Islamism, Political Islam, and the Need for Critique

Islamism, Political Islam, and the Need for Critique

Paul Cliteur

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This essay is about Islamism (or political Islam) as a challenge for contemporary liberal democracies. Paul Cliteur portrays Islamism as an ideology that favors one specific religion as supreme, which aspires to achieve hegemony over all other ways of life. At the present moment, Islamism is a threat to free speech because it is a source of inspiration for jihadist terrorism. The author makes a plea for distinguishing a. the religion of Islam, b. Muslims as a group, and c. the political ideology of Islamism. European nation-states should analyze the features of Islamism to combat it successfully. The author also discusses some recent case law by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which criminalizes the critics of Islamism instead of defending their free speech (and, frankly, moral obligation) in criticizing radical religion (E.S. v. Austria, 2018).
Pages:64
Published:2022
ISBN:978-1-63902-934-1
Language:English
Category:Religion, Social Science

Who are you, in a few lines?

I am Paul Cliteur, born in Amsterdam in 1955, the Netherlands. I have been teaching jurisprudence and philosophy of law at the University of Leiden for almost 40 years now.

A perfect day starts with? And ends with?

Coffee, reading. Not the newspapers but books. And it ends with the same. (Well, not entirely, but that’s a private question).

At what point do you think someone should call themselves a writer?

Producing words on paper. Ideally in the form of books, articles, but I also like to contribute to newspapers and social media.’

How do you use social media as an author?

I try to “seduce” people on social media to read my books. I have no idea if it works, but depending on your expectations, I hope for modest success.

Your latest book is "Islamism, Political Islam, and the Need for Critique". What is the message you would like to convey to readers?

That Islamism or political Islam is an important ideology we have to cope with. We should not be deterred from thinking and writing about this topic out of a false reference for Muslims as a group or Islam as a religion. We should look the tiger in the eye, meaning that there are religious terrorists who derive their inspiration from religion. Therefore, we should analyze Islamism or political Islam. Being effective in countering depends on thorough analysis.

What perspectives or beliefs have you challenged with this work?

First of all, Islamism. I have also challenged naivety, political correctness, moral and intellectual hypocrisy.

Any last thoughts for your readers?

Reader, I love you. Readers, we are a minority in this world, but let’s defend the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion (art. 18 UDHR).

How was the publishing experience like? Describe Generis Publishing in a few words.

Wonderful. Speedy, professional, great personal contact.