Globalization and the Intensification of Economic Problems as the Leading Factor of Nationalism Orientation toward Radical Islam in Central Asia

Abstract

Many sociologists believe that people abandoned their traditional identity seek identity under the influence of fundamentalist ideologies in the era of globalization and most attracted to religious fundamentalism than ethnicity. Fundamentalist identities and movements make use of ethnic identities and ethnic influence spheres in a globalized world to provide better space for activities, such as the Taliban fundamentalist movement that relied on Pashtun, Afghan tribe, to survive against other Afghan tribes (For further information, refer to the books: Mario Diani, social movements and Castells, The Information Age). The main question in this article is: why nationalism in the era of globalization, unlike the historical background did not led to the formation of a national trend in the Central Asian countries and in contrary oriented toward radical Islam? In response to the question, it can be assumed that the phenomenon of globalization faced Central Asia countries which had serious social, economic, political, cultural and ideological problems with ethnic the nationalist identification emergence and spread. But, nationalism could not gain national orientation in these countries due to economic problems, and this time moved in the Islamic direction, making the project idea of “radical Islam” by the fundamentalist groups.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n3s2p128