Intercultural Struggle and the Targeting of Noncombatants: The Case of the Islamic State

Abstract

The prohibition against targeting noncombatants is a long-held commitment in both Muslim and Western military ethics. Nevertheless, some militant Muslim groups, and particularly the Islamic State, have created ever-widening space for attacking those traditionally considered immune from targeting in military operations. Our essay uses two theoretical apparatuses developed in social psychology—cultural cognition and moral foundations theory—to explain how certain aspects of post-9/11 tactics on the part of the United States and its allies have contributed to this phenomenon. We also use these same tools to show that similar dynamics work to contribute to the rightwing backlash against Muslims in the United States.

Keywords

• military ethics
• Muslim ethics
• just war theory
• noncombatant immunity
• discrimination
• cultural cognition
• moral foundation theory