Paper short abstract:

Based on Aslam’s book Gender based explosions: the nexus between Muslim masculinities, jihadist Islamism, and terrorism (forthcoming Feb/Mar 2012., UNU Press), the paper critically examines the crisis in Muslim masculinities in the age of terrorism-counter terrorism and Global Jihadist Movement (GJM).

Paper long abstract:

First colonized and now living under political oppression, experiencing peripatetic marginalization, feeling dejected, intimidated and humiliated, many Muslim men (in and outside Muslim countries) have no opportunities to prove themselves as "honourable" and/or practice "masculinity" in culturally prescribed ways. Troubled and troublesome, many Muslim men use militant jihadist networks as outlets to achieve self-actualization and heroism. Terrorist networks, acting as surrogates to national liberation and anti authoritarian/occupation movements, complicate these dynamics further. A crisis in Muslim masculinities becomes all the more evident when a gender lens is applied to study counter terrorism measures that are currently in place. While drawing upon theoretical contributions of Judith Butler and R W Connell, and an empirical investigation of Pakistani masculinities, Maleeha Aslam, the author of Gender based explosions: the nexus between Muslim masculinities, jihadist Islamism, and terrorism (- forthcoming Feb/Mar 2012., UNU Press: New York/Tokyo ), examines such issues in detail and documents voices of Muslim men. The author/presenter recommends, "gender" as that fundamental ground on which issues of regressive radicalism, literalism, militancy and terrorism will ultimately be effectively tackled.