(Continued)
Before an audience of about 50 Middle East experts and members of the press, Dr. Esposito also provided a brief overview of the book's five main themes (demographics, compatibility of democracy and religion, radicalized Muslims, women's issues, and coexistence with the West). But considering the level of interest, at least in Washington, for terrorism-related topics, the authors chose to discuss poll findings from the chapter about the demographics and traits of radicalized Muslims. Before giving the floor to his colleague, Dr. Esposito added that in a radical environment, the best way to mobilize people is "to frame the debate in terms of religion."
Drawing from the breadth of the poll results, Ms. Mogahed, who is the executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, presented a profile of radicalized Muslims and explained how they differ from mainstream Muslims. Although conventional wisdom says religion is the primary driver of radicalism, the survey findings point to another factor. All over the Muslim world, majorities of respondents say religion is an important part of their life. Additionally, both moderate and radicalized Muslims say they feel disrespected by the West.
But Gallup's findings showed that the radicalized were actually more likely than moderates to favor democracy. Their fears also define them: Moderates are concerned about issues of crime and security, but the radicalized fear domination or occupation by the West. From the data and the verbatim responses, "you start building a model for what's going on," said Ms. Mogahed.
On the issue of religion as the driver of radicalism in the Muslim world, the poll findings don't appear to support this hypothesis. "While religion is the dominant social currency, it isn't the key differentiator between the two groups," says Ms. Mogahed. Rather, it's the sense of being threatened and controlled that culminates in sympathy for an extreme position. In short, it is politics and not piety that can lead people to become radicalized.
