Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the Roots of Terror

Blowback refers to the unintended negative consequences of a country’s foreign policies, especially covert operations. In Good Muslim, Bad Muslim, Mamdani discusses blowback in the context of US support for militant groups during the Cold War, which later contributed to global terrorism. The term highlights how short-term geopolitical strategies can create long-term instability.

Jihad, in its original Islamic meaning, refers to the spiritual struggle for personal betterment and faith. However, it has often been politicized and militarized, especially in Western discourse. Mamdani critiques how Western powers have manipulated the concept of jihad to serve Cold War and post—Cold War political agendas.

The Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational Islamist organization founded in Egypt in 1928, advocating for the integration of Islamic principles into political governance. It has had varying relationships with state power, sometimes being repressed and at other times participating in politics. Mamdani notes how Western powers have alternately supported and opposed the Brotherhood depending on strategic interests.

Necklacing is a form of violent execution involving a burning tire placed around a person’s neck, used particularly in South Africa during anti-apartheid resistance. It symbolizes both grassroots justice and extreme violence in liberation movements. Mamdani references it to show how state and non-state violence intersect in contexts of colonial and postcolonial struggle.

Neoconservatism is a US political ideology that promotes aggressive foreign policy, especially in spreading democracy through military intervention. Mamdani critiques neoconservatives for framing global politics in moral binaries and justifying imperial violence under the guise of combating terrorism. Their worldview simplifies complex historical and political realities into good vs. evil narratives.

Wahhabism is a conservative Islamic movement originating in 18th-century Arabia that emphasizes strict monotheism and puritanical practices. It became influential through its alliance with the Saudi state, especially after oil wealth allowed its global spread. Mamdani explores how Western powers supported Wahhabism as part of Cold War geopolitics, particularly in opposition to left-aligned secular nationalisms.