'Talibanisation' of Pakistan and the Afghan war blowback

Farooq Tariq writes on the 'Talibanisation' of Pakistan and the Afghan war blowback.

The rise of religious fundamentalism has emerged as the most serious challenge not only to progressive forces but also to the very foundation of a modern society. Education and health are the real targets of the fanatics.

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Religious fanatic groups are the new version of fascism. They are fascists in the making. They have all the historic characteristics of fascism. They kill opponents en mass. They have found considerable space among the middle class, particularly educated ones. They are against trade unions and social movements. They are promoting women as inferior to men, and aim to keep them in the home. Attacking religious minorities has become a norm.

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Fascism has its roots in the disaffected petite bourgeoisie. They see Capitalism as not working for them, but they still believe wholeheartedly in Capitalism. They then concoct various conspiracy theories to explain this contradiction.

Most of the time, these conspiracy theories revolve the ideal of morality. Capitalism is supposed to be the ideal moral system in which virtue and hard work are rewarded. Yet, they see that this is not the case.

So, they believe Capitalism has succumbed to moral pollution. In order to remedy this, they enlist religion as the cleansing force. In Spain and Italy, it was the Catholic Church. In Pakistan, it is Islam. In India, it is Hinduism. In Japan, it was Shintoism.

Tariq concludes that fundamentalism must be confronted:

There is no short cut to end religious fundamentalism. There is no military solution. It has to be a political fight with dramatic reforms in education, health and working realities in most Muslim countries. Starting from nationalisation of madrassas, it must go on to provide free education, health and transport as one of most effective means to counter fundamentalism.

Right-wing ideas are promoting extreme right-wing ideology. A mass working-class alternative in the shape of trade unions and political parties linked with social movements is the most effective manner to counter religious fundamentalism.

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