I don't have a problem with the word Islamist used with a modifying term.
"Radical Islamists" is an good example, although I would prefer ultra-fundamentalist Islamists or extreme-right Islamists--just as I prefer ultra-fundamentalist Christians or extreme-right Christians. Hate to see the good old word radical used to describe fascists. That's why I like the phrase clerical fascist Muslims. Just like Matt and I call the Christian Reconstructionists clerical fascists in our book on Right-Wing Populism.
I know the terms Islamist and Islamacist are gaining currency, I am just arguing we should not use these terms because in the US they play into anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bigotry. Maybe you could ask Tariq what he thinks of the issue? I could send him my original tirade.
:-)
-Chip
----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Henwood" <dhenwood at panix.com> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2001 1:40 PM
<<SNIP>>
>
> Well, he said in his interview with me that radical Islamists (and I
> know Chip said not to use that word, but Tariq used it frequently)
> had a lot in common with fascists, which I take to be extreme
> disapproval of ends as well as means.
>
> Doug