The ratio of fascism and radical Islamism (the example of ISIS); A theoretical discussion focusing on Laqueur’s theory

Since the September 11, 2001, there have been many debates about the relationship between fascism and Islamism. In the meantime, some have mentioned the term “Islamic fascism”, which has also brought criticism. With the emergence of ISIS in Iraq and Syria and its crimes while this interpretation became more popular, it seems that a more accurate comparison between these two currents is needed. In the following paper, in addition to the definitions of fascism and radical Islamism, attention has been paid to the expression of different approaches in the field of the relationship between these two movements and ideologies and their points of commonality and difference. Based on this, the question is about the relationship between radical Islamism, focusing on the example of ISIS & Fascism. The accepted approach of this paper is based on Walter Laqueur’s theory that although these two ideologies and movements have many points in common with each other, they cannot be considered equivalent to each other. In fact, it seems that ISIS due to rising from the ashes of war and instability, reactionary modernism, elimination of differences, social conservatism and the sanctification of death and violence - and despite some differences - is the closest modern movement and ideology to fascism, Especially the fact that these characteristics, like the experience of fascism, have caused historicism, mobilizationism, exclusivism and oppression. The present qualitative study is based on a descriptive-analytical approach using library documents.