A comparison between Marxism and Islamic State’s Salafi Jihadism

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to compare and contrast Orthodox Marxist theory and Islamic State’s Salafi ideology. The article’s examination of these two schools of thought reveals that they share some commonalities and many differences. The most obvious similarities include: both doctrines are pre-determined history, both divide society into different classes or blocs, both are revolutionary in ambition, both reject the notion of international borders and the nation-state model of world order, both need a minority to start their revolutions, and both do not believe in negotiation or compromise to reach their goals. However, both thoughts differ in many ways, including: the motivation for revolution, the status of religion post-revolution, the role of the state in their utopia communities, and finally the aim of the revolution. Both thoughts are seen historically as violent, totalitarian political theories. By comparing them, this article seeks to bring out what exactly gives them this reputation and to assess whether one is more deserving of it than the other.