In the countries of the developed world, extreme acts of violence and unimaginable mass terrorist attacks have recently emerged, spreading insecurity and uncertainty among their citizens and tragically raising serious issues regarding the functioning of democratic societies. Western societies must now combine the preservation of their democratic achievements with ensuring their readiness to confront this unprecedented threat to their security.

Profound ignorance and preconceived notions have formed the background for a new conflict between Islamic societies and the West, resulting in this conflict being waged by fully armed but politically "blind armies". Today, the need for an in-depth study of the phenomenon of Islamic fundamentalism remains urgent. In fact, it is the duty of Western societies to develop a clear and knowledge-based strategy that takes into account the real facts of the problem. However, in democracies, decisions require dialogue. And dialogue presupposes sober and informed citizens who are aware of the nature and broader implications of the problem on which they are called to decide.

This book addresses a neglected issue, that of the treatment of Islam and particularly fundamentalist Islam by the European political elite. It thus has a dual purpose and role: on the one hand, to scientifically and comprehensibly describe the threat of fundamentalist Islam today, and on the other hand, to provide a comprehensive political response to how the European political order should address this threat.