Institutionalizing extremism: Ideological warfare at the crossroads of Soviet revolution theory and Islamic feudalism

The surge of international terrorism witnessed near the end of the twentieth century is often attributed to a Western-provoked aberration of ideological themes within the Islamic fundamentalist community. But is this perception accurate, or is it based on an institutionalized tendency to apply overly self-critical political theories to understand complex religious ideologies? This thesis contributes to the conversation seeking a deeper understanding of how the rhetorical and operational structure of Jihadi-Salafi organizations, such as Daesh (ISIL) and al-Qaeda and its Associated Movements (AQAM) cultivate sympathy for their ideas, but more important, why their recruiting techniques are increasing in their effectiveness by captivating a receptive audience west of the Mediterranean. Identifying the source of Islamic feudalism's transcultural appeal exposes the ideological colonialism that fuels such recruiting campaigns. The anti-imperial Leninist doctrine of global revolution, propagated aggressively by the Soviet Union under various political auspices for seventy-three years, had a profound impact on the revolutionary spirit in the broader Middle East. The philosophical remnants of Soviet revolution theory have been normalized through a process of institutionalization, and now serve as fertile soil for the growth of fanatic ideas encouraging transnational anti-Western resistance. Furthermore, the ideological center-of-gravity of Jihadi-Salafism is not as twisted an abnormality as some contend, and is in fact rooted in a profound understanding of Islamic jurisprudence and historical precedent, thus legitimizing their movement and making its rhetoric harder to combat. Religious extremists have benefitted and will continue to benefit from the institutionalized aspects of Marxist-Leninism. Much of the Western world is still approaching these issues from a position rooted in ethnocentric false pretense. The manner in which the United States and its allies interpret this problem and educate their leaders employed to fight it will likely determine the global security posture of the next generation.