The Islamic Fundamentalist that Could Have Been Parallels between the Rhetoric of Joseph de Maistre and Contemporary Islamic Fundamentalist Movements

Abstract

This article is a work of comparative political theory and looks at how much of Joseph de Maistre’s writings parallel the worldview held by ISIS and Al Qaeda, specifically in regard to the central role of absolute authority, the general rejection of modern rationalism, and the openly accepted use of violence in order to attain their desired ends. The last section of this paper will look at similarities between the general tone and style of rhetoric utilized by Maistre and ISIS/al Qaeda. This paper shows that the Schmittian language used by Maistre and the aforementioned groups is similar despite their outward doctrinal differences. This paper is an original comparative case study that fits within the emerging body of literature that shows that there is a common underlying language that can be ascribed to all religious extremist movements, regardless of their actual ideological orientation.