Muslim Superpower, in our lifetimes?

gunf1ghter

Golden Member
Jan 29, 2001
1,866
0
0
I'm wondering if we will see such a thing in our lifetimes? Some Islamic-militant movements (which have growing support among the impoverished, un-educated muslim youth) seem to have the flavor of fascism or communism that swept Europe in the first part of the 20th century.

If such a state came about through violent upheaval how would it fit in to the Global power structure? Would it be a religious run state?

I think that this is an interesting thought experiment.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
126
I think an organization like that would implode(self destruct) before it reached that power.
 

nihil

Golden Member
Feb 13, 2002
1,479
0
0
i think that it's very possible. whether it actually happens is another story in itself.
 

gunf1ghter

Golden Member
Jan 29, 2001
1,866
0
0


<< I think an organization like that would implode(self destruct) before it reached that power. >>



I would like to agree with you but looking at how quickly the Chinese communist state came into being, I have my doubts.
 

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
81
Those militant movements are squashed as any threat to power is in most of the larger countries. They don't really allow any dissenting viewpoints...eg Iraq. As far as organization, all they have is the Arab League and OPEC. Other than that, the only thing they share is a dislike for Israel

These militant groups can't even control Palestine..Up until the taliban taking over Afghanistan, we haven't really seen a radical terrorist group in charge of a country.
 

Parrotheader

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
3,434
2
0
I'm not sure the other superpowers and world powers would willingly let that happen, much less whether or not the various sects within the region could actually successfully pull together under one government. In the 20th century East vs. West world everything was relatively straightforward. You didn't truly have a potent wildcard based almost entirely in religious roots. I suppose it could happen, particularly if the world eventually moves beyond fossil fuels causing the Middle East to then become largely ignored since it will have outlived its economic usefulness. But I don't see the likes of the U.S. or even Russia and China (both of whom share borders with the region) sitting idly by while a potentiall major threat builds across the entire region.
 

Hammer

Lifer
Oct 19, 2001
13,217
1
81
Actually it is possible, had the Gulf War never happened, and Iraq had been left with Kuwait and an intact army, damn the world would really suck right now.
 

gunf1ghter

Golden Member
Jan 29, 2001
1,866
0
0


<< if the world eventually moves beyond fossil fuels causing the Middle East to then become largely ignored >>



Well, hydrogen power is probably going to cause a slight drop in demand over the next 20 years, but I suspect many 3rd world countries that have growing economies will be able to pick up the slack. It is an interesting idea though... if they didn't have oil money rushing in they would pretty much have nada.
 

MF1

Senior member
May 29, 2000
298
1
0
Indonesia perhaps? saw a cleric and thousands supporters preaching for Bin Laden the other day on CBS.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
I'm surprised no one's brought up Indonesia or Turkey. They've got the 2 biggest GDP's right now at 654 billion and 444 billion respectively
 

Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
13,126
1
0
Up until the taliban taking over Afghanistan, we haven't really seen a radical terrorist group in charge of a country.


I wouldnt even classify the taliban as terrorists. They harbored terrrorist and had an exteremly strict and fundamental rule of law, but IIRC they in themselves werent even terrorists. Hell, they even shut down 97% of poppy production in the country.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
However, if you're talking a pan-Islam nation, Nasser tried to so once--joining Syria and Egypt and calling it the United Arab Republic--and it only lasted a few years before battling egos caused a split
 

gunf1ghter

Golden Member
Jan 29, 2001
1,866
0
0
Note that nowhere did I say that such a state would automatically be a terrorist state... in fact I think it is far more likely that it would be some sort of moderate dictatorship, or socialist type movement with strong religious under-pinnings.
 

chuckieland

Diamond Member
Sep 30, 2000
3,148
0
0


<< I'm wondering if we will see such a thing in our lifetimes? Some Islamic-militant movements (which have growing support among the impoverished, un-educated muslim youth) seem to have the flavor of fascism or communism that swept Europe in the first part of the 20th century.

If such a state came about through violent upheaval how would it fit in to the Global power structure? Would it be a religious run state?

I think that this is an interesting thought experiment.
>>



improve education system and fascism or communism don't work
people people are smarter.
when fascism or communism swept europe because the # of educated people is low.
now, when you say improve education system, do you mean brainwash system for muslim youth, or actually have really good education system?
because first one will cause self destruction. and second will bring middle east to paradise for it's people
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
If they don't do it soon they never will. When these places run out of oil they have jack-sh*t. THey can't offer the world technology because their masses are comparitively uneducated and lacking in any other natural resources but sun and sand they will only get weaker.
 

gunf1ghter

Golden Member
Jan 29, 2001
1,866
0
0
They won't be running out of oil any time soon. Certainly if we sharply dropped our demand then prices would fall and they would be on hard times.
 

Peetoeng

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2000
1,866
0
0


<< I'm surprised no one's brought up Indonesia or Turkey. They've got the 2 biggest GDP's right now at 654 billion and 444 billion respectively >>



Both are also the only two democracies, purportedly or still in infant age, among muslim nations. Indonesian politics seems to go the way of Indian politics--too many political parties bickering all the times. Corruption is still rampant among the govt officials. Despite being in europe, Turkey is still under a benign military junta.

To have nuclear armament is one thing, but to ability to project power (navy fleet, overseas bases) as a superpower is extremely costly.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
It's very hard to be a superpower when you hav'nt made it to a renaissance period. The muslim counties are still in the middle ages socially and scientifically and would be economically if they did'nt have oil.
 

gunf1ghter

Golden Member
Jan 29, 2001
1,866
0
0
Saddam will more than likely have both nukes and fairly potent biochem weapons by the end of this decade if the US doesn't intervene.

Apparently it's quite possible to run a ruthless dictatorship and still get bidness done.
 

snooker

Platinum Member
Apr 13, 2001
2,366
0
76


<< I'm not sure the other superpowers and world powers would willingly let that happen >>




There is only 1 superpower, and that is the United States. The only other superpower was the Solviet Union, but it collapsed. I would say China is the next closest thing to a superpower
 

Mister T

Diamond Member
Feb 25, 2000
3,439
0
0


<< It's very hard to be a superpower when you hav'nt made it to a renaissance period. The muslim counties are still in the middle ages socially and scientifically and would be economically if they did'nt have oil. >>

 

exp

Platinum Member
May 9, 2001
2,150
0
0
I don't see a Middle East superpower arising...at least not in our lifetime. The current states have too many differences to unite.

But I wouldn't really have a problem with it if it did happen. If this new superpower could keep the muzzle on its animals then I say go for it.
 

Beau

Lifer
Jun 25, 2001
17,730
0
76
www.beauscott.com
Couldn't happen without some major changes over there. What ever one would construct, it would be blown up as soon as it was finished by an enemy with a vengence.
 

Martin

Lifer
Jan 15, 2000
29,178
1
81


<< I'm surprised no one's brought up Indonesia or Turkey. They've got the 2 biggest GDP's right now at 654 billion and 444 billion respectively >>



Turkey? I highly doubt that.