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BH Sunday, 14 October, 2001, 11:19 GMT 12:19 UK
Is this new Imperialism?
The Houses of Parliament
Western democracy: imperialist or the ideal?
It has finally happened - the war part of the War on Terrorism. But is it possible to conduct this war on terror without it becoming a war on Islam?

We are promised it is. But as western governments commit to a "long game" with involvement beyond military action, could... should... western values be imposed as a part of that process?

And will this process lead to a new colonialism for the 21st century?

Modernity has prevailed

Professor Francis Fukuyama laid out the theory in his book - The End of History and the Last Man - that modernity and the West's model had prevailed with the collapse of the Communist bloc.

He says that - despite September 11 - we are still at the end of history.

Modernity for all: right or wrong?

Is he right? Has the West created the ideal model, the liberal democracy? and is the West obliged to spread the good news to the rest of the world?

We brought together the campaigning journalist and film-maker, John Pilger; Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, a columnist who has written much about Islam and women's rights and who is a practising Muslim; and Terry Jones - part of the Monty Python team, of course - and director of films such as Life of Brian, but also the author of an acclaimed book about the Crusades.

John Pilger spoke first.

What about the women?

What kind of a regime will replace the Taleban if they fall? And what about the place of women in this new Afghanistan?

There are women inside and outside the country who are fighting back against fundamentalism.

Our reporter, Angus Crawford, met four members of the Revolutionary Afghan Women's Association -- or Rawa.


To listen to the interviews, click on the links above.

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
Audio
Francis Fukuyama: should we go to war to impose the western model?
Audio
Is Fukuyama right? Pilger, Jones and Alibhai-Brown think not.
Audio
Angus Crawford talks to members of RAWA

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