Yes, the conflict is also Muslim vs. Muslim, I tried to allude to that above where I noted that 100% Muslim societies are not only horrifically repressive and unequal, but also riven by (internal) strife.
But you also raise an interesting question, which I don’t know that I have an answer for, which is why the upswing in Muslim violence 1979 to present? I imagine there are books on the subject written by people vastly more knowledgeable than myself, but I’d guess that you first had the general decline of the Islamic world relative to the West maybe 1500-1900, which made them weak and irrelevant for the most part, then you had oil which upped the stakes, then decolonization, but the decolonization process probably diverted a lot of would-be Islamic militants toward nationalism and then Communism during the Cold War. When neither of those delivered any improvement in their general status, Islam became “the answer” and the rest as they say, “was history”.
“but the decolonization process probably diverted a lot of would-be Islamic militants toward nationalism and then Communism during the Cold War.”
I tend to agree, but am not 100% convinced it was about ‘decolonization’ or post-decolonization. If it was, then, they managed the process very badly.
Funny thing is, Islam is against both Nationalism and Communism. At least that’s the traditional Islamic stance. Islam is, actually, very ‘international’ (imperialist, if you will) in its true belief system.
“When neither of those delivered any improvement in their general status, Islam became “the answer” and the rest as they say, “was history”.”
I’d define Islam as a ‘unifying element’. It was actually set up to bring down the Soviet influence, globally - 1979 was the start of a prelude to it with the Ayatollahs gaining power in Iran.
Perhaps, those, who (internationally) participated in it didn’t know they were feeding and raising a more potent, out of control monster (vis a vis communism). Though history and actions since then point to the fact that it was done deliberately.