Fundamentalism

This article argues that “fundamentalism” is best understood not as a pejorative label for religious extremism, particularly Islam, but as a specific sociological and political reaction to intense cultural collision. Originating as a self-description among early 20th-century American Protestants, fundamentalism arises when a culture, feeling threatened by an aggressive, often Western, universalism, constructs a rigid, exclusive identity by selectively reviving tradition. This reaction is modern, led by educated elites, and seeks political empowerment, not a return to the past. The article, drawing on historical examples from Jewish Zealots to American nativists, demonstrates that fundamentalism is a recurring pattern in conflicts between dominant and subordinated cultures, amplified by globalization. It critiques the Western tendency to stereotype this dynamic as a “clash of civilizations,” arguing this view is inaccurate and exacerbates conflicts. The proper response is not a crusade but a balanced critique of Western hegemony alongside an acknowledgment of mutual cultural influences.