In Benjamin Barber's book, Jihad vs. McWorld: Terrorism's Challenge to Democracy, he presents an interesting interpretation of Jihad. He does not mean the typical Islamist struggle but he portrays, rather like Thomas Friedman's, The World is Flat, Jihad as a divisive impulse, as in Friedman's other work, The Lexus and the Olive Tree. Most people across the world need to decide which they favor, Jihad and the Olive Tree, or a Flat World with a Lexus. The choice is rather stark so Barber illustrates how American life is impoverished given as it is to rampant consumerism. Democracy and community and neighborhood involvement is at an all-time low so he points out how neighborhood and local initiatives must become engaged for democracy to work.
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