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

Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa that lasted from 1948 to the early 1990s. It created a legal and social hierarchy privileging the white minority while oppressing the Black majority. Mamdani uses it as a historical example of how colonial violence is structured and justified.

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.