Good Muslim, Bad Muslim - Exam Notes

Culture Talk

• Assumes every culture has a tangible essence that defines it and explains politics as a consequence of that essence.
• After 9/11, it qualified and explained "terrorism" as "Islamic."
• Divides the world between moderns (who make culture) and premoderns (mere conduits).
• Two contrasting narratives:
  • Premoderns lagging behind on the road to modernity (encourages philanthropy).
  • Premoderns as antimodern (productive of fear and preemptive action).
• Middle East has displaced Africa as the hard premodern core; Islam is seen as resistant to modernity.

Two Versions of Culture Talk

• Claims to interpret politics from culture, in the present and throughout history.
• Founding father is Bernard Lewis, who coined "a clash of civilizations."
• Huntington broadened Lewis's thesis to cover the entire world.
• Huntington's argument:
  -