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So societies that have embraced modernity, have effectively “privatised” religion. Indeed capitalism has been the driving force behind secularism because it required the dismantling of the communalist society.

Replacing the old communalism is heterogeneity and pluralism. These have eroded not only religious monopolies, but their centrality in various societies. The end result of this is a society’s secularisation.

Globalisation, in which western technological and cultural products predominate, is often framed as a form of colonialism.

Ironically, the rise of transnational Islamist terrorism is also a product of globalisation.

As the power of the nation state diminishes, religious ideology’s mobility allows it to permeate shifting borders.

The current face of modernity is therefore ideally suited to –  and an ideal breeding ground for – the creation of suicide terrorist groups.

In order to fortify the in group, moral strictures must become ever more rigorous, while condemnation of transgression must become ever more vociferous – and violent, thus intensifying the demarcation between “good” and “bad”.

terrorism implies a crisis of legitimacy

But can we say that such a crisis of legitimacy applies to transnational terrorists such as al Qaeda?

modernity is an attempt to destroy community and communalism…, all those forces which created identity and authority

such threats to communalism result in feelings of humiliation amongst those who do not benefit from the new order.

humiliation therefore “links the concepts of honor and human rights in an enlightening way, providing a framework both for ideologies and for the transition between them.”

Scott Atran identifies the primacy of honour throughout Arab societies, noting that the Arab perception of being humiliated by outsiders is a prime motivator for suicide attacks.

There emerges from the collective sense of humiliation something of an obligation to demonstrate outrage and embark on actions – even if they have little chance of success – in order to avenge honour. Martyrdom is one such example.

Beit-Hallahmi writes, that under such circumstances, “contemporary martyrdom can be viewed as an uprising against the end of history and the final triumph of liberal capitalism.”