Jihad of the wretched: Examining Islamic militancy through the thought of Frantz Fanon

This thesis aims to investigate how the theories of Frantz Fanon can be used to better understand contemporary Islamic militancy. Fanon is arguably one of the most important thinkers in the 20th century, particularly because of his influential ideas regarding colonialism. Recent trends studies have pushed scholars not to limit Fanon to particular disciplines, but to appreciate him as a philosopher and thinker. In that way, his ideas can resonate beyond previously fixed paradigms and into contemporary contexts. At the same time, rhetoric on the topic of Islamic militancy has often failed to grasp the manner in which the militant views himself and interprets his opposition to the West. Hence, Fanon can be used to help unlock the complexities of this militancy and helps us to better address it.;The method employed in this examination is primarily textual and began with an exploration of the four seminal texts attributed to Frantz Fanon: Wretched of the Earth, Black Skins/White Masks, Towards an African Revolution and Dying Colonialism. In particular, these texts were mined for Fanon's ideas regarding three main areas: the mind of the colonizer, the condition of the colonized and the discourse on violence. Subsequent to this, the statements of various Islamic militant groups were examined to see where there might be parallels and divergences. Finally, this information was synthesized and proposals were made on how to proceed forward.;The results showed significant similarities between the rhetoric of Islamic militancy and the theoretical framework that Fanon creates. Similar grievances over usurpation of land and a threat to traditional patterns emerge in both contexts. Fanon's study of violence contains a depth that is difficult to find in Islamic militant thought, but his observations are illustrated by their behavior and rhetoric. There are also areas where Islamic militancy diverges from Fanon, particularly to the extent that religion shapes their worldview.;The primary conclusion of this study is that Fanon's insights in the colonial context are useful tools with which to get at the core of Islamic militancy because its rhetoric articulates a dimension of anti-colonial response found in Fanon's writings.