A-Infos (en) Britain, Aanarchist journal Direct Action #40 - comment - Bush, Bin Laden and the clash of civilisations myth

At a time when the subject of religion is perhaps more contentious than ever, 
with various figureheads predicting an escalating 'clash of civilisations' 
between the Islamic and Western worlds , it seems apt to comment on the overtly 
political role religion plays in fomenting conflict and maintaining reactionary 
social/economic conditions. -- Religion: an anarcho-syndicalist view -- 
Anarchists and libertarian socialists have consistently argued that most 
religions are anachronistic: Reactionary ideologies which have been carefully 
manipulated throughout history to sanctify and legitimise oppressive power 
relationships, destroy freedom of thought and provide a pretext for the 
persecution, domination and demonisation of non-believers and infidels.

     "Mohammed is the apostle of Allah. Those who follow him are merciful to one 
another but ruthless to non-believers." The Koran, Sura 48:29

     "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the 
flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ." 
The Bible, Ephesians 6:5

     "And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death, 
and all the congregation shall surely stone him" The Bible, Leviticus 24:16

Before science was able to provide logical explanations for the origin of 
humankind, nature and the universe, religion and superstition filled this void. 
Moreover, religious beliefs are clearly linked to the early development of the 
state and social classes, with a small elite claiming their divine right to rule 
over others. The ancient Egyptians are credited with being the first to develop 
the notion of the afterlife, casting the mortal world as a proving ground for 
the great hereafter. The idea that followers should obey god's will, and accept 
their subservient position in the hope that they will be rewarded by a state of 
bliss when they die, remains common to both Christianity and Islam. It serves to 
legitimise the exploitation of the masses regardless of culture or country, and 
gives apparent meaning to their suffering.

Further, religious ideas have been (and still are) used to subjugate women and 
persecute dissenters, gays, and others by virtue of their perceived 
'difference'. Religion, from the time of the Crusades has been realised as a 
pretext for imperialism. Significantly, both early Christians and Muslims saw 
fit to enslave people of the African continent.

Religion hasn't had it all its own way however. As civilisation developed, 
science and philosophy increasingly challenged its legitimacy, repressive 
morality and inherent contradictions.

Machiavelli (1469-1527) was the first to declare war on the dictatorship of the 
clergy stating that 'the church has appropriated god for its own means'. Marx 
later famously described religion as 'the opiate of the masses', whilst Bakunin, 
foretold Nietzche, declaring that 'if God existed, it would be necessary to 
destroy him'.

Challenges to dogmas have prompted some degree of liberalisation within 
established religious practices. (It is conceded that there are, unquestionably, 
ideas contained within most religions which promote basic humanist values, but 
these are certainly not exclusive to the faiths themselves).

The passage of time has also witnessed an increasing separation between the 
church and state, largely as a consequence of shifting opinion. Religion no 
longer carries the influence it once did, and other forms of social control such 
as the mass media, education and systems of law enforcement now contrive to 
maintain the status quo on behalf of the ruling classes.

Whilst most anarchists and libertarians remain hostile to established religion 
and its institutions for the reasons identified, most also recognise that an 
individual's choice to hold spiritual beliefs, so long as this does not entail 
infringement of another's liberty, is basically up to them.

One thing which unites George Bush and Osama Bin Laden, apart from their 
cosseted, privileged backgrounds, are their fundamentalist religious beliefs and 
apparent conviction that god is on their side.

Significant global events such as the invasion of Iraq, occupation of 
Afghanistan, 9/11, 7/7 and other terrorist atrocities, have led some 
commentators to cite an impending 'clash of civilisations' between Islam and the 
West. It should be of no surprise however, that the very forces who paint these 
inflammatory scenarios and portray simplistic, stereotypical images of cultures 
other than their own, have very clear motives for doing so.

The idea of the clash of civilisations is not a new one, and has been used by 
competing imperial powers to justify their practices abroad and prolong and 
deepen divisions between the oppressed classes of different countries.

The fact that the U.S. and British states, as well as invading and occupying 
Muslim states, have also chosen to arm and support Israel in suppressing the 
Palestinians, is portrayed by some followers of Islam as evidence of a 
conspiracy by the monolithic West to crush Islam. The conversion of some young 
Muslims to 'radical' Islamism is portrayed by some prominent moderates as 
regrettable but understandable against such a backdrop. But what is the reality 
of this alleged conspiracy against Islam?

Commentators such as Noam Chomsky have noted that although Saudi Arabia is a 
relatively fundamentalist Muslim state (with a dire human rights record), its 
ruling class is largely sustained and supported by US business interests. 
Needless to say, oil and its strategic position in the Middle East play a major 
part in serving this relationship.

Indonesia, another Islamic state whose notorious sweatshop wages are lower than 
China's, continues to maintain close relations with Western corporate interests, 
despite it's relatively recent invasion and genocide in East Timor.

Saddam Hussein remained an ally, and was supported by Western powers in his 
country's conflict with Iran, despite his regime's gassing of the Kurds. When he 
chose to 'annex' oil- rich Kuwait however, this was a step too far.

Even Bin Laden was supported by Western elites in the 1980s, when the CIA 
recruited him and his followers to fight the Russian forces occupying Afghanistan.

The reactionary totalitarian regime of the Taliban, distinguished by its 
particularly despicable treatment of women, was sent millions of U.S. aid 
dollars to promote stability and fight 'the war on drugs' as recently as 2001.

It should be clear that a common theme is developing here. So long as the 
economic hegemony and interests of the respective ruling classes are fulfilled, 
religious and cultural divisions become immaterial. Once this fails to be the 
case however, the enemy state is painted as rogue, terrorist or part of what 
George Bush described as 'the Axis of Evil'. Its people are invariably painted 
as being in need of liberation from their backward, tyrannical rulers. Then come 
the lies and slurs.

Attempts were made prior to the invasion of Iraq to link Saddam Hussein's regime 
to the events of 9/11, although more liberal voices exposed this for the obvious 
mistruth that it was. Plainly the decision of the US and UK governments to 
invade Iraq (despite a further catalogue of misrepresentations about weapons of 
mass destruction) was expedited purely and simply because the world economy 
relies heavily on the one commodity Iraq has in abundance: oil.

The myth of the 'clash of civilisations' does not prevent some political and 
religious groups from playing on fears for their own ends. The BNP, predictably, 
promotes Islamophobia and racism, supported by sections of the right wing press. 
Sections of the left however remain culpable in their failure to expose and 
criticise reactionary elements within Islam. The Socialist Workers' Party's 
decision to align itself with the Muslim Council of Britain should be seen for 
what it is: a cynical piece of political opportunism.
<image>
Members of the Yugoslav Catholic Church,
who assisted the Nazis and the Holocaust

The New Right in the US, with its links to Christian Fundamentalism, is at the 
forefront of the 'clash of civilisations' lobby, as are some figureheads in the 
Islamic world (not least Bin Laden himself). Worryingly, both appear to be bent 
on inculcating their respective followers with an ideology of 'destroy or be 
destroyed', their eventual goal being world domination. (Mmmm, I think we've 
heard that somewhere before….).

Terrorists and governments are one and the same. Through their murderous, 
repressive ways, both display their contempt for innocent people and propagate 
false truths to justify their obscene actions. Neither can have any claim to act 
out of any sense of love, respect or compassion for others. All states are 
terrorist. All terrorists are states in waiting. As Hassan Butt, a former member 
of radical Islamic group, Al Muhajiroun, said recently, "what drove me and many 
of my peers to plot acts of extreme terror in Britain, our homeland and abroad, 
was a sense that we were fighting for the creation of a revolutionary state that 
would eventually bring Islamic justice to the world".

Ordinary people, aside from the lies and simplistic stereotypes, have far more 
in common than they are ever led to believe by the mullahs, politicians and 
priests who thrive on an ethos of divide and rule. In truth, many in the West 
oppose the occupation of Iraq and Palestine. Across the Muslim and western 
world, totalitarian regimes and corporate interests are facing widespread 
resistance from those who have had enough. The vast majority of us simply want 
to live in peace, free from the burden of social and economic injustice and the 
threat of war.

Workers of the Western and Islamic world are all oppressed by the totality of 
capitalism: governments, corporations and religion. The occupying forces and 
sectarian bombings in Iraq and across the world will never bring about peace and 
stability, quite the opposite. Those who preach hatred and commit atrocities in 
the name of God, Allah and profit are the self-serving enemies of humanity.

The only power that can liberate us, and bring about lasting peace and social 
justice, is a working class united across cultural, racial and national 
boundaries against the forces that divide us.

No Gods, No Masters!!!
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