What makes a Muslim radical?

You’ve no doubt heard it before from Washington: The West will know it is winning the war on terror when it stems the tide of Islamic radicalism. The problem with that theory, though, is that the West is still at a loss as to just what makes a Muslim radical. Some say it is poverty. ...

606054_chart8.jpg
606054_chart8.jpg

You've no doubt heard it before from Washington: The West will know it is winning the war on terror when it stems the tide of Islamic radicalism. The problem with that theory, though, is that the West is still at a loss as to just what makes a Muslim radical. Some say it is poverty. Others say it is hopelessness. Still others say it is because radicals are religious fundamentalists. But those theories are wrong.

You’ve no doubt heard it before from Washington: The West will know it is winning the war on terror when it stems the tide of Islamic radicalism. The problem with that theory, though, is that the West is still at a loss as to just what makes a Muslim radical. Some say it is poverty. Others say it is hopelessness. Still others say it is because radicals are religious fundamentalists. But those theories are wrong.

In a new ForeignPolicy.com exclusive, Dalia Mogahed, executive director of Muslim studies at the Gallup Organization, and John Esposito, a professor at Georgetown and participant in the recent U.N. panel recommending strategies to build bridges with the Muslim world, offer some fascinating new data based on an immense poll just completed by Gallup in nine Muslim countries. Their findings will surprise you: Across many indicators, Muslim radicals are often indistinguishable from their moderate bretheren. And where they do differ offers policymakers a key opportunity to prevent the moderate Muslim mainstream from sliding away, and to check the persuasive power of those who would do us harm. Don’t miss it.

Carolyn O'Hara is a senior editor at Foreign Policy.

More from Foreign Policy

Children are hooked up to IV drips on the stairs at a children's hospital in Beijing.
Children are hooked up to IV drips on the stairs at a children's hospital in Beijing.

Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak

Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.

Henry Kissinger during an interview in Washington in August 1980.
Henry Kissinger during an interview in Washington in August 1980.

Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage

The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.

A Ukrainian soldier in helmet and fatigues holds a cell phone and looks up at the night sky as an explosion lights up the horizon behind him.
A Ukrainian soldier in helmet and fatigues holds a cell phone and looks up at the night sky as an explosion lights up the horizon behind him.

The West’s False Choice in Ukraine

The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.

Illustrated portraits of Reps. MIke Gallagher, right, and Raja Krishnamoorthi
Illustrated portraits of Reps. MIke Gallagher, right, and Raja Krishnamoorthi

The Masterminds

Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.