Yuri Mikhailov, Veniamin Popov: Geopolitics and Islam
Today, of course, there is little in the world without Americans. And we must give them their due - they skillfully defend their national interests. But, in order to open the true springs of the current cataclysms, it is necessary to take into account the events of not only recent years, but to look much wider historical period.
The United States learned well that in the Middle East, the entire twentieth century passed under the banner of an Islamic intellectual revival. But they felt it most clearly in connection with the Islamic revolution in Iran, 1979, and later - at the dawn of the new millennium, in turmoil caused by the tragic events of 11, September 2001.
After centuries of stagnation, Islamic thinkers of the end of 19 - the beginning of 20 of the 20th century, from Islamic reformers, enlighteners and fighters against colonialism, Said Jamal ad-Din al-Afghani, Abd ar-Rahman al-Kawakibi, Said Ahmad-Khan, Muhammad Abdo and Rashid Reeds and representatives of the Tatar movement of renewal (Jadidism) marked the beginning of an intellectual revival. They set themselves the task of understanding the role of Muslims in the future world and, above all, the social essence of Islamic doctrine, to designate the place of the state in the development and modernization of modern society. At the same time, the idea that Islam should stand in the vanguard of human development passed through the ideas of these reformers, and the Muslim state was called upon to ensure the well-being of not only its faithful citizens, but of all the Gentiles, which was the most important feature of the Caliphate during its heyday.
These ideas were most clearly embodied in the mid-twentieth century in the teachings of Ali Shariati, who made a significant contribution to the development of the social doctrine of Islam. The strict system of the Shiite hierarchy helped to spread the views of the Shariah among the Iranian clergy.
The result was the 1979 Islamic Revolution of the Year, led by the charismatic leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. If in the past it was a backward semi-colonial state, then after more than three decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran has become a leading regional power, demonstrating high rates of intellectual growth (for example, in 2013, Iran has risen to 17 place in the world scientific rating, and The development of science has bypassed virtually all major countries, including China, the growth of spending on research by the government of the country is scheduled to increase to the 2029 year from the current 1% to 4% of GDP, to the 2019 year, the Iranians gathered vit man into space aboard its own rocket). All this shows the real possibilities of true political Islam.
The example of Iran, as well as the outlined prospect that the total wealth and potential of the countries of the Near and Middle East might suddenly become in demand by them for their own development, did not frighten the Americans in earnest.
The aging and weakening West has felt a rival in the resurgent Islamic East. Shiite Islam in fact showed powerful mobilization abilities and the ability to defend their own interests (after all, Shiites only 15% of 1,6 billion Muslims of the planet). If the Sunni project is able to demonstrate success, then, according to American analysts, the consequences of such a phenomenon will be a serious problem for the United States. It is not by chance that many American political scientists have openly started talking about the fact that the more internecine wars and feuds will shock the countries of Islam, the easier it will be for the United States to maintain its dominant positions. This naturally implies the main task of the United States at this stage - to split the Islamic and Arab world as far as possible, to contribute to the emergence of new hot spots of constant tension by any available means, up to and including provocations related to weapons mass destruction. As a result - the desire to create obedient regimes, regardless of whether they are religious or secular, republic or monarchy. Americans reason simply: if the Middle East is left alone for a decade, this will result in the emergence of a dangerous and practically uncontrollable global player who can in his own way manage existing energy resources and withdraw all of his assets from Western banks and depositories, which will lead to unprecedented shocks and crises of the western economy. In order to prevent this in any way, regional interstate and intrastate conflicts are provoked every now and then, and time-affected mines are systematically laid under the region. The initiators of these actions do not shun any means in fomenting inter-ethnic, interethnic, inter-religious crises and direct military interventions. In general, Americans are well aware of what they are doing and why.
An analysis of the reports of the Western press in recent weeks shows that the example of the unsuccessful political project of Sunni Islam is strongly promoted by the example of the unsuccessful attempt of the Muslim Brotherhood to govern the state. The idea of the insuperability of the confrontation between the Sunnis and the Shiites, which, they say, has only one real prospect - the increase of tension, passing into the phase of mutual extermination, is persistently imposed. From time to time, the voices of those for whom Shiites are not just non-Muslims, but notorious heretics, immoral sectarians and complete fools who do not deserve the right to life, as if accidentally erupt into the world information space.
A purposeful campaign is being carried out to marginalize Islam, asserting that Islam is not able to develop its own positive program, that Islamic teaching is always violence, blood, vandalism and the destruction of traditional society. Such propaganda is quite skillfully conducted both at the level of academic research and in the media.
The current geopolitical reality is such that the decrepitude of Western civilization forces its elite to look for more and more new sources of "rejuvenation." The United States is concerned not so much about rescuing its allies in the context of the unfolding global economic and civilizational crisis, as about ensuring its own survival and maintaining its leading position, even at the expense of Europe. Hence the desire to draw Europeans into conflicts in the Middle East, and at the same time ensure the security of their own territory.
No matter what the officials in Washington say, the actions of the United States show that they essentially contribute to the growth of Islamic radicalism, which they use as a proven and reliable tool to undermine the positions of all possible competitors. With the actual indulgence of Americans, hotbeds of extremist terrorist activity are created in Syria, Iraq, Libya and a number of other states, and all kinds of discord are gradually incited. The calculation is being made that the internecine struggle will acquire an extremely protracted character, depleting and bleeding the region, extremely weakening potential rivals and competitors.
Washington apparently believes that the military, economic power and territorial position of the United States will allow them to remain above the clash and maintain a decisive role in international politics.
In fact, building such “search projects” is an unsafe business, because, as the episode with the Tsarnaev brothers and the trial of Major Hassan Nydahl show, such a policy, with all its apparent accuracy, will eventually boomerang the United States. In addition, internal “fighters against the regime” may appear within the system, and we are already witnessing the first beginnings of this phenomenon - using the actions of Private Bradley Manning and NSA officer Edward Snowden as an example.
The events unfolding in the Islamic world cannot pass without a trace for our country, especially as there are about 20 million Muslims among Russians. It must be taken into account that the defining feature of the Muslim religion is Islamic solidarity, when it is impossible to draw a line between domestic and foreign Islam. Islam is not just the cultural past of our peoples. A Muslim, following the Qur'an, should confirm his faith not only in mosques, but in everyday practice. The way of life of the faithful is religiously motivated. Since the social doctrine of today's Islam is practically not developed, believers, willy-nilly, are pushed to what is available. And there are only the foundations of medieval society, quite successful for its time. Many of the norms of the Islamic Middle Ages do not simply contradict the realities of the 21st century, but generate tensions in society. And the problem here is not at all in religion, but in the absence of a creative, constructive approach to understanding what the view of the Prophet’s teaching should be from the standpoint of modernity.
The absence of real shifts in the creative development of the social teachings of Islam, and in some cases even purposeful inhibition of these processes — even if it is said that this is done for the good of society — actually clears the way for the new radical groups. There is a vicious circle. It comes to the fact that certain representatives of Muslim youth perceive, as a guide to action, the installation of conservative ulamas that the indicated contradiction between the medieval system of values and the challenges of modernity can be lifted only by compulsory means, not excluding violence and terror against stubborn "infidels."
Many Russian political analysts believe that the blasts of radicalism in the Middle East will be echoed in our internal life, and even directly cause detonation.
Today, the issue of creating a Russian school of Islamic theology and law, which could absorb the best traditions of Dagestan and Tatar Islamic intellectuals, is acutely on the agenda. We cannot depend on the interpretation of certain events dictated by foreign Muslim jurists to blindly accept the judgments of foreign theologians, who sometimes act in the interests of their countries or certain religious groups. Russia should have its own theological school, which will not only ensure the sovereignty of the Russian spiritual space, but which Muslims around the world will listen to.
In the current geopolitical configuration, the role of Russia is significantly increasing, while the tension between the West and Islam has both increased and will increase. Even today in the Islamic world there is an increasing demand for the Russian presence. In this regard, the recent arrival in Moscow of the head of Saudi intelligence, Prince Bandera, is remarkable. A few days ago, one of the central Egyptian publications published an article entitled “Cairo is waiting for Putin,” which says that “Russia's growing role and influence is holding back American hegemony over the Arab world.”
In the current conditions, we should more actively turn to the Islamic world, debunking Western projects that are destructive for all mankind, and which manipulate countries and peoples, information and public consciousness. Unlike the West, Russia is not only not interested in splitting or redrawing the Islamic world, but is pursuing a consistent and firm line to maintain its unity and integrity.
As is known, Orthodoxy and Islam historically have always acted together, serving as a pillar of Russian statehood. Russia is not interested in any bias - neither towards the West, nor towards the East. We want stability and prosperity - both in the West and in the East, and not the well-being of one at the expense of the other. We do not need a "housemate who has a fire in the apartment."
In today's alarming situation, Russia may appeal to the West: "Stop splitting the Islamic world!", And the Islamic world - with the Koran call and edification of the Prophet Muhammad: "Do not be enemies to each other!"
Russian politics has always been and will be distinguished by concern for security and social justice.
Yury Anatolyevich Mikhailov - chief editor of the Scientific-publishing center "Ladomir"
Veniamin Viktorovich Popov - Director of the Center for Partnership of Civilizations of MGIMO (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation V.V. Popov
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