The same thing it usually means. A self-contained idea (or set of ideas) that acts in history, the way a gene acts in a gene pool. The concept of memes is an idea from evolution, used to explain how ideas spread, compete, die, evolve.
Socialism, communism, fascism, are ideas that have had their day, and have mostly gone extinct. A few survivors remain, but they can be contained and ignored; they will die without any help needed from anyone else.
On the other hand, Islamism is spreading rapidly. The threat which needs to be addressed, comes from this vigorous, growing meme. A "Fit" meme. Without an equally vigorous response, it is likely the meme of Islamism will spread till it controls every nation with a majority Muslim population. |
