The impact of the American war on terror on Malaysian Islam

This essay provides an introductory discussion of the impact of the American war on terrorism on Malaysia, a Muslim country with a long record of parliamentary democracy and one of the most developed in the Muslim world. With a discussion of a possible decades-long US military and political engageme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Main Author: Bakar, Osman 1946- (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge 2005
In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Further subjects:B terrorism / measures against terrorism
B Islam
B USA / United States of America
B Reconstruction / Konfliktfolgen / Kriegsfolgen
B Terrorismusbekämpfung / Terrorism
B Malaysia
B USA / United States of America / Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
B consequences of conflict / consequences of war / post-conflict reconstruction
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
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Summary:This essay provides an introductory discussion of the impact of the American war on terrorism on Malaysia, a Muslim country with a long record of parliamentary democracy and one of the most developed in the Muslim world. With a discussion of a possible decades-long US military and political engagement with the Muslim world as a background, the essay presents a detailed account of the impact of the US wars in Afghanistan, the Philippines and Iraq on Malaysian national politics, particularly on its political Islam. It is argued that the war on terrorism has benefited Mahathir Mohamad, helping to reverse his declining political fortunes following his sacking of Anwar Ibrahim as his deputy, which influenced his retirement from politics. The essay explains the reasons, external and domestic, for Malaysia's participation in the global war on terrorism and the extent of its involvement, including its leadership role in anti-terrorism in the Muslim world. It also discusses the views of Mahathir and Anwar on the roots of Muslim terrorism and what it will take to overcome this problem. Both believe the resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is crucial to the defeat of terrorism in the Muslim world. The essay concludes with an examination of the possibility of Malaysia entering a new phase in its war on terrorism as Abdullah Badawi, Mahathir's successor, and Anwar appear to have convergent views on political Islam and on the importance of democracy as a tool to fight terrorism.
ISSN:0959-6410
Contains:In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/09596410500059599