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Young online western Muslims overwhelmingly support revolutionary movements in the Muslim world, but the actual populations of those countries are more mixed.
Likewise, young online western non-Muslims overwhelmingly support the far left, unlike the majority of those countries.
Likewise, young online western non-Muslims overwhelmingly support the far left, unlike the majority of those countries.
I think these are ultimately the same phenomenon
Most people want stability, and to protect and build upon already existent good things
However, young people don't yet have any real stake in society, so it's easy for them to support tearing things down and refusal to compromise
Most people want stability, and to protect and build upon already existent good things
However, young people don't yet have any real stake in society, so it's easy for them to support tearing things down and refusal to compromise
This issue is then massively compounded by the fact that *western* Muslims not only have no real stake in Muslim societies, they never will either – they're on the other side of the globe.
So tearing things down and no compromise are even more cost-free for them.
So tearing things down and no compromise are even more cost-free for them.
Furthermore, the fact that young western Muslims are usually second or third generation means that no only do they not have and will never have any real stake in Muslim societies, their ties to the "homeland" are often merely ephemeral at best.
This isn't to say revolutionary or far left politics are necessarily bad.
Sometimes a level of detachment can give you a clearer and more long-term perspective, especially when you're not worried about your day to day survival above all else.
Sometimes a level of detachment can give you a clearer and more long-term perspective, especially when you're not worried about your day to day survival above all else.
Not being tied to a system can give you the freedom to evaluate it properly.
But the lack of skin in the game is worth bearing in mind, as is the fact that what we see online might not be representative of sentiment more broadly.
But the lack of skin in the game is worth bearing in mind, as is the fact that what we see online might not be representative of sentiment more broadly.
And also that motivations we might be able to spot as behind one group may also apply closer to home too.
