ABSTRACT
The New Fundamentalism closes a cycle, passing from classic jihad, shared by conservative governments and popular feeling, and from modern terrorist actions against a Pharaonic tyrant, to becoming terrorism against Westerners. In maintaining excellent relations with Pakistani and Saudi officials, the new fundamentalism, contrary to the radical Islam of the past, is not breaking up with society and has no obsessive fear of the secret services. The emergence of Muslim terrorism at the end of the twentieth century has placed first and foremost Muslim civilisation under the formidable threat of retardation in relation to other civilisations. Thus, it promotes a vicious circle where backwardness supports fundamentalism that in turn results in retardation. Islamic terrorism could be a temporary phenomenon reinforcing the search for moderation and balance in the long run. However, it could also turn into a lasting phenomenon turning Muslim civilisation away from the politics of moderation and the rationality of post-modernism.
