcarrythepossibilityoftyranny.1
Today,everymajorworldreligionisexperiencingasignificant
revival,andrevivedreligionisntanopiateasweoncethought,but
averystrongstimulant.Sincethelate1970s,andparticularlyin
thelastdecade,thisstimulantisworkingmostpowerfullyinthe
Islamicworld.FromPakistantoNigeria,andinpartsofEurope,
too,Islamtodayisareligioncapableofinspiringlargenumbersof
menandwomen,mostlymen,tokillanddieonitsbehalf.Sothe
Islamicrevivalisakindoftestingmomentfortheleft:canwe
recognizeandresistthepossibilityoftyranny?Someofusare

tryingtomeetthetest;manyofusareactivelyfailingit.One
reasonforthisfailureistheterriblefearofbeingcalled
Islamophobic.AntiAmericanismandaradicalversionof
culturalrelativismalsoplayanimportantpart,buttheseareolder
pathologies.Hereissomethingnew:manyleftistsareso
irrationallyafraidofanirrationalfearofIslamthattheyhavent
beenabletoconsidertheverygoodreasonsforfearingIslamist
zealotsandsotheyhavedifficultyexplainingwhatsgoingonin
theworld.
Mymainevidentiarybasisforthisclaimistheamazinglylonglist
oflinksthatcomesupwhenyouGoogleIslamophobia.Manyof
themarephobic;Ifocusontheantiphobiclinks,andsoIhave
enteredtheonlineworldoftheleft.Itisalargeandexcitingworld,
highlydiverse,inhabitedmostlybypeoplenewtome.Itsalsoa
littledisheartening,becausemanyofthepathologiesoftheextra
internetlefthaventdisappearedonline.Obviously,thereisnoleft
collective,onorofftheinternet,butthepeopleIamwritingabout
constituteasignificantleftistcoterie,andnoneofthemare
worryingenoughaboutthepoliticsofcontemporaryreligionor
aboutradicalIslamistpolitics.
Formyself,Ilivewithageneralizedfearofeveryformofreligious
militancy.IamafraidofHindutvazealotsinIndia,ofmessianic
ZionistsinIsrael,andoframpagingBuddhistmonksinMyanmar.
ButIadmitthatIammostafraidofIslamistzealotsbecausethe
Islamicworldatthismomentintime(notalways,notforever)is
especiallyfeverishandfervent.Indeed,thepoliticallyengaged
Islamistzealotscanbestbeunderstoodastodayscrusaders.
IsthisanantiMuslimposition,notafearbutaphobiaanda
phobiathatgrowsoutofprejudiceandhostility?Considerarough
analogy(allanalogiesarerough):ifIsaythatChristianityinthe
eleventhcenturywasacrusadingreligionandthatitwas
dangeroustoJewsandMuslims,whowererightlyfearful(and
someofthemphobic)wouldthatmakemeantiChristian?I

knowthatcrusadingfervorisntessentialtotheChristianreligion;
itishistoricallycontingent,andthecrusadingmomentinChristian
historycameand,aftertwohundredyearsorso,went.Saladin
helpedbringittoanend,butitwouldhaveendedonitsown.I
knowthatmanyChristiansopposedtheCrusades;todaywewould
callthemChristianmoderates.And,ofcourse,mosteleventh
centuryChristianswerentinterestedincrusadingwarfare;they
listenedtosermonsurgingthemtomarchtoJerusalemandthey
wenthome.Still,itistruewithoutadoubtthatintheeleventh
century,muchofthephysical,material,andintellectualresources
ofChristendomwerefocusedontheCrusades.
TheChristianCrusadeshavesometimesbeendescribedasthefirst
exampleofIslamophobiainthehistoryoftheWest.Thecrusaders
weredrivenbyanirrationalfearofIslam.Isupposethatsright;
theywerealsodrivenbyanevenmoreirrationalfearofJudaism.
Theywerefierceandfrighteningreligiousextremists,andthat
assertionisnotantiChristian.
OnecanandshouldsaysimilarthingsaboutIslamiststodayeven
thoughjihadiviolenceisnotrequiredbyIslamictheology,even
thoughtherearemanyMuslimmoderateswhoopposereligious
violence,andeventhoughmostMuslimsarequitehappytoleave
infidelsandhereticstotheirotherworldlyfate.Iknowthatthereis
ajihadofthesoulinadditiontothejihadofthesword,and
thatMohammedfamouslydeclaredthefirstofthesetobethe
greaterjihad.AndIrecognizethattheIslamicworldisnot
monolithic.Readingthedailynewspaper,anyonecanseethateven
Islamistzealotryisnotallofapiece.AlQaeda,theTaliban,the
IslamicStateofIraqandSyria(ISIS),Hezbollah,Hamas,and
BokoHaram,totakejustafewleadingexamples,arenotthesame;
theremaywellbesignificanttheologicaldisagreementsamong
them.Ishouldnote,also,thatthemanymillionsofMuslimsin
IndonesiaandIndiaseemrelativelyuntouchedbyzealotry,though
JemaahIslamiyah,aSoutheastAsianIslamistnetwork,has

followersinIndonesiaandhasbeenaccusedofsignificantterrorist
attacksthere.
Despiteallthesequalifications,itistruewithoutadoubtthatthe
jihadoftheswordisverystrongtoday,anditisfrighteningto
nonbelievers,heretics,secularliberals,socialdemocrats,and
liberatedwomeninmuchoftheMuslimworld.Andthefearis
entirelyrational.
Butagain,Ifrequentlycomeacrossleftistswhoaremore
concernedwithavoidingaccusationsofIslamophobiathantheyare
withcondemningIslamistzealotry.Thisisanoddpositionwith
relationtotheMuslimworldtoday,butitmakessomesensein
WesternEuropeandpossiblyalsoinAmerica,whereMuslimsare
recentimmigrants,theobjectsofdiscrimination,police
surveillance,sometimespolicebrutality,andpopularhostility.I
haveheardMuslimscalledthenewJews.Thatsnotahelpful
analogy,sinceMuslimsintodaysWesternEuropehavenever
beenattackedbyChristiancrusaders,expelledfromonecountry
afteranother,forcedtoweardistinctivedress,barredfrommany
professions,andslaughteredbyNazis.Infact,rightnow,some
MuslimmilitantsareamongthechiefpurveyorsofantiSemitism
inEurope(theygetalotofhelpfromneofascistsinFranceand
Germanyandothercountries,too).InAmerica,thenewJews
labelclearlydoesntwork.AccordingtoFBIstatistics,between
2002and2011,therewere1,388hatecrimescommittedagainst
AmericanMuslimsand9,198againstAmericanJewsand25,130
againstblackAmericans.2Weshoulddefendallvictimsofhatred,
butitisntwrongtorecognizewherethegreatestdangerslie.
ItstruethatEuropesMuslims(andAmericastoo,toalesser
extent)areaharassedminority;theyrightlyreceivesympathyand
supportfromtheleft,whichalsohopes,rightlyagain,towintheir
votesastheybecomecitizens.Therearemanyrightwinggroups
thatcampaignagainstIslamnotonlyfarrightsplintergroups
liketheEnglishDefenseLeagueintheUKorDieFreiheitorPro

DeutschlandinGermany,butpopulistpartiesthatcommand
considerableelectoralsupport,liketheNationalFrontinFranceor
thePartyforFreedomintheNetherlands.Sincethepolitical
leadersofallthesegroupsclaimtofeartheriseofIslamin
Europe,Islamophobiahasbecomeforeveryoneontheleft
politicallyincorrect;moreimportant,itismorallyincorrect.
Islamophobiaisaformofreligiousintolerance,evenreligious
hatred,anditwouldbewrongforanyleftiststosupportbigotsin
EuropeandtheUnitedStateswhodeliberatelymisunderstandand
misrepresentcontemporaryMuslims.Theymakenodistinction
betweenthehistoricreligionandthezealotsofthismoment;they
regardeveryMuslimimmigrantinaWesterncountryasapotential
terrorist;andtheyfailtoacknowledgethetoweringachievements
ofMuslimphilosophers,poets,andartistsovermanycenturies.
Consider,forexample,theDutchnationalistGeertWilders,leader
ofthePartyforFreedom,whodescribestheKoranasafascist
bookandcallsforittobeoutlawed(asMeinKampfis)inthe
Netherlands.3OrHansJurgenIrmer,deputyfloorleaderofthe
ChristianDemocraticUnioninHesse,Germany,whoclaimsthat
Islamissetonglobaldomination.4ThereareindeedIslamists
withglobalambitions(eveninGermanyrememberMohammed
Atta),butitiswrongtoholdallMuslimsresponsibleforIslamist
zealotry,whichthegreaternumberbyfarofGermanTurks,for
example,certainlyreject.PeoplelikeWildersandIrmer,andthere
aremanyothers,goalongwayinexplainingtheleftsaversionto
Islamophobia.
Butwehavetobecarefulhere.Thereareperfectlylegitimate
criticismsthatcanbemadenotonlyofIslamistzealotsbutalsoof
Islamitselfasofanyotherreligion.PascalBrucknerarguesthat
thetermIslamophobiawasacleverinventionbecauseit
amountstomakingIslamasubjectthatonecannottouchwithout
beingaccusedofracism.5Thetermwasfirstused,heclaims,to
condemnKateMillettforcallinguponIranianwomentotakeoff

theirchadors.IdontknowwhoinventedIslamophobia,butitis
worthrepeatingBrucknerskeypoint:therehastoberoomfor
feministslikeMillettandforallthemilitantatheistsand
philosophicalskepticstosaytheirpieceaboutIslamandalso
aboutChristianityandJudaismandtofindanaudienceifthey
can.Callthemtoaccountforbadarguments,buttheircriticalwork
shouldbewelcomeinafreesociety.
CritiquesofIslamareinhibitednotonlybythefearofbeingcalled
IslamophobicbutalsobythefearofOrientalism.6Edward
Saidsbookbythatnameprovidesmanyexamplesofboth
scholarlyandpopularargumentsaboutIslamthatcontemporary
writerswillrightlywanttoavoid.Buthisownargumentaboutthe
futureofIslamandtheArabworld(hewaswritinginthelate
1970s),missedthemarkbyaconsiderabledistance.Saidthought
that,withonlyafewhonorableexceptions,Orientalismhad
triumphedintheWest;healsobelievedthatithadbeen
internalizedintheEast,sothatArabandotherMuslimwriters
werenowproducingOrientalistthatisprejudicedand
stereotypedaccountsoftheirownhistory.TheArabworld
today,Saidwrote,isanintellectual,political,andcultural
satelliteoftheUnitedStates.Islamicrevivalismisnowhere
anticipatedinSaidsbook.Indeed,hetakesBernardLewis
insistenceontheimportanceofreligioninthecurrentaffairsof
theMuslimworldtobeanexampleofOrientalism.Andayear
later,inTheQuestionofPalestine,Saidcallsthereturnto
Islamachimera.7Itwouldbedifficultforanyonetosaythat
now,butitisstillrareforwritersonthelefttoaddressthe
chimeraheadon.
SothecritiqueofIslamismfromtheleftisconstrainedthesedays;
Islamophobia,however,seemstobegrowing,andnotonlyonthe
populistornationalistright.Whyisthishappening?Thenew
IslamophobiaStudiesJournal(abiannualpublicationsponsored
byBerkeleysCenterforRaceandGender),inaneditorialinits

secondissue,identifiesthesourceofthetrouble:
Forsome,risingantiMuslimsentimentsareimmediately
explainedawayasanaturaloutcomeofthemanyviolentevents
intheMuslimworldandterrorismingeneral.However,we
maintainthattherisingnegativesentimentsmayhavetodowith
thepresenceofawellorganizedandwellfundedIslamophobic
industrythathasmanagedtoinvadeandcapturecivilsocietyand
publicdiscourseswithoutseriouscontestation.Uptothispoint,
antiracistandprogressivevoiceshavenotbeeneffectivein
challengingthisindustry,norhavetheybeenabletoprovidethe
neededresourcestomountregionalandnationalresponses.
Thisisnicelyselfserving:moreresourcesfortheJournalwould
certainlybeabighelpincombatingtheIslamophobicindustry.
Butnoticethereluctancetoengagewiththemanyviolentevents
intheMuslimworld.
Onecanfindasimilarreluctanceinaseriesofotherwiseexcellent
articlespublishedinaspecialissueoftheNationinJuly2012.
JackShaheensHowtheMediaCreatedtheMuslimMonster
Mythisanexampleofanargumentverymuchlikethatofthe
editorsoftheIslamophobiaStudiesJournal.ThenovelistLaila
LalamiinIslamophobiaanditsDiscontentsrecognizesthat
retrogradeblasphemylawsandunfairdivorcelawsmayhave
somethingtodowithhostilitytoIslambutrightlyrefusestotreat
theseasexcusesfortheharassmentshehaslivedwithhereinthe
UnitedStates.NorwouldviolenteventsintheMuslimworld
provideanysuchexcuse.Islamistzealotryshouldneverbeusedto
justifyorexplainEuropeanandAmericanprejudice.Butthe
entirelylegitimatedesiretoavoidprejudiceisntareasontoavoid
thoseviolentevents.IdontmeantosingleouttheNationhere,
whoseeditorsorganizedthatusefulspecialissue;sofarasIcan
tell,noleftistmagazineorwebsitehasattemptedaserious
engagementwithIslamistzealotry.
Mostleftists,whateverproblemstheyhaveunderstandingreligion,

havenodifficultyfearingandopposingHindunationalists,zealous
Buddhistmonks,andthemessianicZionistsofthesettler
movement(thephrasenodifficultyisagrossunderstatementin
thislastcase).And,ofcourse,nooneontheleftmakescommon
causewithIslamistmilitantswhokidnapschoolgirls,ormurder
heretics,orteardowntheancientmonumentsofrivalcivilizations.
Actslikethese,insofarastheyarenoticed,areroutinely
condemned.Well,notquiteroutinely:NikolasKozloff,inan
excellentarticle,ATaleofBokoHaram,PoliticalCorrectness,
Feminism,andtheLeft,hasdocumentedthestrange
unwillingnessofanumberofleftistwriterstoblameMuslim
zealotsforthekidnappingoftheNigerianschoolgirls.8Less
outrageous,butbadenough,istheunwillingnessofmanymore
leftistswhodorecognizesuchcrimestoattemptageneralizing
analysisandanencompassingcritiqueofIslamistzealotry.What
standsinthewayofanalysisandcritique?
DeepaKumarsbook,IslamophobiaandthePoliticsofEmpire,9
suggestsonepossibleanswertothisquestion:whatstandsinthe
wayisthefactthatIslamiststodayareopponentsoftheWest,
thatis,ofWestern,reallyAmerican,imperialismbasesin
SaudiArabia,thetwoIraqwars,theLibyanintervention,support
forIsrael,dronestrikesinSomalia,andsoon.Iwouldarguethat
thislistrequiresaselectiveresponse:oppositioninsomecases,
certainly,butalsoagreementinothers.Idaresaythatthe
overthrowbyIslamistzealotsoftheregimestheUnitedStateshas
supportedintheMiddleEast,badassomeofthemare,wouldnot
beterriblyhelpfultothepeopleoftheregion.Butleftistopponents
ofimperialismdontusuallymakeselectivejudgments,andneither
dotheIslamists.Sotheenemyofmyenemyismyfriend.We
watchedthismaximbeingactedoutinlastAugustsdemonstration
inLondon,sponsoredbytheUKStoptheWarCoalition,which
wasattendedbyvocalsupportersofHamasincludingsecular
leftistsandreligiousMuslims(someofthemfundamentalist,some

not).ThesecularleftistswerefierceopponentsofIslamophobia,
thoughtheywerenotentirelyfreeofotherphobias.
ButthereisanotherreasonforthereluctancetocondemnIslamist
crimes,andthatisthegreateagernesstocondemnthecrimesof
theWest.Therootcauseofreligiouszealotryisnotreligion,many
leftistwritersinsist,butWesternimperialismandtheoppression
andpovertyithasbred.So,forexample,DavidSwanson,firston
theWarIsACrimewebsiteandthenontheTikkunwebsite(witha
nervousbutonlypartialdisclaimerfromtheeditor),asksWhatto
doaboutISIS?andanswers:StartbyrecognizingwhereISIS
camefrom.TheU.S.anditsjuniorpartnersdestroyedIraq...10
Thatsright;therewouldbenoISISinIraqwithouttheU.S.
invasionof2003,althoughifSaddamhadbeenoverthrownfrom
within,thesamereligiouswarsmightwellhavestarted.ForISIS
doesntcomefromtheU.S.invasion;itisaproductofthe
worldwidereligiousrevival,andtherearemanyotherexamplesof
revivalistmilitancy.Swansonmightofferasimilarexplanationfor
allofthem,buttheexplanationlosesplausibilityastheinstances
multiply.
Thelefthasalwayshaddifficultyrecognizingthepowerof
religion.Arentallreligionstheideologicaltoolsoftheruling
class?Andarentallmillenialistandmessianicuprisingsthe
ideologicallydistortedresponseofsubalterngroupstomaterial
oppression?Religiouszealotryisasuperstructuralphenomenon
andcanonlybeexplainedbyreferencetotheeconomicbase.
Theseancientconvictionsareparticularlyobfuscatingtoday.
ParvezAhmed,aFloridaprofessorwhoisfullycognizantofthe
scourgeofBokoHaram,providesatypicalexampleinarecent
blog.Hearguesthatmuchoftheviolence[committed]inthe
nameofIslamislessmotivatedbyfaithandmoresobypoverty
anddesperation.11Similarly,KathleenCavanaughfromthe
NationalUniversityofIreland,writingontheDissentwebsite,
insiststhattheviolentandoppressiveactions[ofISIS]havelittle

todowithreligionperse,butratherareunderpinnedby
materialinterests.12Butisthisright?Whydontpoverty,
desperation,andmaterialinterestsproducealeftistratherthanan
Islamistmobilization?Infact,thereligiousrevival,notonly
amongMuslimsbutaroundtheworld,amongJewsandChristians,
HindusandBuddhists,hasenlistedsupportersfromallsocial
classes,andthedrivingmotiveofrevivalistactivityseems,
incredibly,tobereligiousfaith(FawazGergessJourneyofthe
Jihadist:InsideMuslimMilitancyprovidesampleevidenceof
religionspower).13
TherearealsopeopleontheleftwhobelievethatIslamistzealotry
isnotonlyproducedbyWesternimperialismbutisaformof
resistancetoit.Whatevergroupsitactuallyattracts,itis
fundamentallyanideologyoftheoppressedaversion,thougha
littlestrange,ofleftpolitics.Thinkoftheleftistwriterswho
describedtheSunniandShiitemilitiasfightingagainsttheU.S.
occupationofIraqastheresistancedeliberatelyinvokingthe
FrenchResistancetotheNazisintheSecondWorldWar.But
nothingabouttheIslamistmilitiaswasleftistexceptforthefact
thattheywerefightingagainstAmericans.Thisexamplewas
featuredbyFredHallidayina2007articleinDissentcalledThe
JihadismofFools.14Thatsagoodtag,butitdidntstick,aswe
canseefromSlavojieksclaimthefollowingyearthatIslamic
radicalismistherageofthevictimsofcapitalistglobalization.I
havetoacknowledgethatiekisnotafraidtobecalled
Islamophobic;headvocatesarespectful,butforthatreasonno
lessruthlesscritiqueofIslamandofallotherreligions.15Buthe
wontgetthecritiquerightsolongashethinksthattheobjectof
Islamistrageisthesameastheobjectofhisownrage.
JudithButlermakesasimilarmistakewhensheinsiststhat
understandingHamas[and]Hezbollahassocialmovementsthat
areprogressive,thatareontheleft,thatarepartofagloballeft,is
extremelyimportant.16Shesaidthatin2006andthenrepeatedit

withinterestingamendmentsin2012:HamasandHezbollah
belongtothegloballeftbecausetheyareantiimperialist,but
shedoesntsupporteveryorganizationonthegloballeft,andshe
specificallydoesntendorsetheuseofviolencebythosetwo.Iam
gratefulforthatlastamendment,buttheleftidentificationwasas
wrongin2012asitwasin2006usefullywrong,perhaps,sinceit
helpsexplainwhysomanyleftistssupportorwontactively
opposegroupslikeHamasandHezbollah.Theonlythingthat
makestheseorganizationsleftististhattheyarefightingagainst
Israel,whichstandsinhereforimperialAmerica.
Thepostmodernistshaventdoneanybetterthantheanti
imperialistswithregardtoIslamistzealotry.RememberMichel
FoucaultsapologyforthebrutalityoftheIranianrevolution:Iran
doesnthavethesameregimeoftruthasours.17Thisversionof
culturalrelativismhasbecomeacommonplace,aswecanseein
thecaseofAzarNafisi,theauthorofReadingLolitainTehran,a
lovelyaccountofculturalsubversioninanIslamiststate.Inexile
intheUnitedStates,NafisitoldaninterviewerinBoston:Ivery
muchresentitintheWestwhenpeoplefrommaybewithallthe
goodintentionsorfromaprogressivepointofviewkeeptelling
me,Itstheirculture....Itslikesaying,thecultureof
Massachusettsisburningwitches....Thereareaspectsofculture
whicharereallyreprehensible....Weshouldntacceptthem.18
Thosewellintentionedandprogressivepeoplewereprobably
advocatesofaradicalmulticulturalism,whichmightwellallowthe
burningofwitchessolongasitdidnthappeninMassachusetts.
ThestrongestpostmoderndefenseofIslamicradicalismcomes
fromMichaelHardtandAntonioNegri,whoarguethatIslamism
isitselfapostmodernproject:Thepostmodernityof
fundamentalismhastoberecognizedprimarilyinitsrefusalof
modernityasaweaponofEuroAmericanhegemonyandinthis
regardIslamicfundamentalismisindeedtheparadigmaticcase.
Andagain:InsofarastheIranianrevolutionwasapowerful

rejectionoftheworldmarket,wemightthinkofitasthefirst
postmodernrevolution.19Isitcruelofmetopointouthoweager
theIraniansarethesedaystorejointheworldmarket?
AlltheseleftresponsestoIslamistzealotsidentification,support,
sympathy,apology,tolerance,andavoidancelookverystrangeif
weconsidertheactualcontentoftheirideology.Jihadiopposition
totheWestshouldprovokeseriousworryontheleftbeforeany
otherresponse.BokoHarambeganwithanattackonWestern
styleschools,andotherIslamistgroupshaveundertakensimilar
attacks,especiallyonschoolsforgirls.Valuesthatthezealots
denounceasWesternareverymuchincontentionhere:
individualliberty,democracy,genderequality,andreligious
pluralism.Nodoubt,Westernersdontalwaysliveinaccordance
withthesevaluesandoftenfailtodefendthemwhentheyneed
defense,butthesearevaluestowhichWesternhypocrisypays
tributeandwhichsomeofusWesternersstruggletouphold.In
recentyears,RussiaandChinahavesometimesclaimedtooppose
bothWesternimperialismandWesternvalues,butthesetwo
countrieslookmorelikerivalimperialpowersthanopponentsof
imperialism.Whiletheirleadersoccasionallyresorttovalue
arguments(aswhenChineserulersendorsetheConfucianidealof
harmony),theydontseemstronglycommittedtothevaluesthey
proclaim.ButtheIslamistsaredefinitelycommitted.Theyhave
theirownlargeambitions,butthesearehighlyidealisticambitions,
whichleavelittleroomformaterialinterests.Theirzealotryisa
valuezealotry,theologicallydriven,anditisarealchallengeto
Westernvalues.
Butindividualliberty,democracy,genderequality,andreligious
pluralismarentreallyWesternvalues;theyareuniversalvalues
thatfirstappearedinstrong,modernversionsinWesternEurope
andtheAmericas.Thesearethevaluesthatprettymuchdefinethe
left,whichalsofirstappearedinitsstrong,modernversionin
WesternEuropeandtheAmericas.Theleftisaneighteenth

centuryinvention,aninventionofthesecularEnlightenment.
Therewere,ofcourse,peoplewhoheldpotentiallyleftistpositions
inallthemajorreligioustraditionspacifists,communitarians,
protoenvironmentalists,advocatesforthepoor,evenpeoplewho
believedinequalityor,better,whobelievedintheequalstanding
beforeGodofallbelievers(Ishouldprobablysay,ofallmale
believers).Butnothingliketheclassiclefteverexistedamong
Hindus,Jews,Buddhists,Muslims,orChristians.Andthevalues
oftheleftarethoseWesternvalues,takenveryseriously.Sothe
oppositiontothosevaluesisreallysomethingthattheleftshould
confrontandthestrongestoppositionrightnowcomesfrom
Islamistradicals.Andthisistheveryreasonthatmanyleftistsare
reluctanttoconfronttheIslamistradicals.
Whatwouldagenuinelyleftistmovementagainstoppressionand
povertylooklike?Firstofall,itwouldbeamovementofthe
oppressed,amobilizationofmenandwomen,previouslypassive,
inarticulate,andfrightened,nowabletospeakforthemselvesand
defendtheirhumanrights.Second,itsaimwouldbetheliberation
or,better,theselfemancipationofthosesamepeople.Andits
drivingforcewouldbeavision,nodoubtpartiallyshapedbythe
localculture,ofanewsocietywhosemembers,menandwomen
alike,wouldbemorefreeandmoreequalandwhosegovernment
wouldberesponsiveandaccountable.Thatsnotanunusual
descriptionofleftaspiration.Soitsamysterythatanyone
anywherecanseriouslybelievethatanyIslamistgroupbelongsto
theglobal,oranyother,left.
HowshouldtheleftrespondtothoseIslamistgroupsassuming,
asIbelieve,thatacriticalresponseisnecessary?Iamnotgoingto
considermilitaryresponseshere.Thereisaninternationalbrigade
ofIslamistzealotsfightinginIraqandSyria,butthereisnochance
ofrecruitinganinternationalbrigadeofleftistfighters,sothereis
nopointthinkingaboutwherewemightsendthem.Leftistswill

havetosupport(thoughmanywont)militaryeffortsspecifically
aimedatstoppingthemassacreofinfidelsandheretics.Afterthat,
Iammoreinclinedtoconsiderapolicyfocusedonthecontainment
ofIslamismratherthanawar(oraseriesofwars)todestroyit.
Thisisafeverthatwillhavetoburnitselfout.Butthereisadeep
difficultywiththisview:manypeoplewillsufferintheburning,
andleftistsignorethatsufferingatourmoralperil.Howtohelp
thosewhoaretargetedbyIslamistforcesisaquestionthatwewill
havetoaddressagainandagain.Butweshouldbeginwiththe
ideologicalwar.
Inthatwar,weneedfirsttodistinguishbetweenIslamistzealotry
andIslamitself.Idoubtthatwewillgetanycreditfordoingthat.
WriterslikePaulBermanandMeredithTaxhavemadethe
distinctionwithgreatcareineverythingtheyhavewrittenagainst
Islamism,andtheircriticshavemostlymanagednottonotice.No
oneelsescareislikelytobenoticed,butthedistinctionisstill
important.Weshouldinsistparticularlyonthedifferencebetween
thewritingsofzealotslikeHassanalBannaandSayyidQutbin
EgyptorMaulanaMaududiinIndiaandtheworkofthegreat
rationalistphilosophersoftheMuslimpastandtheliberal
reformersofmorerecenttimes.Weshoulddothisinexactlythe
samewayaswewoulddistinguishbetweenthepreachersand
sermonsoftheChristiancrusadesandScholastictheology.
WeshouldalsoengagecooperativelywithMuslim,andalsolapsed
Muslim,opponentsofzealotryandgivethemthesupportthey
askfor.Therearealotoftheseantizealots,andsomeofthem,like
AyaanHirsiAli,startedontheleftandthenmovedrightwardsin
partbecausetheyfoundsofewleftistfriends.PaulBermanhas
writtenawitheringcritiqueofthetreatmentofHirsiAlibyleading
liberal/leftintellectuals,20andKathaPollitt,writingintheNation,
wondered,courageously,whetherweleftistsandfeministsneed
tothinkabitmoreselfcriticallyabouthowtheAEI[American
EnterpriseInstitute,aneoconservativethinktank]...managedto

winoverthisboldandcomplexcrusaderforwomensrights.
WeneedntimitateHirsiAlisfierceanger,whichreachesfrom
IslamismtoIslamitselfandderivesfromexperiencesnoneofus
havehad.Butwewouldbenefitgreatlyfromastudyofher
trajectory,inwhichtheleftsfearofIslamophobiaplayedalarge
part.Thereisastrangeunwillingnessamongleftiststowelcome
atheistsemergingfromtheMuslimworldinthesamewaywe
wouldwelcomeatheistsemerging,say,fromtheChristianworld.
Second,wehavetoacknowledgethattheacademictheory(which
wasalsoalefttheory)thatpredictedtheinevitabletriumphof
scienceandsecularismisntrightatleast,itstimehorizonisnt
right.Leftistshavetofigureouthowtodefendthesecularstatein
thispostsecularageandhowtodefendequalityanddemocracy
againstreligiousargumentsforhierarchyandtheocracy.The
appealofreligiousdoctrineandpracticeisobvioustoday,andwe
needtounderstanditifwearetopersuadepeoplethatreligious
zealotryisfrighteninglyunappealing.
Third,weshouldrecognizethepowerofthezealotsandtheextent
oftheirpoliticalreach.Weshouldclearlynamethezealotsour
enemiesandcommitourselvestoanintellectualcampaignagainst
themthatis,acampaignindefenseofliberty,democracy,
equality,andpluralism.Iamnotarguingthatleftistsshouldjoin
thefamousclashofcivilizations.Allthegreatreligious
civilizationsarecapable,andprobablyequallycapable,of
producingviolentfanaticsandpeacelovingsaintsand
everythinginbetween.Soweshouldntthinkaboutthestruggle
withIslamistsincivilizationalbutratherinideologicalterms.
TherearemanydevoutMuslimswhosupporttheuniversalvalues
oftheWestandtheleft,andwhosearchinIslamictexts,justas
otherreligiousleftistssearchinHindu,Jewish,andChristiantexts,
foralternativesourcesandbuttressingsupportforthesevalues.
TheorganizationWomenLivingunderMuslimLaws(WLUML),
whichworksinmanyMuslimmajoritycountries,iseffectively

engagedinjustthissearch,withspecialregardtogenderequality.
Thesewomenareourfriends,andsomeofthemhaveshown
remarkablestrengthinwhatareoftenhostileenvironments;they
deservemoresupportthantheyhavegottenfromtodaysleftists.
ConsiderthefollowingstatementofWLUMLatthe2005World
SocialForuminPortoAlegre:
Fundamentalistterrorisbynomeansatoolofthepooragainstthe
rich,oftheThirdWorldagainsttheWest,ofpeopleagainst
capitalism.Itisnotalegitimateresponsethatcanbesupportedby
theprogressiveforcesoftheworld.Itsmaintargetistheinternal
democraticoppositionto[its]theocraticproject...ofcontrolling
allaspectsofsocietyinthenameofreligion...When
fundamentalistscometopower,theysilencepeople;they
physicallyeliminatedissidentsandtheylockwomenintheir
place,which,asweknowfromexperience,endsupbeingastrait
jacket.21
ThissoundslikeanappealagainstHallidaysjihadismoffools,
andIwouldbetthattherewerefoolishpeopleattheWorldSocial
ForumwhoaccusedWLUMLofIslamophobia.Thesecularleft
respondswithappropriatehostilitytosomeformsofreligious
extremism,butitsresponsetoIslamistextremismhasbeenweak.
Letmeaskagainandforthelasttime:whyisthisso?Theterrible
fearofIslamophobiaisthefirstreason,andIhavesuggesteda
pairedsetofadditional,related,reasons:becauseIslamistsoppose
theWest,andbecausewehavetorespectthewaytheydothings
overthere(nomatterwhattheydo).Thereareprobablyother
reasons.Thisquestionshouldbeofcriticalinteresttoleftists
wherevertheylive,butithasntreceivedanythinglikethe
attentionitdeserves.AnumberofsecularfeministsintheUnited
StatesandtheUKhavemobilizedagainstreligiouslymotivated
misogynyincludingtheIslamistsirrationalfearofwomen:see,
forexample,thewebsiteoftheCenterforSecularSpace.The
ItalianleftmagazineandwebsiteResethasalsobeenintelligent,

informative,andcriticalinitsdiscussionsoftheMuslimworld.
Herearevoicesthattherestoftheleftshouldlistentoandjoin.
AsIvealreadyacknowledged,thereisnochancethatan
internationalbrigadeofleftistfighterswilljoinanyoftodays
militarybattles.Myfriendsandneighborsarenotreadytoenlist;
manyofthemwontacknowledgethedangersposedbyIslamist
zealotry.Buttherearedangersandthesecularleftneedsdefenders.
SohereIam,awriter,notafighter,andthemosthelpfulthingI
candoistojointheideologicalwars.Icanclaimcomradesin
manynations,butnotyetanywherenearenoughofthem.Thereis
aninternationalbrigadeofleftintellectualsstillwaitingtotake
shape.
MichaelWalzeriseditoremeritusatDissent.
ToreadaresponsebyAndrewF.March,alongwithMichael
Walzersreply,clickhere.

1.Cohen,WhatsLeft:HowLiberalsLostTheirWay(London:FourthEstate,
2007),361.
2.NationalReviewOnline,January2013.Ihaventseenthesefiguresonaleftist
website.
3.TheTelegraph(website),August2007.
4.EuroIslamInfo,April2010.
5.Bruckner,TheTyrannyofGuilt:AnEssayonWesternMasochism(Princeton:
PrincetonUniversityPress,2010),48.
6.Said,Orientalism(NewYork:Pantheon,1978),322,318.
7.Said,TheQuestionofPalestine(NewYork:VintageBooks,1980),184.
8.HuffingtonPost,May2014.
9.Kumar,IslamophobiaandthePoliticsofEmpire(Chicago:HaymarketBooks,
2012).
10.Tikkun

website,September,2014.
11.HuffingtonPost,July,2014.
12.Dissentblog,September,2014
13.FawazGergessJourneyoftheJihadist:InsideMuslimMilitancy
(Orlando:Harcourt,2006)providesampleevidenceofreligionspower.
14.Dissent,Winter,2007.
15.Zizek,Violence:SixSidewaysReflections(NewYork:Picador,2008),187,

139.
16.Mondoweiss,August2012.
17.QuotedinJanetAfaryandKevinB.Anderson,FoucaultandtheIranian
Revolution:GenderandtheSeductionsofIslamism(Chicago:Universityof
ChicagoPress,2005),125.
18.identitytheory.com,February2004;IthankNickCohenforthisreference.
19.HardtandNegri,Empire(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,2000),
149.
20.Berman,FlightoftheIntellectuals(NewYork:MelvilleHouse,2010),chapter
8.
21.QuotedinMeredithTax,DoubleBind:TheMuslimRight,theAngloAmerican
Left,andUniversalHumanRights(NewYork:CenterforSecularSpace,2012),
82.