A middle-aged school inspector from Egypt, Sayyid Qutb, developed ideas in 1949 that would later inspire the attackers of September 11.
“The Rise of the Politics of Fear”
Synopsis
A middle-aged school inspector from Egypt, Sayyid Qutb, developed ideas in 1949 that would later inspire the attackers of September 11.
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Synopsis
In the summer of 1949, Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian school inspector, traveled to Greely, Colorado, to study the American educational system. His disillusionment with American society would later inspire radical ideologies that fueled terrorism. The film traces the rise of international terrorism and the political narratives crafted by leaders like George W. Bush and Tony Blair in the early 2000s. It argues that these leaders manipulated public fear to expand their authority, framing a war on terror that often exaggerated threats.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- Find out how Sayyid Qutb's views shaped extremist ideologies.
- See the connection between neoconservatives and radical Islamists.
- Discover how fear has been used to regain political power.
Did You Know
- Sayyid Qutb traveled to the US in 1949 to study its educational system.
- The film identifies two main groups: American neoconservatives and radical Islamists.
- Politicians shifted from delivering dreams to promising protection from nightmares.
- The documentary claims much of the terrorism threat is a fantasy exaggerated by politicians.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sayyid Qutb study in the United States?
Sayyid Qutb was sent to the US to study its educational system and enrolled in a local State College.
What did Qutb perceive as signs of inner corruption in America?
Qutb saw crassness, corruption, and vulgarity in American society, contrasting with the prosperity that many Americans perceived.
What two groups are central to the narrative of the documentary?
The two groups central to the narrative are the American neoconservatives and the radical Islamists.
What are people saying?
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