"Gaza" has become a source of concern that undermines US President Biden's confidence in the possibility of remaining in his office in the White House in the next presidential election (Anatolia)

The future of Europe, with the growth of the phenomenon of Islam in both its aspects: “symbolic” and “demographic”, within the Old Continent, was not included on the agenda of Arab or Muslim researchers, in a manner commensurate with the magnitude of the expected transformations, in the post-Gaza phase, not only on the content of identity, as This raises increasing cultural concern throughout Europe, but also about the transition of the crises of the Middle East - most notably the “Arab region”, of course - from the “margins” of concerns to the “core” of influencing the trends of public opinion in the West, and to the core of public debate, and even naming them. Political leaders in any “potential” parliamentary or presidential elections.

Identity crisis

Perhaps this is due to the Arabs’ lack of enthusiasm for entering what is called “future science” or future studies, which is a science that specializes in “the possible and the possible,” since the death of the Arab sociologist Ibn Khaldun in March of the year 1406 AD. Who was, in the words of the British Ernest Gellner (1929-1995): “a distinguished forward-looking/futurist sociologist.”

Futurism - in its post-Khalidunian version - dates back to the first quarter of the twentieth century, in 1920 with the American Gilfillan, then it was circulated in the German research community in 1943 in political sociology, by Osip Flechtheim, while it gained another synonym in countries with The Marxist tendency is called "planning prediction".

In contrast to this Arab/Islamic yawning, the future of Europe - with the growing presence of “symbolic Islam” - was subject to future studies conducted by European and American thinkers, such as: the American “Daniel Pipes,” or the Italian “Oriana Fallaci,” and “Ralph Peter.” And Mike Stein.

These future studies came against the backdrop of European countries sliding into an “identity crisis” that fueled anti-Islamic sentiments, and it was not surprising at the time that those books anticipating Europe’s future with Islam became the best-sellers in that period, such as: “Anger and Pride” by Oriana Fallaci” in Italy in 2001, the book “Germany Abolishes Itself” by Thilo Sarrazin in 2010, in Germany, the book “Surrender” by the Frenchman Michel Houellebecq in France in 2015, and Christopher Caldwell’s “Reflections on the Revolution in Europe: Immigration and Islam.” And the West,” in 2009, and Bruce Power, “While Europe Sleeps: How Radical Islam Is Destroying the West from Within?”, in 2006 in England.

Explicit incitement

These "futuristic" studies - as we mentioned - were issued during a period of escalation of real concern and obsession that reached the point of obsession over the identity of Europe, and it was evident in the exaggerated scenarios by Western thinkers regarding the future of their country's "Christian identity", reaching the point of explicit incitement by causing fear among the Europeans themselves. As Pipes did, when he expected that Europe would be subject to “Islamic rule,” or to an “Islamic state,” as Oriana Valachi put it, or to intimidate Western Muslims from being subjected to a process of widespread religious cleansing, as “Ralph Peter” predicted, which he considered Europe is “the best place for genocide and ethnic cleansing,” and he believes that European Muslims will be “lucky if they are expelled and not killed”!!

If it is too early to anticipate the ability of “missionary” Islam - in its Arabic version - as a moral project to reserve the card of “acceptance/satisfaction” in order to gain the legitimacy of partnership in the Western value system after the Gaza war... the latter - certainly - restored its nobility to “militant/resistance Islam.” And its legitimacy and justice in Western public consciousness, years after it was accused of "terrorism."

It seems to me that the problem in Europe is no longer “immigrant” Islam - from the Arab or Islamic world - as a threat to its identity. In my opinion - after Gaza - it has transcended this frightening and fearful cultural anxiety about “integration” and entered areas where it was not expected to find a foothold. One of its most prominent semi-official manifestations - not to mention the demonstrations - was “Gaza/Supporting Gaza.” In Britain, it is the one that will tip the balance in favor of this or that candidate (Galloway is an example), whose propaganda leaflets are decorated with the Palestinian flag and the phrase: “Gaza George”! While he said in his victory speech: “This is for the sake of Gaza.”

Social forces

Meanwhile, “Gaza” has become a source of concern that undermines the confidence of US President “Biden” in the possibility of remaining in his office in the White House in the next presidential election, as if it - that is, Gaza - is a “likely” state in the presidential elections. Indeed, it has become at the center of opinion polls after it has expanded geographically. Popular protests against the direct involvement of the United States in the war of extermination practiced by the Zionist entity. CNN quoted Michael Abramson, policy director at the Young Democrats in Maricopa County, Arizona: “Many of the organizations I work for have strong ties to what the Palestinians are experiencing, and want to continue to advance their struggle.”

Democratic strategists who spoke to CNN warned that "the president may have difficulty finding alternatives willing to take on the task of speaking to key voter groups such as Muslims, Arab Americans and angry progressives." According to a recent poll conducted by the New York Times and the Siena Research Institute, it showed that “registered voters between the ages of 18 and 29 said that they are more inclined to support the Palestinian cause at the expense of Israel.”

Local American media quoted Democratic strategist Adrian Haymond as saying: “The president should be concerned about the lack of support he receives among these communities, especially in Michigan, which is home to more than 200,000 American Muslim voters.”

“Anti-Biden” social forces were formed from progressives, representing Jewish voters, voters of color, and young people who formed major parts of Biden’s winning coalition in 2020. Meanwhile, the “Abandon Biden Movement” was established, which is a national campaign working against Biden’s re-election efforts, and local leaders revealed American media reported that they are seeking in crucial swing states, such as: Michigan, Minnesota, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, to push voters not to support Biden.

During the opening of their season in Chinatown, a number of art galleries in New York witnessed anti-Zionist movements and messages. The American newspaper "Art Net" reported that large posters were hung on the windows of galleries - among them "Maxwell Graham" and "56 Henry", both of which are highly regarded in New York - accusing the companies of being "complicit in the genocide in Gaza" and calling for... "Stop selling to the Zionists."

Suppression of the Palestinian voice

Pictures of the posters were posted on Instagram by the organization Writers Against the War on Gaza, according to The Guardian. The same posters also appeared on the facades of the Dia Foundation for the Arts, the David Zwirner Gallery, and other places as well, denouncing the “silencing of artists,” along with a statement attributed to “an independent group of art workers” that called on the artistic community to sever ties with... Zionist gallery owners, including Levi Gorvi Dayan.

In Germany, the strongest ally of Israel after Washington, hundreds of intellectuals and artists around the world signed a petition entitled: “Boycott Germany.” At the head of the signatories was the French writer and professor of French literature, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature 2022, “Ani Erno,” and the Bosnian-Jewish novelist, “Lana Bastasic.” The British newspaper, The Guardian, was quoted as saying: The petition, signed by more than a thousand people, “calls for a boycott of German cultural institutions because of their suppression of the Palestinian voice in the context of the Israeli war on Gaza.”

She wrote on her Instagram page: “It was my moral duty to terminate my contracts with S. Fisher Publishing, in protest against the ban on speaking out about the ongoing genocide taking place in Gaza, as well as the censorship of pro-Palestinian voices.”

Before I conclude, mention that Einstein was once asked: Why do you give “exaggerated” attention to the future? He replied: “Simply because we will live the rest of our lives there.” In the same context, in 1970, the Soviet historian Andrei Amalrik wrote his famous book, “Will the Soviet Union Survive Until 1984?” As a future study in which he expected the disintegration, disappearance and collapse of the Soviet Union, which is what actually happened in 1991.!!

These are just examples - to name a few - and are considered “raw material” waiting to be worked on in future studies that anticipate the outcomes of our “Arab/Islamic” issues in the general Western mood.

No one can ignore the fact that Western capitals are still in control of the centers of cultural gravity and international decision-making. Such studies are not a scientific “luxury” such as entertainment, but rather a basis that can be built upon, perhaps paving the way scientifically to support any efforts that can move the Arab world - gradually and accumulated - and through the Islamic presence in Europe, from the “margins” of the world that only respects Whoever has weight and value...to its “board” to be part of it and participate in shaping international public opinion, and not just a human surplus as it is now.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.