Gender-based explosions : the nexus between Muslim masculinities, jihadist Islamism and terrorism / Maleeha Aslam.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Aslam, Maleeha, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Masculinity--Islamic countries.

Masculinity.

Masculinity--Religious aspects--Islam.

Masculinity--Pakistan.

Muslim men--Pakistan--Islāmābād.

Muslim men.

Terrorism--Religious aspects--Islam.

Terrorism.

Islam and politics.

Jihad.

Pakistan--Islāmābād.

Pakistan.

Islamic countries.

Physical Description:

xviii, 316 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : United Nations University Press, 2012.

Summary:

First colonized and now living under political oppression, experiencing peripatetic marginalization, feeling dejected, intimidated and humiliated, many Muslim men (in and outside Muslim countries) have no opportunities to prove themselves as "honourable" and/or practice "masculinity" in culturally-prescribed ways. Troubled and troublesome, many Muslim men use militant jihadist networks as outlets to achieve self-actualization and heroism. Terrorist networks, acting as surrogates to national liberation and anti authoritarian/occupation movements, complicate these dynamics further.

Maleeha Aslam argues that "gender" is a fundamental battleground on which Al Qaeda, the Taliban and their types have to be defeated. Issues of regressive radicalism, literalism, militancy and terrorism can only be solved through people-centred interventions. Therefore, relevant governments and civil society should promote an alternative culture of growth, self-expression and actualization for Muslim men. To achieve sustainable counterterrorism results, Aslam recommends underlining masculinities in Muslim contexts and expanding the scope of required interventions beyond those confined to Islam(ism), the opposing sects and ideological movements of which rarely agree. This book also includes empirical data from a pilot study conducted on Pakistani Muslim masculinities. Book jacket.

Contents:

Framing the global chaos: an overview

The global jihadist movement

Terrorism and counterterrorism: an overview of current strategies

Islam, masculinities and performance

Gender theory

Islamic masculinities

Muslim masculinities

Pakistani masculinities and vulnerable social groups in the age of terror: a pilot study of Muslim men in Islamabad, aged 18-40

Research setting: contextualizing the pilot study on Pakistani masculinities

Self-image, social expectations and pressures

Muslim masculinities in the age of terror

Muslim masculinities, militant-jihadist Islamism and suicide terrorism

Islamism, terrorism and "the vulnerable" in society

Analysis of the pilot study.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 280-304) and index.

ISBN:

9789280812084

9280812084

OCLC:

765485706