The use and abuse of the ‘Clash of Civilizations’ rhetoric

Abstract

For well over two decades, and particularly in the aftermath of 9/11, public perception of terrorism has largely been dominated by its seemingly inherent link with the Islamic faith. From al-Qaeda to the more recently- born Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), - perhaps better known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) - today’s terrorist narrative revolves to great extents around the contraposition of Islamic against Western ideals and values. It is safe to claim that today, should a Western citizen be asked what he or she associates “terrorism” with, the reply would quite surely make reference to the Islamic State, and probably to the State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).