ISIS: the New Rock N’ Roll? On War, Sex, and Meaning

“Everything is about sex, except sex. Sex is about power.”

I thought about that famous quote of Oscar Wilde’s when I came across an interesting theory of why many young British Muslims are leaving their developed world homes to join up with ISIS in the quest to establish a Caliphate.

A Guardian article describes a recently aired television documentary, in which Abu Muntasir, the “Godfather” of the British Islamic militant movement, took responsibility for radicalisation of young British Muslims and for inspiring dozens of them to join foreign fights on behalf of militant Islam. But Muntasir has had a change of heart and is now working for peace. In the documentary) (which I haven’t seen yet), Muntasir wept, and he expressed his regret for his role in radicalization of British Muslims as well as his concern for the young men leaving their homes to fight for ISIS. The author explains,

Muntasir, founder and chief executive of Jimas, said it was time for people who supported Islamic extremism to ask why their sons and daughters were being blown up for false ideals in “unwinnable wars”. Hate, he said, is not what Islam or the prophet taught.

Also interviewed was Alyas Karmani, one of Muntasir’s followers, who was also a former radical, but now works for peace as an imam. He had some insight into the psychology that draws young people into fighting for ISIS:

It’s the same attraction then as it is for young people now. A range of factors that is the same for Muslims and non-Muslims. Young people want to change the world, to feel loved and have a sense of belonging, a sense of attachment. That might just be in a foreign field.

In an interview with the Observer, Karmani suggests that,

It’s not about ideals – 90% of them never subscribe to the ideals – it’s other factors that are a draw. This is the new rock and roll; jihad is sexy. The kid who was not very good-looking now looks good holding a gun. He can get a bride now, he’s powerful. The Isis gun is as much a penis extension as the stockbroker with his Ferrari.

This is an interesting analysis because it fits quite squarely with what we know from Terror Management Theory (which explains the psychology at the root of terrorism), which is that violent conflict often draws people willingly into it because it provides them with a sense of transcendence and meaning in a world that often lacks meaning and significance–particularly for those on the underside and margins of society. People do not so much fear death, as they do death without significance.

War offers people a way to channel their hate, as well as a kind of fast, intense track to self-esteem. For those who have been marginalized, cornered, sequestered, repressed (the sexual element Karmani mentions is particularly fascinating here), ISIS proclaims a “fuck them: come join us and you’ll be a part of something magnificent” message. Feeling suppressed, marginalized, beaten down in your part of the world? ISIS will change all that by giving you a gun, a target, and a wife.

Obviously to understand the full story of ISIS and its ideological power, one would have to get into the complicated geo-political dynamics which have allowed ISIS to emerge and to thrive (and one would have to consider the culpability of developed western powers–economically, militarily, etc. in that larger story). And the theology motivating ISIS is an integral part of the story, too.

But it is quite stunning to hear a former radical Islamist, who now preaches a message of peace, to put it so simply, bluntly, and so seemingly resonant with the human psyche:

“This is the new rock and roll; jihad is sexy.”

Another article explains that part of Karmani’s message to British Muslim families for “parents to tell their children they love and are proud of their kids, to make sure they don’t feel isolated.” 

Seems like pretty good advice to me. And another message might be needed for those of us who are not Muslims: let’s put a lot more effort into respecting, loving, and encouraging our Muslim neighbors, colleagues, and classmates. Let’s do what we can, to make sure they don’t feel isolated. 

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