Journan — Accueil

From 'Judeo-Christian values' to the 'Green Peril': The politics of manufactured enemies

Western political discourse has undergone a significant transformation through the deployment of two strategic concepts: 'Judeo-Christian values' and the 'Green Peril.' The former, which gained political traction in the United States during the 1940s, was designed to define a common identity against communist influence. Following the end of the Cold War, the disappearance of the Soviet 'Red Peril' created a vacuum that was filled by the construct of the 'Green Peril.' Propelled by post-9/11 geopolitical shifts, this narrative has conflated Islam with global insecurity, leading to the systemic stigmatization of Muslim populations. Contemporary political and media currents now cast the Muslim as an internal threat, echoing the historical antisemitic patterns of the past. By weaponizing religious identity to secure specific geopolitical alliances and silence critique regarding Israeli policies, this framework abandons universal human rights in favor of an artificial clash of civilizations, ultimately obstructing the pursuit of equal justice for all.