Islamic Fundamentalism

Term Paper # 58173

Ethnic Studies > Conflict
Ethnic Studies > Middle East
Hot Topics > Terror and 9/11

An overview of the causes of Islamic fundamentalism, with a focus on Egypt.

2,913 words () | 11 sources | MLA | 2005

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the reasons that motivate people to embrace fundamentalism, looks at what fundamentalist groups can offer to the people, and why they are so popular. It explores how the idea of religion is extremely important in motivating people and making them support a cause and how Islamic groups directly discuss the economic and social problems, which confront the Egyptian middle and lower classes.

From the Paper:

"Firstly, according to Vandenbroucke, the economic situation and the increasing division between the rich and the poor, is a very important reason for the growth of fundamentalism in Egypt (33). Furthermore, a study done by Saad El Din Ibrahim, a professor of sociology at the American University in Cairo, also showed that one answer to why fundamentalists attract people so strongly, is related to urbanization and economic conditions (19-20). Or, in other words, it is "a sort of complex reaction to a combination of factors: runaway inflation, conspicuous consumption, moral dissolution - all bred of the influx of oil revenues" (23)."