Terrorism, armed struggle Books

Book SynopsisIn February 2014, al-Qaida issued a statement that shocked the entire Jihadi movement. For the first time in its history, the group declared that a local affiliate, the Islamic State in Iraq, was no longer part of al-Qaida. The renegade Iraqi group, led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had expanded its operations to Syria, taking over the regional branch Jabhat al-Nusra; but in the process, the group had defied orders from al-Qaida's amir, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Islamic State's actions, and increasingly aggressive posture towards fellow Jihadis, eventually ignited a Jihadi civil war--a period defined by internal tensions that ultimately turned global. With devastating impact, this fitna left the Jihadi movement more polarised and fragmented than ever, seriously threatening its internal cohesion. 'Jihadi Politics' presents the first exhaustive account of infighting within the global Jihadi movement. Based on years of digital anthropology, hundreds of primary documents, and interviews with Jihadis, it offers an unprecedented glimpse into historic and current conflicts between and within Jihadi groups. This thorough examination of the years 2014-2019 offers a more nuanced understanding of the current state of Jihadism, with important insights into its future evolution--including Islamic State's role in Afghanistan.Trade Review‘The most comprehensive book on jihadism written in the last few years … [JIHADI POLITICS] offers an unprecedented glimpse into what likely is the most complex phase in history of jihadism, while, at the same time, providing an interesting and thought-provoking perspective on its future evolution and trajectories.’ -- European Eye on Radicalisation

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Book SynopsisAn eye-opening account of the British terror attacks you’ve never heard of—because the perpetrators were caught in time. Since 2017, the UK has seen fifteen terrible terrorist attacks. But the atrocities on our evening news are the tip of a vast iceberg. Security services are striving to contain a staggering 3,000 jihadists, far-right extremists and other potential threats. We are in a new age of terror, with self-radicalising, hard-to-categorise individuals planning violence—but each one caught by the British state tells us something about British society. For every successful plot in the six years since Westminster Bridge, more than twice as many have been foiled. Some were thwarted by nerve-wracking undercover operations; others were narrowly averted by heroic citizens, or ruined by the absurd mistakes of would-be attackers. Invariably, the all-too-human stories of these failed terrorists reveal the true picture of UK extremism. Through interviews with senior counter-terror figures and astonishing court testimony, Plotters unpacks how and why British terror attacks happen—and don’t. From dating websites and prison cells to Telegram networks and Tesco knives, Lizzie Dearden’s deep dive offers one disturbing certainty: the plotters will keep coming. To confront them, we need to understand them.Trade Review''Plotters' gives a useful overview of the demographic and ideological composition of the current terrorist threat... This is, of course, a serious book, but it is also darkly funny.' -- The Guardian'['Plotters'] unravels the story behind the terrifying--and sometimes Four Lions-style comically bizarre--British terror attacks that have fortunately failed since 2017. Dearden... offers a disturbing, powerful account of the changing profile of the terrorist.' -- The Independent‘A well-researched and compelling book that sheds insight into the thinking and techniques of both terrorists and counter-terror operatives.’ -- Morning Star'A meticulously researched and extremely readable deep dive into the motivations and methods of our growing population of thwarted violent extremists.' -- CapX'A deeply fascinating, highly informative and entertaining account of an overlooked subject. This brilliant book offers unique insights into the stories of would-be terrorists and foiled plots that could have changed the course of Britain's recent history.' -- Julia Ebner, author of 'Going Dark: The Secret Social Lives of Extremists''A gripping, vivid and important book. By expertly analysing foiled and failed terrorist plots, Dearden presents highly original insight into the complex phenomenon of modern terrorism.' -- Richard English, author of 'Does Terrorism Work? A History''Terrorists try to present themselves as ruthless and calculating; "Plotters" shows that most of them are sad, lonely and inept. Yet these stories also reveal the enormous challenges facing the security services trying to keep us safe. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn more about terrorism, beyond the headlines.' -- Brendan Cox, anti-terror campaigner'The terrorist threat to Britain is mutating, and we need to adapt. This gripping and informative book explains why.' -- The Lord Anderson of Ipswich KBE KC, former UK Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation'Dearden paints a disturbing portrait of today's terrorists, but even more chilling is her account of the near-misses, where only good intelligence and smart policing has saved us from further tragedies.' -- Sir David Omand, former UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator, and author of 'Securing the State''Excellent reporting and analysis that puts the threat of terrorism in perspective by revealing its often hidden dimension: the many plots that fail on their own, or are foiled by the authorities.' -- Martha Crenshaw, Senior Fellow, Center for International Security and Coooperation, Stanford University'An alarming portrait of the terror threat the UK faces in all its confusing complexity.' -- Raffaello Pantucci, author of '"We Love Death As You Love Life": Britain's Suburban Terrorists''A compelling deep dive into UK terrorism and counterterrorism.' -- Petter Nesser, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, and author of 'Islamist Terrorism in Europe'

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Book Synopsis'A must-read book on the most frightening phenomenon of the modern age ... Fascinating' Sunday Times'Outstanding' New Statesman'Provocative and timely.... highly readable' Guardian'In an exceptional piece of work, Iain Overton subjects the suicide bomber to his seasoned investigative skills from pre-revolutionary Russia to the present day.' Jon Snow'An informative book on a timely topic that demands critical scrutiny.' Evening Standard'A fascinating insight into a topic that has tragically defined our times' Levison Wood'An immensely readable and important book. Overton writes with great sensitivity and perception.' Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence'Moving... Overton has gone further than most to understand the motivations of the modern-day suicide bomber.' i'Meticulously researched history.' The National _______We live in the age of the suicide bomber. The suicide bomb itself takes more lives than any other type of explosive weapon. Moreover, in the last 5 years more people have been killed by suicide attacks than at any other time in history.How has this descent deep into the heart of terror escalated in such a way? What drives people to blow themselves up and what are the consequences? More importantly perhaps, what can be done to combat the rising spread of this form of violence?Investigative journalist Iain Overton addresses the fundamental drivers of modern day suicide attacks in this fascinating and important book, showing how the suicide bomber has played a pivotal role in the evolution of some of the most defining forces of the modern age - from Communism and the Cold War, to the modern day War on Terror.Interviewing Russian anarchists, Japanese kamikazes, Hezbollah militants, survivors of suicide bombings and countless other sources of valuable information, while travelling to places such as Iran, Irak and Pakistan, Overton skilfully combines historical narrative, travelogue, interviews and testimonies, and brings his research alive thanks to potent facts and visceral storytelling. The result is a powerful and unforgettable read, the first non-academic attempt to chart the rise of this horrific weapon.Trade ReviewIn an exceptional piece of work, Iain Overton subjects the suicide bomber to his seasoned investigative skills from pre-revolutionary Russia to the present day. * Jon Snow *A must-read book on the most frightening phenomenon of the modern age ... Fascinating. * Sunday Times *Provocative and timely ... highly readable. * Observer *An informative book on a timely topic that demands critical scrutiny. * Evening Standard *Outstanding... the author takes confident control over this huge, dense and dark subject... Engrossing * New Statesman *A fascinating insight into a topic that has tragically defined our times. * Levison Wood *Moving... Overton has gone further than most to understand the motivations of the modern-day suicide bomber. * i *An immensely readable and important book. Overton writes with great sensitivity and perception. * Mark Juergensmeyer, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Global Studies and author of Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence *Iain Overton has delved deep into the history of suicide bombings to produce an insightful and provocative account that explains how this most frightening of weapons has been adopted and adapted by different cultures, armies and places. In so doing, he goes beyond simple narratives that tie suicide bombers to a single religious view or a unique in history. Instead he has the moral courage to ask difficult questions about how it has come to define our age. A bold work of real importance. * Rob Crilly, author of Saving Darfur: Everyone's Favourite African War *Meticulously researched history * The National *Impressively multi-dimensional... finely observed personal reminiscences * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisErnie O’Malley was a revolutionary republican and writer. One of the leading figures in the Irish independence and civil wars, he survived wounds, imprisonment and hunger strike, before going to the USA in 1928 to fundraise on de Valera’s behalf. Broken Landscapes tells of his subsequent journeys, through Europe and the Americas, where O’Malley moved in wide social circles that included Paul Strand, Edward Weston, Hart Crane and Jack B. Yeats. Back in Mayo he took up farming. In 1935 he married Helen Hooker, an American heiress, with whom he had three children, Cathal, Etain and Cormac, before a bitter separation. His literary reputation was established with a magnificent memoir, On Another Man’s Wound (1936). In later years he was close to John Ford, and worked on The Quiet Man (1952). This vibrant new collection of letters, diaries and fragments opens up the broad panorama of his life to readers. It enriches the history of Ireland’s troubled independence with reflections on loss and reconciliation. It links the old world to the new – O’Malley perched on the edge of the Atlantic, a folklore collector, art critic and radio broadcaster; autodidact, modernist and intellectual. It conducts a unique conversation with the past. In Broken Landscapes, we travel with O’Malley through Italy, the American Southwest, Mexico and points inbetween. In Taos, he mingled wiht the artistic set around D. H. Lawrence. In Ireland, he drank with Patrick Kavanagh, Liam O’Flaherty and Louis MacNiece. The young painter Louis le Brocquy was his guest on his farm in Burrishoole, Co. Mayo. These places and people remained with O’Malley in his private writing, assembled for the first time from family and institutional archives. Reading these letters, dairies and fragments is to see Ireland in the tumultuous world of the twentieth century, as if for the first time, allowing us to view the intellectual foundations of the State through the eyes of its leading chronicler.

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Book SynopsisIn November 1963 President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. His death remains a defining moment for millions of people but few understand the unstoppable forces that were building in the city long before this dramatic event played out before the world. Dallas 1963 is a riveting account of the convergence of a group of unyielding and highly focused protagonists in a city sometimes seemingly filled with hate for JFK. Wicked stabs of fate and circumstance steered these fascinating characters together: the richest man in the world, a combative military general, a Mafia don, a strident Congressman, thundering preachers and even the elegant owner of one of America's most famous stores. This book expertly narrates how the spiralling events surrounding these characters on the ground in Dallas ultimately brewed a toxic environment before the President's assassination. Using a wealth of new information, as well as the first ever examination of key primary documents, Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis, both experts in their field, provide a comprehensive and detailed portrait of the place, the time and the people of these extraordinary events in American history. They also provide cautionary and controversial lessons rendering this time increasingly relevant for the modern age.Trade ReviewAn intriguing exploration . . . Although the authors don't specifically point the finger at Oswald or anyone else, they contend that it was Dallas's toxic, extremist environment that made an act of violence there against the president almost inevitable * Sunday Times *Casting a clinical eye over the events leading to the death that shook the world in November 1963, the acclaimed Texas journalists superbly put the shocking season at Dealey plaza into context . . . Countless attempts have been made to explain the Kennedy assassination, but few have ever tried to explain the city where it happened. For any politics or history buff, this slow-burning non-fiction thriller is a must * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisThe 2008 attacks on Mumbai were carried out by a Pakistani militant group known as Lashkar i-Taiba, termed a 'non-state actor' by Pakistan's president, Asif Zardari. In most cases, violent non-state actors (VNSAs) rise as a state fails, resorting to organized attacks as a brutally effective method for advancing their political aims and other goals. Currently operating in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Somalia, and Sudan, VNSAs can take the form of national liberation movements confronting an occupying force; insurgents engaged in protracted political and military struggles that eat at the power and legitimacy of a ruling government; terrorists who use threats or violent acts to effect political change; irregular yet recognizable armed forces working within an ungoverned area or failing state; and mercenary militias, such as those used by Shell, or army-loaded units, such as those used in the Niger Delta. The essays in this volume map the relationship between VNSAs and the state, following the political, economic, and social processes that contribute to the emergence of these groups and how VNSAs in turn use these processes to trigger a crisis of the state. Contributors locate the point in which violence becomes desirable to the non-state actor and whether this alters the purpose of the relationship between VNSAs and the state, and they track the influence that the former can have in reshaping the governments they tear down. One of the first resources to describe these groups in full, this volume explains the internal structure of VNSAs, their recruitment strategies and leading ideologies, the characteristics and partnerships that allow them to adapt and prosper, and the fundamental similarities and differences between groups.Trade Review'High quality. The case study chapters are written by leading experts in the fields, and are consistently fascinating.' * Dr Jan Selby, Sussex University *

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Book SynopsisIn January 2006, Hamas, an organisation classified by Western governments as terrorist, was democratically elected to govern the Palestinian territories. The inherent contradictions in this situation have left many analysts at a loss. Hamas uses terror tactics against Israel, yet runs on a law and order ticket in Palestinian elections; it pursues an Islamic state, yet holds internal elections; it campaigns for shar'iah law, yet its leaders are predominantly secular professionals; it calls for the destruction of Israel, yet has reluctantly agreed to honour previous peace agreements. In "Hamas in Politics", Jeroen Gunning challenges the assumption that religion, violence and democracy are inherently incompatible and shows how many of these apparent contradictions flow from the interaction between Hamas' ideology, its local constituency and the nature of politics in Israel/Palestine. Drawing on interviews with members of Hamas and its critics, and a decade of close observation of the group, he offers a penetrating analysis of Hamas' own understanding of its ideology and in particular the tension between its dual commitment to 'God' and 'the people'. The book explores what Hamas' political practice says about its attitude towards democracy, religion and violence, providing a unique examination of the movement's internal organisation, how its leaders are selected and how decisions are made.Trade ReviewThis thoughtful book deserves a wide readership. * Times Literary Supplement *an exemplary political primer on the Islamist party's evolution, structure and thought. * New York Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisToday, political violence has become the scourge of our world and terrorism is routinely described as a uniquely modern evil. Yet however unprecedented in scope the new terrorist organizations might appear, Matthew Carr argues in this definitive history of terrorism that they are merely offshoots of a spectacular bombing in 1881: the assassination of Tsar Nicholas II by terrorists ...or were they freedom fighters? Thus begins a narrative of extraordinary sweep that Publishers Weekly called 'engrossing, unsettling' and the Boston Globe praised as 'brave and wise' and 'a book for the ages.' In The Infernal Machine, Carr unearths the complex realities of terrorist violence and its indelible impact on nations as different as Italy, Argentina, France, Algeria, Ireland, Russia, Japan, and the United States. Spanning over a century of world history, The Infernal Machine reveals stunning similarities in societies' responses to terrorism despite profound political and cultural differences. Carr demonstrates again and again that the true impact of terrorism has been felt in the overreactions of government and the media to acts of political violence. This encyclopedic and diagnostic primer for our frightening times allows us to see our current predicament against a background of striking historical parallels.Trade ReviewCarr's central point is that politicians' responses go beyond all sensible assessment of risk and do half the terrorist's job for him. . . . I am with Carr in believing that the chief risk today is not of Muslim terrorists undermining western democracy but of the West doing so itself by absurdly overstating that risk. -- Simon Jenkins, Sunday TimesCarr has a twofold mission. To establish the humanity and sanity of men and women whom governmental and media maledictions have routinely caricatured as evil monsters, and to expose the atrocities and injustices that are perpetrated under the guise of counter-terrorism. -- Michael Burleigh, Sunday TelegraphMatthew Carr has written a brilliant book. 'The Infernal Machine' brims with insight. Here, finally, we are able to see modern terrorism in its proper context. -- Professor Andrew J. Bacevich, author, 'The New American Militarism: How Americans are Seduced by War'Matthew Carr has assembled a rich narrative, enlivened by pen portraits, real and fictional. * Globe and Mail *Carr makes about as much sense of terrorism, in its historic and current permutations, as any author is likely to do. * The Boston Globe *The professional 'terrorologists' should tremble at the publication of this brilliant book which so deftly dismantles the bogus pretenses and false analogies with which they sanctify the global war on civil liberties and free speech. The Satanic face of Terror, as Carr demonstrates with vivid historical case-studies, is usually the State looking at itself in a mirror. -- Mike Davis, author of 'Buda’s Wagon: A Brief History of the Car Bomb'Profound in its thinking and ramifications. * Sunday Herald *Probably the best monographic treatment of terrorism's historical arc. -- Aziz Huq, New York UniversityThis is an excellent, fascinating history that demystifies much of what we think we know about terrorism. -- Frank Furedi

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Book SynopsisMaritime security covers many issues including disputes over ownership of the continental shelf and of the boundaries of Exclusive Economic Zones, as well as protecting citizens from ballistic missile attacks using sea-based platforms and the introduction of non-native marine species to new aquatic habitats. Loss of key habitats and species may harm tourism and the wider economy while illegal fishing and smuggling often degrade the maritime environment. Nor should we forget that the sea is a favoured means of transit for trans-national terrorist and criminal groups, and smuggling of drugs, people and weapons remains a perennial concern for governments and their agencies trying to police the seas. Even today, however, the threat of conventional naval warfare has not receded entirely: rivalries over the ownership of the continental shelf, in areas such as the Spratley and Paracel Islands and the Lomonosov Ridge, could well be the harbinger of future conflict. Securing access to an ever-dwindling source of oil and gas may also threaten conflict on a worldwide basis as navies confront each other to secure economically vital sea lanes of communications in a time when energy security concerns are high on political the political agenda. Sloggett's book deals with this fascinating range of issues in a comprehensive manner also provides a blueprint for the development of maritime security, an integrated solution based around creating accurate and timely maritime domain awareness and sharing this with both military and commercial users of the sea.Trade Review[A] major reference point in the debate on how the complexity of Maritime security can be managed. -- International Affairs, December 2014A most timely, comprehensive and relevant study of the challenges and considerations surrounding Maritime Security. -- Sym Taylor, former Commander, Royal NavyDr Sloggett provides a thought-provoking analysis of the relevance of the classic theories of Alfred Mahan and Julian Corbett to today's maritime scene, leading again to the conclusion that there are eternal verities of maritime power which we ignore at our peril. ... we should heed his warning. -- Sir Jeremy Blackham, Editor, The Naval Review.The world's oceans are a highway for world trade, a source of vital protein and the last great energy frontier. That also makes them the target for criminals, terrorists and rogue states. Dave Sloggett has done a formidable job in analysing, describing, and defining a subject that must be of interest to all those who depend on secure oceans - everyone, that is. -- Martin Murphy, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council of the United States and author of Somalia, the New Barbary? Piracy and Islam in the Horn of AfricaSloggett has written a book all too seldom found in private security; a serious and weighty yet newsy look, with a long and international perspective. -- Professional Security

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Book SynopsisFountainhead of Jihad is the first in-depth study of the history, links, and organisational logic of the Haqqani network. Drawing upon a wealth of previously unresearched primary sources in many languages, the authors shed much new light on a group frequently described as the most lethal actor in the current Afghan insurgency, and shown here to have been for decades at the centre of a nexus of transnational Islamist militancy, fostering the development of jihadi organisations from Southeast Asia to East Africa. Addressing the abundant new evidence documenting the Haqqani network's pivotal role in the birth and evolution of the global jihadi movement, the book also represents a significant advance in our knowledge of the history of al-Qaeda, fundamentally altering the picture painted by the existing literature on the subject.Trade Review'A fascinatingly detailed new book ... Brown and Rassler bring out the deep rootedness of the Haqqanis in the history and culture of this region, on both sides of a Durand Line which as far as the locals are concerned has always been largely theoretical.' -- Anatol Lieven, New York Review of Books'...an extraordinary book, not only because it clearly defines a grave threat to regional and international security, but also because it serves as an example of how analysis of unclassified sources can impart understanding of complex threats, enemies and adversaries ... a must-read for anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of the grave security threats emanating from the Afghanistan - Pakistan frontier.' -- Survival, The International Institute for Strategic Studies'Fountainhead of Jihad is the definitive account of the rise of the most effective of the insurgent groups now waging war along the Afghan-Pakistan border, which should come as no surprise to those familiar with the work of its authors.' -- Peter Bergen, author of Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for bin Laden, from 9/11 to Abbottabad'Compelling - Fountainhead of Jihad suggests we will have to rethink our understanding of the Haqqani network, its motivation and its worldview at a crucial time, just as international forces withdraw and pressure for peace talks intensifies. - In placing the Haqqani network not so much at the centre of the extremist nexus but at its origin, this book makes an important contribution to our understanding of Afghan and Pakistani militant groups. And it has obvious implications for the terms of any eventual peace settlement, which could well see the Haqqanis taking control of its south-eastern heartland.' -- Rob Crilly, The Daily Telegraph'Considered by many to be the most lethal insurgent force in Afghanistan, the Haqqani network is the bete noire of the United States and a favored proxy of America's erstwhile ally Pakistan. - Brown and Rassler paint the most complete portrait of the network to date. - While acknowledging [it] is primarily a local actor with local concerns in Afghanistan and teasing out its complex relationship with Pakistan, Fountainhead of Jihad devotes significant attention to the strategic effect of the group's support for al-Qaeda's global jihad. - The conventional wisdom is that the Haqqanis simply host al-Qaeda, but the authors paint a much more intimate picture to illustrate that the group has served, and continues to serve, as a platform from which al-Qaeda wages its global jihad. - This book should be required reading for anyone working on security issues in South Asia or the evolution of the jihadist movement globally.' -- Stephen Tankel, Foreign Policy'The Haqqani tribal network is based in North Waziristan, a region that straddles the border highlands between Afghanistan and Pakistan ... Above all they want to preserve control of their homeland, which has served as a safe haven for al Qaeda and as a supply route through which Pakistan's intelligence service ships materiel to the Taliban and others in Afghanistan. Brown and Rassler argue that the Haqqanis have played a greater role in the region's anti-American jihad than has al Qaeda -- despite the fact that Washington assisted the Haqqanis' resistance to the soviet occupation of Afghanistan during the 1980s. [They] have assembled unique and impressive evidence for their arguments, shining a light into some hitherto dark corners.' -- John Waterbury, Foreign Affairs'Fountainhead of Jihad brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of new information on the history of the wars in Afghanistan, and that of al-Qaeda. Through meticulous research on hard-to-get primary sources, it traces the history of one of the fiercest foes of the Western forces in Afghanistan today. I would call it the definitive study of the Haqqani network, were it not for the fact that the Haqqanis will continue to play a crucial role in the region for years to come.' -- Thomas Hegghammer, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment; author of The Meccan Rebellion and Jihad in Saudi Arabia'...provides substantive indications of the group's future evolution, its ideological orientation, and importantly, its proclivity for peace.' -- Contemporary South Asia'Rassler and Brown allow us to dive deep into sources never analysed before on Jalaluddin Haqqani, Afghanistan's pioneer of militant Islamism, and his (in)famous network. They have dug out an impressive amount of information that will be invaluable for Afghanistan and Taliban watchers. All in all, a highly useful contribution to explaining the ambiguities of the south-eastern wing of the Afghan insurgent movement.' -- Thomas Ruttig, co-director and senior analyst with the Kabul-based Afghanistan Analysts Network and author of 'Loya Paktia's Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity', in A. Giustozzi (ed.), Decoding the New Taliban'Fountainhead of Jihad is a groundbreaking research work by two recognized specialists of the region who have accessed extremely valuable primary sources never studied before. It deconstructs the commonly held view that the Haqqani network is a local actor preoccupied with local concerns and shows very convincingly how Al Qaeda and the Haqqani network evolved together and have remained intertwined throughout their history. It also shows how the Haqqanis keep sheltering and supporting groups engaged in global jihad.' -- Mariam Abou Zabab, coauthor of Islamist Networks: The Afghan-Pakistan Connection'Brown and Rassler have undertaken an extraordinary level of research into a huge range of sources ... should be required reading for anyone involved in the development of security policy for the area -- particularly those on both sides of the Atlantic. ... the conclusion paints a chilling picture of the Haqqani Network as an increasing source of support and training for terrorists planning operations in the rest of the world, and urges that considerably more attention be paid to measures to deal with the threat.' -- Asian Affairs

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Book SynopsisSince early 2007 a new breed of combatants has appeared on the streets of Mogadishu and other towns in Somalia: the 'Shabaab', or youth, the only self-proclaimed branch of al-Qaeda to have gained acceptance (and praise) from Ayman al-Zawahiri and 'AQ centre' in Afghanistan. Itself an offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union, which split in 2006, Shabaab has imposed Sharia law and is also heavily influenced by local clan structures within Somalia itself. It remains an infamous and widely discussed, yet little-researched and understood, Islamist group. Hansen's remarkable book attempts to go beyond the media headlines and simplistic analyses based on alarmist or localist narratives and, by employing intensive field research conducted within Somalia, as well as on the ground inter- views with Shabaab leaders themselves, explores the history of a remarkable organisation, one that has survived predictions of its collapse on several occasions. Hansen portrays al-Shabaab as a hybrid Islamist organisation that combines a strong streak of Somali nationalism with the rhetorical obligations of international jihadism, thereby attracting a not insignificant number of foreign fighters to its ranks. Both these strands of Shabaab have been inadvertently boosted by Ethiopian, American and African Union attempts to defeat it militarily, all of which have come to nought.Trade Review'Essential reading - Hansen focuses on the complex ideological detours and military tactics of the Shabab from its inception - a succinct and definitive history.' - The Economist 'E‪xceptional‬ - D‪eserve‬[s]‪ a broad readership‬.' - Nicholas van de Walle, Foreign Affairs‪ ‬ 'An intimidatingly impressive book. No one else has amassed this level of detail and matched it with analysis. - Stig Jarle Hansen knows more about the positions, decompositions and recompositions of Al-Shabaab than any Western scholar. This book is a real service to us all.' - Stephen Chan, SOAS, University of London, The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Studies 'Hansen has travelled widely through Somalia for years and is personally familiar with many of the members and leaders of the movement. As a result, his description of events carries a powerful sense of legitimacy - [He] has put together a remarkably a remarkably detailed account of al-Shabaab's history - [and] until the distant and unlikely day when something better comes along, Al-Shabaab in Somalia is the definitive book on the subject.' - Richard J. Norton, Parameters, The US Army War College Quarterly 'A compact and rich history' - RUSI Journal 'If you want to understand the reality of the Al-Shabaab phenomenon in Somalia, its existence in the country and its grounding in that ravaged land, this short book, written by a researcher who actually engaged in person with his research topic, will provide you with more concrete nourishment than a whole raft of official reports.' - Gerard Prunier, author of From Genocide to Continental War: The 'Congolese' Conflict and the Crisis of Contemporary Africa ‪'Unlike the legion of ivory-tower academics, armchair analysts, and self-promoting pundits who have expatiated about Al-Shabaab without even having set foot anywhere near Somalia, much less ever encountering an adherent of the group, Stig Jarle Hansen is a charter member of the small band of intrepid scholars who, even at the height of the insurgency, still pursued their research in the country, their work consistently informed by direct knowledge of actors and events. His is a comprehensive and accessible treatment of a significant subject. Highly recommended.' - J. Peter Pham, Director, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, Atlantic Council, and Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of the Middle East and Africa‬ 'This disturbing but fascinating book not only documents the rise of one of the most dangerous of al-Qaeda's affiliates but also explains its central importance to Somali politics. Hansen is a skilful writer whose long experience of Somali life allows him to enter into the thinking of one of the world's most dangerous fundamentalist groups.' - Christopher Coker, Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics, and author of Warrior Geeks: How 21st Century Technology is Changing the Way We Fight and Think About War 'So far, no book-length treatment of Al-Shabaab exists in the academic literature, and due to the political and military importance of the group in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa, policymakers and development workers, as well as area specialists, are in urgent need of such a detailed account.' - - Markus Hoehne, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology 'Stig Jarle Hansen has written what is undoubtedly the best book on Al-Shabaab [ - ] Predictions of Al-Shabaab's collapse have occurred frequently since 2008 but, despite notable set-backs, it has survived [ - ] Hansen's book is an essential tool for those wishing to understand what the future might hold.' - Magnus Taylor, African Arguments

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Book SynopsisThe 1998 attacks against US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam attest to al-Qaeda’s durable presence in Africa, yet Islamist-inspired radical organisations in the continent have gained much attention of late, the result of their campaigns of insurgent and terrorist violence directed against the state in Algeria, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Djibouti and Kenya. These groups include Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Harakat Al Shabaab, Boko Haram, the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, and Ansar Dine. This book explains why the Idea of Jihad is alive and well in sub-Saharan Africa, even after more than thirty years of Western and global efforts to curtail it, and how most important organisations are formed by the interaction between the often under-estimated local and global dynamics. Stig Jarle Hansen has been researching African radical violent Islamism for more than fifteen years and is well placed to explain how and why such groups emerged, whether they manifest any specific traits compared with other violent Islamists, and what is likely to be their impact beyond the African continent. He also discusses the response of African and Western governments to this phenomenon.Trade Review‘This book is a ground-breaking study which deserves a wide audience. Academics, diplomats and politicians concerned with jihadism will find much to ponder here. Informative and accessible, it is also recommended for general readers seeking to better understand the world around them.’ -- International Affairs‘[Horn, Sahel and Rift] thoughtfully [documents] the persistence of radical Islamist militancy in Africa … Much has already been written of [the main groups operating in Africa] but Hansen’s account has the significant virtue of demonstrating the many individual, organisational and ideological links among them’. -- Foreign Affairs'Extensively detailed ... [a] noteworthy book.' -- The Washington Times‘[Horn, Sahel and Rift] is a superb contribution to the conflict and extremism scholarship.’ -- African Studies Quarterly‘Horn, Sahel and Rift contributes significantly to the empirical study of African militant Islamist groups and proposes a useful new typology and argument for how to better understand the relationship between these non-state actors and territory and territorial control and governance. It will be of interest to policymakers, academics and students as well as interested general readers.’ -- The Muslim World Book Review‘The book persuasively sheds light on key aspects on the modus operandi of violent Jihad organisations in Africa. This is a decisive contribution to the historiography on contemporary Islam in Africa, particularly for those who are interested in the most recent activities of these groups.’ -- International Journal of African Historical Studies'A must-read for anyone seeking to understand modern terrorist movements and their ability to adapt and survive. Hansen's detailed and sophisticated accounts of African jihadist groups show how global and local conditions interact in complex ways. Exemplary scholarship with an important message.' -- Stephen Walt, Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School'This superb book bridges IR theory with detailed African case-studies to explore the global dimensions of jihad. How did the Islamic State, Al Shabaab and Boko Haram control territory and survive its loss? Hansen challenges the concept of ungoverned spaces, providing a dynamic comparative framework to understand violent jihadist networks in Sub-Saharan Africa.' -- Mia Bloom, Professor of Communication, Georgia State University Middle East Studies Center, and author of 'Bombshell: Women and Terror''A masterful analysis of Africa's violent jihadist movements. Hansen combines historical depth with a compelling account of recent changes, integrating local interests with global dynamics. This meticulously researched study makes sense of the groups' remarkable resilience. It will be read with great interest by security experts, policymakers and academic alike.' -- Jacob Wiebel, Assistant Professor in African History, University of Durham'Without discounting the influence of international jihadist networks, Hansen offers a measured and nuanced analysis of African groups, rooted in a deep understanding of local dynamics. A must-read for anyone interested in jihadism, groups' formation and evolution, and African security.' -- Virginia Comolli, Senior Fellow for Conflict, Security and Development, IISS, and author of 'Boko Haram: Nigeria’s Islamist Insurgency'

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Book SynopsisA former senior mujahidin figure and an ex-counter-terrorism analyst cooperating to write a book on the history and legacy of Arab-Afghan fighters in Afghanistan is a remarkable and improbable undertaking. Yet this is what Mustafa Hamid, aka Abu Walid al-Masri, and Leah Farrall have achieved with the publication of their ground-breaking work. The result of thousands of hours of discussions over several years, The Arabs at War in Afghanistan offers significant new insights into the history of many of today's militant Salafi groups and movements. By revealing the real origins of the Taliban and al-Qaeda and the jostling among the various jihadi groups, this account not only challenges conventional wisdom, but also raises uncomfortable questions as to how events from this important period have been so badly misconstrued.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary, fascinating document. This combination of investigation, testimony and analysis will be essential reading for any one interested in the truth about the foreign involvement in the war against the Soviets and the early history of al-Qaeda. -- Jason Burke, South Asia correspondent, The Guardian, and author of The 9/11 WarsLeah Farrall and Mustafa Hamid's creative dialogue provides a unique synthesis between an insider's knowledge and a critical expert's analysis of the origins of global jihadism. Each helps the other, and both help us, see this multi-faceted movement in new and sometimes contradictory ways. -- Barnett Rubin, Senior Fellow and Director at the Center on International Cooperation, New York UniversityThis is an incredible book. Gripping, detailed, and important, it lays bare a story that is all too often shrouded in myth. Read it and understand the roots of al-Qaeda, ISIS, and many of the other crises ripping through the Middle East. -- Gregory D. Johnsen, author of The Last Refuge: Yemen, Al-Qaeda, and America's War in ArabiaEssential reading for anyone who studies militancy in the Islamicate world. Hamid and Farrall offer a persuasive alternative history of the foundation of al-Qaeda and the internal politics of foreign fighters inside Afghanistan. This insider account is an important document that deserves to be studied for many years to come. -- Alex Strick van Linschoten, co-author of An Enemy We Created: The Myth of the Taliban/Al-Qaeda Merger in Afghanistan, 1970-2010…a rare piece of original research into a subject that remains little understood and is often over-simplified. The book argues, correctly, that without understanding the early history of the jihadist movement we cannot hope to assess how the movement will evolve. It is also one of the few works to try to explain this history from the perspective of an early, active participant. … The Arabs at War in Afghanistan should therefore be essential reading for specialists trying to understand the Islamic State, and serve as a warning against any attempt to provide static descriptions of Salafi jihadism rather than seeing it as a continually evolving process. * War on the Rocks *As Farrell's dialogue develops, she extracts intriguing nuggets of information from Hamid such as the participation of Afghan mujaheddin fighters in the first Gulf War; the early involvement of Pakistan’s spy agency, the ISI; divisions within the mujaheddin; and the rise of the Taliban. … As so many questions are being asked about what led to the rise of Islamic State, Farrell has done a commendable job in bringing us an alternative perspective on what historians will look back on as the defining period in the crisis now enveloping the Arab world. * The Australian *

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Book SynopsisIn his disturbing and timely book Jean-Pierre Filiu lays bare the strategies and tactics employed by the Middle Eastern autocracies, above all those of Syria, Egypt, Yemen and Algeria, that set out to crush the democratic uprisings of the 'Arab Revolution'. In pursuit of these goals they turned to the intelligence agencies and internal security arms of the 'deep state', the armed forces and to street gangs such as the Shabiha to enforce their will. Alongside physical intimidation, imprisonment and murder, Arab counter- revolutionaries discredited and split their opponents by boosting Salafi - Jihadi groups such as Islamic State. They also released from prison hardline Islamists and secretly armed and funded them. The full potential of the Arab counter-revolution surprised most observers, who thought they had seen it all from the Arab despots: their perversity, their brutality, their voracity. But the wider world underestimated their ferocious readiness to literally burn down their countries in order to cling to absolute power.Bashar al-Assad clambered to the top of this murderous class of tyrants, driving nearly half of the Syrian population in to exile and executing tens of thousands of his opponents. He has set a grisly precedent, one that other Arab autocrats are sure to follow in their pursuit of absolute power.Trade Review'It takes patience, clarity and perspective to explain the whole grim picture [in the Middle East] and the links between its constituent parts. These qualities are on impressive display in an important new book by the French scholar Jean-Pierre Filiu. His particular skill is to describe the development, survival and resurgence of the Arab "deep state," the security agencies that have kept it going and the "monster they helped create" - in its most extreme form the jihadis of the Islamic state (Isis). ... The answer, Filiu concludes bravely, has to be more democracy, not less, not a fatalistic acceptance that change can never come to the Middle East.' -- The Guardian'Among authors trying to make sense of why the uprisings of 2011 largely failed, Jean-Pierre Filiu stands out. His new book ... combines passion, scholarship, and insight to present a convincing explanation of the deep malaise afflicting the Arab world.' -- The Economist'Filiu's book should make us think harder about the economics of power . . . as a diagnosis his book is written with scholarship, passion, and clarity.' -- New York Review of Books'Filiu has produced a refreshingly nuanced analysis of the region's totalitarian regimes, distinguishing between those of his "Modern Mamluks" (in Syria, Egypt, Yemen and Algeria) and other styles of suppressive dictatorships (in Iraq, Libya, Tunisia and the Gulf States).' -- The Times Literary Supplement'Filiu ... argues ... that the Arab revolutions (as he calls them) have been foiled - Tunisia apart - by successful counter-revolutions organised by the 'deep state'. In Syria - as in Egypt and Yemen - the deep state is the hard core of a regime that strongly resembles those of the Mamluks in Egypt and the Levant long ago. He holds the Syrian 'Mamluks' responsible not only for the devastation of their own country but also for the rise of Islamic State ... In [this] polemical book ... Filiu offers the radical view that the 'Mamluks' were crude usurpers of the original national revolution, which they hijacked at independence; he insists that this was the case in Algeria before broadening the charge to apply it to Egypt, Syria and Yemen.' -- London Review of Books'An authoritative and revealing tour of the role of "Arab security mafias" in shaping the politics of the Middle East. Filiu's account of the failure of the Arab uprisings places the blame for the region's chaos where it belongs: with the reconstituted deep states, security agencies and autocratic leaders determined to hold on to power at any cost.' -- Marc Lynch, Director of the Institute for Middle East Studies at George Washington University'Filiu's thought-provoking book displays a genius for making sense out of the Middle East's chaos and illuminating key destructive forces. At Year Five of the uncertain Arab Revolution Filiu shows how determined military-based secular regimes sacrificed democratic promise and confronted jihadists in regional violence rarely seen since the Arab Conquest.' -- Jon Randal, former foreign correspondent for the New York Times and author of Osama: The Making of a Terrorist'[T]his highly topical and ambitious work ... looks to chart how the Arab Revolutions ... have been crushed by a combination of authoritarian regimes and jihadis. Filiu combines the Mamluk history with a broad look across the Middle East and North Africa with a focus on Algeria, Yemen, Egypt, Syria and Tunisia ... The hijacking of independence movements is a rip-roaring tale of purges, coups, exiles, state of emergencies and the ubiquitous "Communique Number Ones".' -- Huffington Post'This is an invaluable contribution to the murky world of the Arab security regimes. As such external policymakers would be well advised to digest Filiu's prescient warnings.' -- Middle East Eye'Filiu's book breaks from the pack of works on the Arab Spring. Rather than focus on the grassroots opposition that emerged in 2011 to challenge the Arab authoritarian order, he casts attention on the state regimes with an eye to discerning the sources of their strength and resiliency. In so doing, he takes a long view to argue that State power, often disguised and hidden away, doomed the Arab Spring from the outset. ... Excellent.' -- John Calvert, Associate Professor of History, Creighton University, and author of Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism'Far and away the best and most up-to-date survey of the Arab Security State and its ability to master the various waves of popular uprisings it faced during the Arab Spring. Based on a set of challenging hypotheses as well as an unrivalled feel for Arab political behaviour it must become required reading.' -- Roger Owen, Emeritus Professor of Middle East History, Harvard University'With magisterial knowledge of the Middle East, this sweeping narrative convincingly links the two most tragic events of our time: the failure of the Arab revolts and the proliferation of Islamist militancy. The result is a fast-paced, sombre, and ultimately devastating account.' -- Hazem Kandil, University of Cambridge, author of Inside the Brotherhood'Filiu has attempted to connect the past to the present in this highly topical and ambitious work that looks to chart how the Arab revolutions...have been crushed by a combination of authoritarian regimes and jihadis.' -- International Affairs'Misunderstanding the rise of the [Arab] state security mafias could have significant consequences. Jean-Pierre Filiu has admirably attempted to correct [Western misinterpretations]. ... The text also provides a new interpretation of the Arab Spring in 2011, arguing that demonstrators took to the streets seeking revolution but were met with a sustained and bloody counterrevolution. ... [T]his book is essential reading.' -- The Strategy Bridge

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Book SynopsisBoko Haram's appetite for exemplary violence and kidnapping women and girls has thrust it to the top of the global news agenda. In a few furious years its cadres have all but severed parts of northern Nigeria -- Africa's most populous state and largest economy -- from the hands of the government in Abuja. Videos broadcast by Boko Haram feature its leader, a grimacing rantingdemagogue who taunts viewers, claiming he will 'eat the heart of the infidel' and calling on Nigerians to reject their corrupt democracy and return to a 'pure' form of Islam. Thousands have been slaughtered in their campaign of purification which has evolved through a bloody civil war. In Northern Nigeria - which has witnessed many caliphates in the past - radical ideas flourish and strange sects are common. Boko Haram has drawn on and exploited these traditions to mobilise people against the corruption of Nigeria's politicians and oligarchs who have preyed on a state buoyed by oil revenues and turned public institutions into spoons for the pot. When the going was good it didn't matter. Now a new ravenous force threatens them all.Andrew Walker guides the reader through Boko Haram's hinterland - examining northern Nigeria's history, culture and politics - in search of where the group comes from and where Nigeria might be going.Trade Review'Walker's book is anecdotal, well researched and engaging. He has a novelist's eye for story and situation. But the most important thing is that he knows Nigeria well, having lived there for about a decade ... there is no denying the author's mastery of his subject and the usefulness of this overview to anyone interested in Nigerian history and the role of religion in Nigerian politics.' -- The Guardian'A fascinating and disturbing read. Eat the Heart of the Infidel is vital for anyone interested in understanding the origins of Boko Haram.' -- Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker staff writer, and author of 'Guerrillas: Journeys in the Insurgent World''a major addition to existing literature on Boko Haram ... The book is a reader's delight. The journalistic background of the author gives life to the book and enthrals in many ways. It provides a dispassionate analysis of Nigeria's history, particularly of the north, and the prevailing structural and societal imbalances that gave rise to Boko Haram ... dutifully analysed and beautifully written.' -- LSE Review of Books'Boko Haram have often appeared as nothing more than a Nigerian offshoot of Al Qaeda. Andrew Walker's wide-ranging, solidly-researched and grippingly-told story shows a more complex and troubling picture of a group whose historical precedents go back centuries, and whose recent rise owes as much to local social injustice, political instability and local rivalries as to religious fanaticism. The conflict as Walker presents it is over nothing less than Nigeria's identity.' -- Anthony Sattin, author of 'The Gates of Africa';'Global responses to modern day terrorism have been marked by a crisis of imagination and an inability to look back in search of the solutions that would enable us to move forward. Andrew Walker's book provides us with a rare insight into the historical and cultural factors that drive insurgencies, a veritable road map into this complex world.' -- Dr Fatima Akilu, expert on countering violent extremism and Director, Neem Institute'In a sea of shabby work on Boko Haram, from the excessively sensational to the simplistic, Andrew Walker's stands out by going many extra miles, reaching the heart of several matters either unexplored or inadequately dealt with by most previous commentators. Whatever one makes of the connections he teases out between contemporary events and historical figures in northern Nigeria, one thing is evident: Eat the Heart of the Infidel is well-researched, deeply contemplated, and beautifully written.' -- Elnathan John, Nigerian novelist, satirist and writer

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Book SynopsisJihadist narratives have evolved dramatically over the past five years, driven by momentous events in the Middle East and beyond; the death of bin Laden; the rise and ultimate failure of the Arab Spring; and most notably, the rise of the so-called Islamic State.For many years, al-Qaeda pointed to an aspirational future Caliphate as their utopian end goal - one which allowed them to justify their violent excesses in the here and now. Islamic State turned that aspiration into a dystopic reality, and in the process hijacked the jihadist narrative, breathing new life into the global Salafi-Jihadi movement. Despite air-strikes from above, and local disillusionment from below, the new caliphate has stubbornly persisted and has been at the heart of ISIS's growing global appeal.This timely collection of essays examines how jihadist narratives have changed globally, adapting to these turbulent circumstances. Area and thematic specialists consider transitions inside the Middle East and North Africa as well as in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. As these analyses demonstrate, the success of the ISIS narrative has been as much about resonance with local contexts, as it has been about the appeal of the global idea of a tangible and realised caliphate.Trade Review'This collection of essays covers almost all areas of the world where al Qaeda and/or ISIS are present. It provides fascinating insights on the nature of the terrorist narrative and offers much food for thought on what lies behind and sustains these movements. As well as being of general interest, it will certainly help in constructing an effective counter narrative.' * Richard Barrett CMG OBE, former Director of Global Counter Terrorism Operations for the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) *'Simon Staffell and Akil N. Awan have gathered a group of top class scholars who each analyse the implications in selected locales of the global competition between Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Timely, fact-based and scholarly, it provides the blueprint to understanding the complex infra-terrorist conflict that is leaving bloody footprints worldwide.' * Lorenzo Vidino, Director of the Program on Extremism at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, George Washington University, and author of The Muslim Brotherhood in the West *'This book is an important and much needed effort to try to understand ISIS from the perspective of its regional affiliates. Awan and Staffell have done an excellent job of bringing together some of the world's top terrorism experts to analyse the group from the perspective of the parts of the world where the group's ideology appears to have taken root. This is an important contribution to the body of literature available to experts, officials and anyone trying to understand how we should worry about ISIS in the long-term.' * Raffaello Pantucci, Director, International Security Studies, Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), and author of 'We Love Death as You Love Life': Britain's Suburban Terrorists *'This important volume brings together an impressive array of contributors to explore some of the most important ideas driving global jihadism today. The breadth of its approach means that both scholars and general readers will gain important insights into the various trends shaping our world today.' * Shiraz Maher, Senior Research Fellow at the International Center for the Study of Radicalization (ICSR) at Kings College, University of London, and author of Salafi-Jihadism: The History of an Idea *Table of ContentsIntroduction - Simon Staffell & Akil N. Awan1. The "Islamic State" and al-Qa'ida - Nelly Lahoud2. Ayman al-Zawahiri and the rise of ISIL - Donald Holbrook3. From 25 January to Islamic State: Transitions in Egyptian Jihadist Narratives - Simon Staffell3. Beyond Narrative: How and Why Islamically Inspired Narratives of Political Violence Resonate in Contemporary Tunisia - Jonathan Githens-Mazer4. AL-Qa'ida And Islamic State In Yemen: A Battle For Local Audiences - Elisabeth Kendall5. Inside the Propaganda Machine of Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb and its Evolution Following the Rise of Islamic State - Valentina Bartolucci6. Boko Haram and Islamic State - Virginia Comolli7. Local and Global Jihadist Narratives in Afghanistan: Impact of the Decline of Al-Qa'ida and the Rise of Islamic State - Martha Turnbull8. In the Shadow of the Islamic State: Shi'i Responses to Sunni Jihadi Narratives in a Turbulent Middle East - Christopher Anzalone9. The Impact of Evolving Jihadist Narratives on Radicalisation in the West - Akil N. Awan

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Book SynopsisThe militant Islam represented by Al-Qaeda is often described as a global movement. Apart from the geographical range of its operations and support, little else is held to define it as 'global'.Landscapes of the Jihad explores the features that Al-Qaeda and other strands of militant Islam share in common with global movements. These include a decentralised organisation and an emphasis on ethical rather than properly political action.Devji brings these and other characteristics of Al-Qaeda together in an analysis of the jihad that locates it squarely within the transformationof political thought after the Cold War. The jihad emerges from the breakdown of traditional as well as modern forms of authority in the Muslim world. It is neither dogmatic in an old-fashioned way nor ideological in the modern sense, and concernedneither with correct doctrinal practice in the present nor with some revolutionary utopia of the future. Instead it is fragmented, dispersed and highly individualistic.Trade Review'One of the most intelligent analyses of the world-view of the militant Islamist.' * The New Statesman *'A brilliant long essay on the ethical underpinnings of modern jihad … Martyrdom, observes Devji rightly, 'only achieves meaning by being witnessed by the media.' It is, short, a horrendous form of advertising.' * New York Review of Books *'An oasis in the wearisome desert of al-Qaeda studies. It is, in the best possible sense, subversive.' * The Economist *

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Book SynopsisAcross the Muslim world, from Iraq and Yemen, to Egypt and the Sahel, new alliances have been forged between the latest wave of violent Islamist groups ---- including Islamic State and Boko Haram ---- and local tribes. But can one now speak of a direct link between tribalism and jihadism, and how analytically useful might it be? Tribes are traditionally thought to resist all encroachments upon their sovereignty, whether by the state or other local actors, from below; yet by joining global organisations such as Islamic State, are they not rejecting the idea of the state from above? This triangular relationship is key to understanding instances of mass 'radicalisation', when entire communities forge alliances with jihadi groups, for reasons of self-interest, self-preservation or religious fervour. if Algeria's FIS or Turkey's AKP once represented the 'Islamisation of nationalism', have we now entered a new era, the 'tribalisation of globalisation'?Trade Review‘A welcome contribution to the comparative study of tribes and tribalism in the Arab Muslim world . . . Tribes and Global Jihadism is a rewarding example of a carefully edited book. The individual contributions cover complicated and controversial subjects in a clear, concise and readable fashion.’‘Tribes and Global Jihadism adds colour and complexity to the usual binary ‘answers’ that have come to define the relationship between tribes and jihadist groups’ -- Middle East Monitor'Virginie Collombier and Olivier Roy have gathered some of the best specialists to study the complexity of the relationship between the tribal world and global jihadism. The result is a fascinating work combining comparative approach, field studies and innovative analysis, from Cameroon to Afghanistan.' -- Jean-Pierre Filiu, Professor of Middle East Studies at Sciences Po; author of 'From Deep State to Islamic State' and 'Gaza: A History''An exceptional volume, shedding light on a contemporary puzzle: the intersection of tribes, transnational Salafism, and jihadism. The contributors authoritatively argue that these connections are defining but not pre-ordained or uniform, and offer the captivating point that while jihadists can manipulate tribalism, they cannot eliminate it.' -- James Piscatori, Deputy Director at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian National University; co-author of 'Muslim Politics''Tribes and Global Jihadism offers a fine-grained yet wide-ranging analysis of the complex relationships between tribes and the various facets of global jihadism. Absorbing case studies by country experts offer fascinating insights into what shapes these interactions, making this book a must-read for those interested in the local and global dynamics of jihad.' -- Sarah Marsden, Lecturer in Radicalisation and Protest in a Digital Age at Lancaster University; author of 'Reintegrating Extremists: 'Deradicalisation' and Desistance'

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Book SynopsisWhy has the Taliban been so much more effective in presenting messages that resonate with the Afghan population than the United States, the Afghan Government and their allies? This book, based on years of field research and the assessment of hundreds of original source materials, examines the information operations and related narratives of Afghan insurgents, especially the Afghan Taliban, and investigates how the Taliban has won the information war. Taliban messaging, wrapped in the narrative of jihad, is both to the point and in tune with the target audiences it wishes to influence. On the other hand, the United States and its Kabul allies committed a basic messaging blunder, failing to present narratives that spoke to or, often, were even understood by their target audiences. Thomas Johnson systematically explains why the United States lost this "battle of the story" in Afghanistan, and argues that this defeat may have lost the U.S. the entire war, despite its conventional and technological superiority.Trade Review'Taliban Narratives is a much needed and detailed look at how the Taliban has consistently outperformed the US and NATO in getting across its message. We and our Afghan partners could do much better if we use this guidance. Valuable lessons for the future as well.' -- Ronald Neumann, US Ambassador to Afghanistan, 2005-07‘Important . . . this book has true utility . . . it has no rival in the body of research on the conflict.’ 'A very timely investigation.' 'A powerful corrective to casual Western assumptions of military superiority . . . Johnson’s research is exhaustive.'‘Thomas H. Johnson’s book is important and significantly advances academic understanding on the Taliban. The painstaking translation of a range of Taliban communique including poems, stories, diktats, in a sense, becomes a treasure trove for researchers . . . a refreshing effort.’'Explains how and why the Taliban’s clever use of propaganda has enabled the insurgency to flourish.' 'Fascinating.''Deeply original and utterly authoritative: a captivating study of a vital subject.' -- Richard English, author of 'Does Terrorism Work? A History''Thomas Johnson has spent much of the past two decades thinking about how narratives and messaging are used in the Afghan conflict. Taliban Narratives examines both the insurgency's development of a “strong story” as well as the weakness of international efforts to do the same. This empathetic reading of Afghan voices should be mandatory reading for international military forces working in Afghanistan.' -- Alex Strick van Linschoten, co-editor of 'The Taliban Reader''Thomas Johnson smelled trouble in Afghanistan years before scepticism became fashionable among lesser experts. He raised the alarm from the inception of the war, warning that the world’s most powerful military forces were blundering into the country with little understanding of the local context. This excellent book chronicles his painstaking efforts to understand the war from an Afghan perspective, making a rigorous inquiry into the motivation of the insurgents. His book will find a well-deserved place on the bookshelves of any soldier, diplomat, or other student of South Asia.' -- Graeme Smith, author of 'The Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War In Afghanistan''This is a very useful contribution to the analysis and studying of the Taliban and also Hizb-i Islami, in particular propaganda and how the Taliban have been portraying themselves. This rich analysis is based on material gathered in the field over the years.' -- Antonio Giustozzi, author of 'The Army of Afghanistan: A Political History of a Fragile Institution''Taliban Narratives provides a fascinating look into the propaganda war between the Taliban and the United States in Afghanistan. Packed with primary sources in translation, it deepens our understanding of the Taliban, of information operations, and ultimately of why the war has lasted so long.' -- Thomas Hegghammer. editor of 'Jihadi Culture: The Art and Social Practices of Militant Islamists''In this meticulous assessment of primary sources, gathered over numerous years of research in Afghanistan, Thomas H. Johnson eludicates how the Taliban outflanked America and her Afghan allies in Kabul to win the war of ideas. This book deserves wide and considered attention.' -- C. Christine Fair, Provost’s Distinguished Associate Professor, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and author of 'Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army’s Way of War''Johnson cuts through the mythology and misinformation about the enemy in America’s longest war. A superb book by one of our foremost experts on Afghanistan.' -- Michael Weiss, CNN National Security Analyst, and co-author of 'ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror'‘This book is not only extremely informative about an important topic, but its thesis is challenging and… substantially correct.’

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Book SynopsisA perennial frontier for Islamic orthodoxy, Bangladesh is witnessing an alarming rise in Islamist-inspired assassinations and terrorist attacks. In July 2016, the world's attention fell upon a café in a leafy Dhaka neighbourhood as the barbarity of a distant 'Caliphate' was visited on this corner of South Asia. Twenty-nine died in the assault on the Holey Bakery, affixing an unbidden nightmare to the image of a supposedly tolerant Muslim nation. Joseph Allchin probes Bangladesh's recent and distant past as he investigates how it has become the latest front in world extremism. Delving into the local and global differences between political actors, he exposes the continued influence of the country's independence struggle on today's allegiances, and scrutinises the careers of two long-term rivals: current prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and Khaleda Zia, who held the office in 1991-6 and 2001-6. This unerring investigation examines the relationship between radical Islam and the Bangladeshi political class, laying bare the extremist forces that bedevil the country's present and future.Trade Review‘An important contribution on an under-explored topic [which] must be recommended for all south Asia watchers and observers of Islamist militancy the world over.’ -- International Affairs‘["Many Rivers, One Sea"] displays an acute understanding of the sources, evolution and growth of Islamist politics in Bangladesh over the course of the past several decades … telling anecdotes combined with an attention to historical detail make Allchin’s book a truly compelling read.’ -- India Today‘[Allchin] lays out in vivid, if not bloody, detail, the persistence in contemporary Bangladesh of violent extremism in the name of Islam. He has produced one of the best compilations of terror in Bangladesh in English and between two covers.’ -- South Asia Journal‘This is a remarkable book … a notable contribution to the literature on Islamic extremism.’ -- Asian Affairs Journal‘Allchin’s grippingly written account of the rise and modus operandi of [Bangladeshi] militant movements is sobering, and will add to the political challenges the country faces.’ -- Survival: Global Politics and Strategy'Combining an investigative reporter's probing eyes and an academic's rigour, Allchin goes behind the scenes of ongoing Islamist militancy in Bangladesh, contextualising events within the domestic, regional and global political trends in a manner seldom found in media coverage and public discourse. A compelling and captivating narrative.' -- Ali Riaz, Distinguished Professor of Politics and Government, Illinois State University'A penetrating look at the background behind Bangladesh's explosion of Islamist violence, by a journalist who knows the country better than his peers do. Essential reading for students of South Asian extremism.' -- Ellen Barry, Chief International Correspondent, The New York Times'An original and thought-provoking book. Drawing on his long and unique relationship with the country, Allchin digs deep beneath surface understandings to explore the complex factors behind Bangladesh's changing faces.' -- David Lewis, Professor of Social Policy and Development, LSE

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Book SynopsisSince it erupted onto the world stage in 2009, people have asked, what is Boko Haram, and what does it stand for? Is there a coherent vision or set of beliefs behind it? Despite the growing literature about the group, few if any attempts have been made to answer these questions, even though Boko Haram is but the latest in a long line of millenarian Muslim reform groups to emerge in Northern Nigeria over the last two centuries. The Boko Haram Reader offers an unprecedented collection of essential texts, documents, videos, audio, and nashids (martial hymns), translated into English from Hausa, Arabic and Kanuri, tracing the group's origins, history, and evolution. Its editors, two Nigerian scholars, reveal how Boko Haram's leaders manipulate Islamic theology for the legitimisation, radicalisation, indoctrination and dissemination of their ideas across West Africa. Mandatory reading for anyone wishing to grasp the underpinnings of Boko Haram's insurgency, particularly how the group strives to delegitimise its rivals and establish its beliefs as a dominant strand of Islamic thought in West Africa's religious marketplace.Trade Review'A veritable goldmine of primary source material—much of it published for the first time—and a reminder that if researchers would only take the time to analyse what militant groups actually communicate to their adherents, they would be less inclined to misread them and the threat they pose.''Until now, understanding of Boko Haram has been poor, but that is about to change. This volume provides an essential tool for understanding what drives the movement. A highly important scholarly contribution.' -- John Campbell, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria; Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies, Council on Foreign Relations'This is, without doubt, the most comprehensive compilation of original materials on Boko Haram that exists to date - profound, brave and transformative. A gripping and extraordinarily timely book.' -- Abiodun Alao, Professor of African Studies, King's College London'The most useful book on the insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria that I have seen.' -- Murray Last, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University College London'A unique and indispensable resource. Thanks to these brilliant translations, it will finally be possible to establish Boko Haram's authentic raison d'être.' -- Amidu Sanni, Professor of African & Middle Eastern Studies, Lagos State University, Nigeria'This veritable goldmine of primary source material will finally allow scholars to analyze Boko Haram through its own lenses. An invaluable resource.' -- J Peter Pham, Vice President for Research & Regional Initiatives and Director of the Africa Center, Atlantic Council'Vitally important. The Boko Haram Reader fills a major lacuna in the existing literature, finally making it possible to understand the group's ideological development over time.' -- Jeffrey M. Bale, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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Book SynopsisIslamist terrorism is on the rise in Europe, and we are witnessing new methods of attack on an all-too-regular basis. While the death of Osama bin Laden and the advent of the `Arab Spring’ fed expectations that international jihadism was a spent force, Europe has faced an increase in terrorist plots over the past few years. In addition, there are growing security concerns over the fallout of the Syrian conflict, and its sizeable contingents of battle-hardened European fighters. This book provides a comprehensive account of the rise of jihadist militancy in Europe and offers a detailed background for understanding the current and future threat. Based on a wide range of new primary sources, it traces the phenomenon back to the late 1980s, and the formation of jihadist support networks in Europe in the early 1990s. Combining analytical rigour with empirical richness, the book offers a comprehensive account of patterns of terrorist cell formation and plots between 1995 and 2017. In contrast to existing research which has emphasised social explanations, failed immigration and homegrown radicalism, this book highlights the entrepreneurial role of former Arab-Afghan veterans and their associated organisations and ideological agendas.Trade Review'Nesser's detailed analysis of the threat we face could hardly be more timely. Its main focus is on the individuals involved, their backgrounds, motivations and modus operandi.' -- The Independent; 'Petter Nesser's unflashy book analyses jihadi activity in Europe from the 1994 attempt by Algerian hijackers to crash an Air France jet into Paris to the massacre at Charlie Hebdo's offices and the kosher deli hostage crisis one year ago.' -- The Times; 'A forensic look at 20 years of terrorist attacks. … This is not a book to read if you want to sleep easy.' -- The Sunday Times; 'Petter Nesser is one of the longest standing and most objective observers of this phenomenon. His book is full of detailed information that will make it a work of reference for many years to come. More than any other book on the subject, it shows the continuities and discontinuities, allowing readers and analysts to make sense of what has changed and what has remained the same. An absolute must read for anyone studying jihadist terrorism in Europe.' -- Peter Neumann, Director, International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR), King's College London; 'Petter Nesser is to be commended for a clear and well-researched explanation of jihadist terrorism in Europe that is impressive in historical range and depth of coverage. His study is essential for understanding a subject that is of paramount importance to the public and policy makers as well as scholars.' -- Martha Crenshaw, Senior Fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), Stanford University; 'Several of the very best studies on terrorism have emerged from scholars around the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI). This is another of them. Petter Nesser's history of Islamist terrorism in Europe explains more than two decades of terrorist plotting like no other single-author study -- a must read for counter-terrorist professionals and academics, but also for all concerned citizens who want to make sense of “senseless violence.”' -- Alex P. Schmid, Editor-in-Chief of Perspectives on Terrorism and former Officer-in-Charge of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations

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Book SynopsisWhile governments are obliged to protect society and bring terrorists to justice, their effectiveness in tackling terrorism without undermining the support of the population for law and order or jeopardising basic liberties is paramount. In dealing with extremism, governments have found it difficult to balance the imperatives of security and the rights of liberty. That said, neither lethargy nor hysteria is conducive to ensuring national security. Rather, steely determination grounded in facts and sound judgments about the challenges confronting us are required.The exaggeration by governments of a terrorist threat in order to sustain a credible anti-terrorism narrative, to manipulate public opinion, to push through draconian legislation or even to win elections are not novelties of the post-9/11 world, but as the contributors to this book point out, governments in many countries, from Putin's Russia and Fujimori's Peru to Italy in the 1970s, have stumbled towards repressing the very liberty and democratic culture which the terrorists seek to destroy.It includes contributors such as: Paul Wilkinson (St Andrews), Leonard Weinberg (Nevada), John Mueller (Ohio), Richard Drake (Montana), Martin Miller (Duke), Jonathan Stevenson (Naval War College), Jo-Marie Burt (George Mason), Javier Jordan (Granada), Robert Saunders (New York), William Eubank (Nevada), Richard Jackson (Manchester), Chris Michaelsen (OSCE), and Nicola Horsburg (King's College).Trade Review'Brilliant, mind-opening stuff.' * The Independent, chosen as one of David Crystal's best books of 2007 *'This powerful collection of essays is at the same time both a radical and traditional examination of the politics of terror. Radical in that it presents terrorism as a complex phenomenon rooted in real life experience-best understood and combated by open minds with the support of fully-briefed populations .And traditional in that it expects political leaders to tell the truth about terror insofar as they can-and that to exploit the fears of the public for political gain is as counter-productive as it is currently widespread.' * Crispin Black, former Cabinet Office Intelligence Analyst and author of 7-7 The London Bombings: What Went Wrong? *'An extraordinary collection of original, penetrating and compellingly written essays, Playing Politics with Terrorism: A User's Guide challenges all our assumptions about the relationship between democracy and terrorism. An eye-opener of a book on the world after 9/11.' * Jessica Stern, Harvard University, author, The Ultimate Terrorists *

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Book SynopsisAnnouncements of an impending victory over the Taliban have been repeated ad nauseam since the Allied invasion of Afghanistan in 2002, particularly after the Presidential elections of 2004, which were said to have marked the 'moral and psychological defeat of the Taliban'. In moments of triumphalism, some commentators claimed that 'reconstruction and development' had won over the population, despite much criticism of the meagre distribution of aid, the lack of 'nation-building' and corruption among Kabul's elite. In March 2006, both Afghan and American officials were still claiming, just before a series of particularly ferocious clashes, that 'the Taliban are no longer able to fight large battles'. Later that year, the mood in the mass media had turned to one of defeatism, even of impending catastrophe. In reality, as early as 2003-5 there was a growing body of evidence that cast doubt on the official interpretation of the conflict. Rather than there having been a '2006 surprise', Giustozzi argues that the Neo-Taliban insurgency had put down strong roots in Afghanistan as early as 2003, a phenomenon he investigates in this timely and thought-provoking book.Trade Review'provides a balanced, objective and un-sensationalised consideration of the emergence of the neo-Taliban, taking on board the many perspectives and insights provided by numerous actors and analysts while also drawing on the author's own conclusions. In so-doing, it covers new and important ground in research on Afghanistan.' * Peter Marsden, author, The Taliban: War, Religion and the New Order in Afghanistan (1998) *'This detailed study . . . chronicles the rise of what Giustozzi labels 'the neo-Taliban'. Separate chapters treat how and why the neo-Taliban were recruited, their organization, their tactics and strategy, and the counterinsurgency efforts of the Afghan government and its outside supporters. With copious cross-referencing, he works in such subjects as the continued involvement of Pakistan, the drug trade, neo-Taliban relations with Al Qaeda, and the rural-versus-urban dimension of this struggle. There are also several perceptive comparisons with insurgencies elsewhere in the world. [Giustozzi] concludes that reining in the neo-Taliban by arms or diplomacy will be more difficult now than reining in the original was five years ago. He also sees the group's strategy as having shifted in its new form from national resistance to global jihad.' * Foreign Affairs *'A revelatory new book.' * Asia Times *Table of Contents1. Sources of the Taliban Insurgency 2. How and Why the Taliban Recruited 3. Organisation of the Taliban 4. The Taliban's Strategy 5. Military Tactics of the Insurgency 6. The Counter-insurgency Effort Conclusion

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Book SynopsisWith more than 35 years experience of jihadist activism, Abu Mus'ab al-Suri remains the foremost theoretician in the global jihadist movement today, despite his capture in Pakistan in late 2005. After having participated in the founding of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in 1988, al-Suri, whose real name is Mustafa Sethmarian Nasar, trained a whole generation of young jihadis at his camps in Afghanistan. When he moved back to Spain in the early 1990s, al-Suri took part in establishing Al-Qaeda networks in Europe. In the mid-1990s, he rose to prominence in jihadi circles as editor of the London-based bulletin of the Algerian Groupe Islamique Armee, the most deadly Islamist terrorist group operating in Europe at the time. Al-Suri later formed his own media centre and training camp in Taleban-ruled Afghanistan, to which he returned in 1998. Building on his extensive military experience from the Syrian Islamist insurgency in the early 1980s, he contributed decisively to formulating Al-Qaeda's global warfare strategy. Throughout his writings there is a desire to learn from past mistakes and rectify the course of the jihadi movement. His 1,600 page masterpiece, "The Global Islamic Resistance Call", outlines a broad strategy for the coming generation of Al-Qaeda, with a keen eye for the practical implementation of jihadi guerrilla warfare theories. His ideas of how to maximise the political impact of jihadi violence and how to build autonomous cells for 'individualised terrorism' have inspired many jihadi militants of today. The book includes a translation of two key chapters from al-Suri's seminal work "The Global Islamic Resistance Call".Trade ReviewIlluminating. -- Ahmed Rashid * New York Review of Books *Al-Suri has been read at West Point, profiled by Lawrence Wright in the New Yorker, heralded by Newsweek as the 'Francis Fukuyama of al Qaida' and by CNN as 'the most dangerous terrorist you've never heard of'... One of the striking things we learn from Lia's book is how often Al Qaida's adversaries threw it a lifeline. * London Review of Books *This biography by Brynjar Lia, a Norwegian expert on the subject, is a welcome addition to books on Islamist extremism. … Ginger-haired and married to a Spaniard, Mr al-Suri went by several aliases, including El Español and El Rubio (the blond one). He was little known outside Islamist circles until the Madrid train bombings in March 2004 when Spanish investigators named him as a possible ideological influence, if not the actual mastermind. * The Economist *An authoritative volume on a man who is possibly the most important jihadi theoretician alive. -- Steven Brooke * The American Interest *A genuinely important and path-breaking book. -- Peter Hart * Globe & Mail *Architect of the Global Jihad is a compelling and meticulously researched biography of one of the most influential strategists and thinkers in Islamist circles. Abu Mus'ab al-Suri may not be a household name in the West, but his importance as a theorist, organizer and ideologue is difficult to overstate. For those seeking to understand Al-Qaeda and its affiliates, author Brynjar Lia's work is critical reading and highly illuminating. -- Craig Whitlock, Berlin Bureau Chief * The Washington Post *A groundbreaking analysis of the militant trajectory of one of the most important--albeit little known--jihadist ideologues of the post 9/11 era. It provides essential reading for any one eager to penetrate in-depth the intellectual environment and logics of radical islamist terrorist doctrine, thanks to Lia's remarkable mastery of Arabic language and Islamic culture. -- Gilles Kepel, Professor and Chair, Middle East StudiesBrynjar Lia's masterfully researched work remains the only known contribution to the terrorism studies field that parses the history and thought of al-Suri. Far beyond its utility as an historical analysis, Lia's work is extraordinarily timely as he extracts the finer points of al-Suri's now widely circulated theories that may have informed the conduct of the London and Madrid attacks. -- Jeffrey Cozzens, Intelligence and Terrorism Analysis GroupBrynjar Lia's book is an innovative, well-sourced, and thorough account of the life and work of Abu Mus'ab al-Suri. Lia’s book digs behind the myths and public speculation around al-Suri and gives a comprehensive picture of the man and his works. It is crucial to an understanding of international jihadi ideology and needs to be widely studied. -- Jeevan DeolA fascinating study -- Malise Ruthven * New York Review of Books *A brilliant, well-researched work. -- Lester W. Grau * The Journal of Military History *Lia's book should be essential reading. -- Marisa Urgo * Political Studies Review *This valuable biography of Abu Mus'ab al-Suri . . . contributes to the understanding of jihadi strategic thought, an area where incisive and thorough scholarship has been lacking. -- Daveed Gartenstein-Ross * Middle East Quarterly *Brynjar Lia has written an impressively authoritative biography of one of contemporary jihad's most important and influential thinkers. In Architect of Global Jihad, Lia charts the rise and consequences of Abu Mus'ab al-Suri’s prominence in al-Qaeda and how his worldview continues to shape and define the movement’s strategy and tactics. This work is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand al-Qaeda’s violent struggle and its likely future trajectory. -- Bruce Hoffman, professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, and senior fellow, Combating Terrorism Center, U.S. Military Academy

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Book SynopsisSince the terrible events of 9/11, more attention than ever has been paid to the threats and challenges posed by contemporary terrorists. From suicide bombers to the latest cybertechnology, Leonard Weinberg’s readable and objective introduction explains who the terrorists are, where they came from, what motivates them and what, if anything, can be done to stop them. It provides a fascinating insight into such mythical figures as Carlos the Jackal and Osama bin Laden, while also offering a full account of how terrorist ‘cells’ operate and what they might do in the future. With full resources, including a chronology and list of further reading on the subject, anyone interested in matters of public security and international crises will find this essential reading.Trade Review"In this compact and critically important guide, Weinberg displays vast knowedge, humor, good sense, and wisdom. An indispensable addition to the literature."Jessica Stern - Lecturer in Public Policy, Kenney School Of Government, and author of 'Terror In The Name Of God'

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Book SynopsisBurma remains a land in deep crisis. The popular uprising of 1988 swept away 26 years of military rule under General Ne Win in name only. The National League for Democracy of Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide victory in the 1990 election. But, as this book relates, the military remained in control and the future of Burma looks more problematic than ever. With unparalleled command of largely inaccessible Burmese sources and interviews with many of the leading participants, Martin Smith charts the rise of modern political parties and unravels the complexities of the long-running insurgencies waged by opposition groups, including the Communist Party of Burma, the Karen National Union and a host of other ethnic nationalist movements. It is essential reading for those interested in the conditions giving rise to guerrilla warfare, the character of national liberation movements, and the impact of ethnicity on political conflict.Trade Review'An extremely detailed and well-organized look at the country’s civil war.'Times Literary Supplement'Outstanding. Smith has woven a seamless narrative which interrelates the modern history of the heartland with the hills and finally makes sense of the complex history of the country. He has set a new standard in field research.'Josef Silverstein, Rutgers University'Smith’s book, with its mass of original information on the post-independence history of the country’s regional and ethnic movements, is a landmark.'Peter Carey, Oxford University'Smith’s book fills a void in Burma studies which will make it the basic reference work for years to come.’Far Eastern Economic Review'A masterful documentary history.'Journal of Asian Studies'The definitive work on what is indeed the central problem in Burma.'Pacific Affairs'For an understanding of Burma’s prolonged, continuing and largely unknown crisis no better work is available than this detailed, well-written and informative book.'Choice'Reportage at its best: expansive in concept, detailed in execution, passionate in its search for truth. An exceptional book.'Current HistoryTable of Contents Part I: The Roots of Conflict 1. The Burmese Way to Stagnation and the Crisis of 1988 2. The Peoples of Burma: A Historic and Ethnic Background 3. Order Without Meaning: British Rule and the Rise of the National Liberation Movement 4. War and Independence: 1942-48 5. Insurgency as a Way of Life Part II Insurrections in the Parliamentary Era 6. The Final Seizure of Power: A Country Goes Underground 7. Failure, Retrenchment and the United Fronts: The Communist Movement 1948-52 8. The Battle for Kawthoolei: The Spread of Ethnic Rebellion 9. Revisionism and the 1955 Line: The Prospect of Peace 10. The Collapse of Parliamentary Democracy: Ne Win Seizes Power Part III Insurrections in the Ne Win era 11. Military Rule and Peace Parley 12. Cultural Revolution 13. The North-East Command and the Four Cuts 14. The Failure of U Nu's Parliamentary Democracy Party, Keren Unity and Emergence of the National Democratic Front 15. The War in the North, Opium and the 1980/1 Peace Parley 16. The Nationalities Question Part IV: The 1980s: A Decade of Upheaval 17. The Democracy Upbringing and the CPB 18. The 1989 CPB Mutinies: The End of the road? 19. The War Goes On: The NDF and the KNU 20. A New Cycle of Conflict?: The 1990 General Election and the DAB Part V Burma at the Century's End 21. The 1990s: Deadlock or the Dawning of New Realities?

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative source of information on violent conflicts and peacebuilding processes around the world, Peace and Conflict is an annual publication of the University of Maryland’s Center for International Development and Conflict Management and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Geneva).The contents of the 2017 edition are divided into three sections:» Global Patterns and Trends provides an overview of recent advances in scholarly research on various aspects of conflict and peace, as well as chapters on armed conflict, violence against civilians, characteristics of rebel and state forces, sexual violence, democracy and civil war, terrorism, human rights conditions, and the results of the updated Peace & Conflict Instability Ledger, which ranks the status and progress of more than 160 countries based on their forecasted risk of future instability (adverse regime change, internal war, state mass killing, non-state mass killing).» Special Feature spotlights work on the relationship between refugees and the diffusion of armed conflict.» Profiles surveys developments in instances of civil wars, peacekeeping missions, and international criminal justice proceedings that were active around the world during 2015.Frequent visualizations of data in full-color, large-format tables, graphs, and maps bring the analysis to life and amplify crucial developments in real-world events and the latest findings in research.The contributors include many leading scholars in the field from the US and Europe.Trade ReviewIf you are looking for a comprehensive, accessible and thought-provoking overview of current research trends in political violence, this is the book to turn to.—Nils Weidmann, Professor of Political Science, University of Konstanz, GermanyPeace and Conflict 2016, as with its predecessors, proves to be an invaluable source of up-to-date information on conflicts around the world. Various facets of political violence and their respective recent trends are documented in detail. New trends and challenges in conflict research are admirably discussed, as are traditional and more recent attempts in mitigating conflicts, from peacekeeping missions to criminal justice. Combining chapters on these themes written by the leading scholars in the field makes this volume a must-have for scholars and practitioners alike. — Simon Hug, Professor of Political Science, University of Geneva, SwitzerlandPraise for earlier editions:"Truth and data are the first casualties of armed conflict. Peace and Conflict 2014 provides a very useful and accessible overview of key trends and themes, begins to address some of the burning issues in the field, and helps put risks into perspective."—Tilman Brück, Director, International Security and Development Center, GermanyPeace and Conflict 2012 was a CHOICE Recommended title."Too much of the writing on international affairs is long on opinions and short on facts. Peace andConflict is the rare exception. Its clear presentations of evidence and analyses help to better inform discussions about the most pressing security challenges in today’s world."—Fareed Zakaria, Host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS"An essential tool for scholars and policymakers seeking the facts behind the headlines about thenature and extent of conflict around the world."—Vartan Gregorian, President, Carnegie Corporation of New York"A tour de force!"—The Honorable Samuel Lewis, Past President, United States Institute of PeaceTable of Contents1 Introduction to Peace and Conflict 2017 David A. Backer, Ravi Bhavnani, and Paul K. Huth 2 Generalizing Findings from Micro-Level Research on Peace and Conflict: Challengesand Solutions Karsten Donnay, Andrew M. Linke, and Ravi Bhavnani 3 Tracing Armed Conflict over Time: A Reversal of the Recent Decline? Håvard Strand and Halvard Buhaug4 The Geography of Organized Armed Violence around the World Erik Melander, David A. Backer, and Eric Dunford 5 Spatial Patterns of Violence against Civilians Hanne Fjelde, Lisa Hultman, Margareta Sollenberg, and Ralph Sundberg6 The Size of Rebel and State Armed Forces in Internal Conflicts: Measurementand Implications Jacob Aronson and Paul K. Huth 7 The Prevalence of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: When, Where and By Whom? Ragnhild Nordås 8 Democracy, Democratization, and Civil War Suthan Krishnarajan, Jørgen Møller, Lasse Lykke Rørbæk, and Svend-Erik Skaaning 9 Evolution of Global Terrorism: The Growing Lethality of Attacks Gary LaFree and Laura Dugan 10 Are Global Human Rights Conditions Static or Improving? Peter Haschke and Mark Gibney 11 The Peace and Conflict Instability Ledger 2017: A New Methodology and Ranking ofCountries on Forecasted Risks David A. Backer, Jacob Aronson, and Paul K. Huth 12 Refugees and Conflict Diffusion Seraina Rüegger 13 Armed Conflicts Active in 2015 Margareta Sollenberg 14 Multilateral Peacekeeping Operations Active in 2015 Deniz Cil 15 Criminal Justice for Conflict-Related Violations: Developments during 2015 Anupma L. Kulkarni

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Book SynopsisIn this probing investigation of the phenomenon of suicidal terrorism, Abdal Hakim Murad finds not 'Jihad versus MacWorld,' but 'MacJihad versus MacWorld.' Today's terrorist movements have their roots in a very Western and very relativistic worldview, adopted by self-proclaimed Islamists whose mindset is as westernised as the societies they strike.Trade Review"A refreshingly original, historically sensitive account of the origin and nature of Islamist terrorism, this book should be read by all who care about the future of liberal political institutions." (Roger Crisp, Tutor in Philosophy, St Anne's College, Oxford University). ; "In the face of a sceptical West, how is it possible, in one breath, to affirm a post-secular Islam and renounce anti-secular Islamic fanaticism? 'Bombing Without Moonlight' is Murad's stunning answer. For him, it is, in one breath, to affirm a classic Sunni orthodoxy and expose the very modern and western character of Qutubism. This book is an uncommon literary event: a Muslim theo-political call not to arms (but to age-old traditions of sober religious wisdom) offered through wry lyric English prose. The author's historical claims are as original as his prose style, his call as urgent as a global fire alarm." (Peter Ochs, Professor of Modern Judaic Studies, University of Virginia). ; "... a whirlwind tour through the origins of suicide terror. In a text steeped in history and philosophy, [Murad] astutely eschews the argument that suicide terrorism is a uniquely Islamic phenomenon, while nevertheless exploring the malaise in that great religion which has helped witness the rise of al Qaeda and its brethren. For all its brevity, this remains a thoughtful, complex and challenging work which will stay with the reader.' (Andrew Wilke, Director, Terrorism Studies, University of East London) ; "No one has written more perceptively about suicide bombers and their bizarre emergence - like an alien infestation in the body of Islam - than Abdal Hakim Murad." (Abdallah Schleifer, former NBC Cairo Bureau Chief)

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Book SynopsisWhat if your own government deliberately creates terrorists? What if their short-term aims – deposing regimes that no longer serve Western interests, justifying invasions of sovereign nations, and expanding the security state at home – have long-term consequences for us all? What if most of the horrific bombings, stabbings and vehicle attacks of recent years are connected – indirectly and sometimes directly – to British, French and American intelligence? These and other hard-hitting questions are posed by T. J. Coles in this disturbing survey of secret political manoeuvrings and covert manipulation. Welcome to the world of manufactured terrorism… Backed by a wealth of documentation, including court records, parliamentary inquiries and little-known but official publications, the author exposes the role of the deep state in brutal acts of terror. Exploring Operation Gladio, Northern Irish terror and, predominantly, Islamic jihad, he argues that intelligence agencies, the military and governments employ six key methods to manufacture terrorism: 1/ Blowback: attacking other countries and provoking violent responses. 2/ Proxies: creating terrorists (including al-Qaeda) and using them against enemies. 3/ Provocateurs: provoking individuals from minorities into committing terrorist acts. 4/ Green-lighting: allowing terrorists to commit attacks in order to justify specific policies. 5/ False-flags: committing terrorism and blaming it on designated enemies. 6/ Simulations: holding drills and exercises as covers for apparent terrorist acts. Contrary to claims that terrorism is caused by people who simply `hate our way of life’ – and in contrast to the simplistic narrative of conspiracy websites and talk-shows – Coles argues that each case of terrorism needs to be evaluated separately. Manufacturing Terrorism presents a complex picture that distinguishes between cases of blowback, proxies, false-flags, simulations, etc. It offers an indispensable briefing to help readers make sense of our chaotic and dangerous world.Trade Review`Manufacturing Terrorism is as terrifying as it is compelling. T. J. Coles argues that most terrorist attacks would never happen in the first place if not for overzealous, misguided and just plain malevolent intelligence and law enforcement agencies in the West. He’s right. And he has the research and documentation to back it up. This book should be required reading, not just in colleges and universities, but in every organization in the international intelligence and law enforcement communities.’ – John Kiriakou, former CIA counterterrorism officer and former senior investigator, U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsTable of ContentsAcronyms and Glossary – Introduction – PART I: MAKING ENEMIES – 1. 'Enemies are essential' – 2. 'Attitudes could be changed by an event' – 3. 'A small price to pay' – 4. Al-Qaeda: 1: A few stirred up Muslims' – 5. Al-Qaeda 2: 'Londonistan' – PART II: MANUFACTURING TERRORISM IN SIX STEPS – 6. Step 1: Blowback – 7. Step 2: Proxies – 8. Step 3: Provocateurs – 9. Step 4: Green-lighting – 10. Step 5: False-flags – 11. Step 6: Simulations – Conclusion – Notes – Index

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Book SynopsisHanif Qadir is recognised as one of the world's leading specialists in positively transforming violent extremists. He has worked with hundreds of high-risk terrorist and violent extremist cases and has challenged many known figureheads who lead violently extreme groups both at home and abroad. In this essential book for all those who work with young people, Hanif outlines the push and pull factors and the early indicators of radicalisation, and offers decisive and unambiguous advice on how and when to intervene. The book includes anonymous case studies of a wide variety of people Hanif has personally worked with and lays down simple lessons on what success and failure looks like when tackling extremism.Trade Review"No one I know has done more on the ground with practical experience countering violent extremism than Hanif Qadir. His experience and expertise is something we can all learn from. For anyone interested in counter-extremism, his book is an absolute must read." Peter Neumann, Professor of Security Studies and Director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization, King's College LondonTable of ContentsPersonal Testimony and Experiences within the Al Qaeda network Underlying Issues Current Challenges The Reality of the Threat Early indicators including the general 22 Point Vulnerability Assessment Framework Interventions - When & Who is best suited Recruitment Strategies early and current Attitudes and Behaviour Push & Pull Factors Case studies: Learning Outcomes Referral Pathways What does success and Failure look like The correct Islamic Perspective on Extremism and Terrorism Concluding Remarks

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Book SynopsisSimon Weekes becomes an overnight celebrity after his heroics during the 7/7 Bombings. But Simon can't afford the newfound fame and attention - he has too much to lose.July 7, 2005. Simon Weekes is travelling on the London Underground when his tube carriage is wrecked by a bomb blast. Virtually everyone is killed and almost all the survivors are severely injured. Except for Simon.Having quickly and calmly organised the small band of survivors out of the wreckage and to safety, word of Simon's heroics get out in the days following the bombing. Now under the full glare of the media spotlight, he becomes an overnight celebrity, hounded for interviews and regularly approached in the street by autograph hunters.The only thing is, he doesn't want all the attention. He can't afford it. He has too much to lose.

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Book SynopsisThe astonishing, gripping and long-awaited inside story of an ordinary man who became an extraordinary spy.After years of living in semi-isolation, David Rupert speaks for the first time about how a trucker from New York ended up being recruited to the FBI and MI5 at one of the most crucial moments in British political history.Including shock revelations about Rupert's discoveries working within the Real IRA - such as sending plastic explosives and detonators, hidden inside toys, to a primary school in Donegal. Author Sean O'Driscoll tells the incredible story of David, 'The Big Yank', a 6ft7 American tourist who found himself at the centre of a chilling campaign of terror that targeted civilians, the forces and Prime Minister Tony Blair.Countless lives have been saved by David Rupert's decision to risk his neck working for years within one of the most brutal and ruthless terrorist organisations in the world - an organisation whose language of violence left women and children amongst the dead in the Omagh atrocity.An unprecedented bombing campaign was planned to destroy any hopes of a peace agreement. In a trial that rested entirely on the evidence of the 'Big Yank', those plans for ongoing bloodshed and an end to the Good Friday Agreement were brought to a halt.

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Book SynopsisSimon Weekes becomes an overnight celebrity after his heroics during the 7/7 Bombings. But Simon can't afford the newfound fame and attention - he has too much to lose.July 7, 2005. Simon Weekes is travelling on the London Underground when his tube carriage is wrecked by a bomb blast. Virtually everyone is killed and almost all the survivors are severely injured. Except for Simon.Having quickly and calmly organised the small band of survivors out of the wreckage and to safety, word of Simon's heroics get out in the days following the bombing. Now under the full glare of the media spotlight, he becomes an overnight celebrity, hounded for interviews and regularly approached in the street by autograph hunters.The only thing is, he doesn't want all the attention. He can't afford it. He has too much to lose.

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Book SynopsisTerrorism Explained to Our Kids, takes the form of a dialogue between the author and his teenage daughter. Using her ill-defined fears as the starting point, Exploring all forms of terrorism in both a historical and contemporary context, the book addresses complex and pressing questions in an everyday, accessible language. Because Ben Jelloun understands that terrorist acts come from the perpetrators' deep sense of inadequacy, his arguments are all the more powerful. The author, himself a Muslim, places a high value on the importance of secular values, with which he believes Islam is compatible.

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Book SynopsisThis edited collection considers whether it is possible to discern how the level of ideology is affected by radicalization. In other words: what happens in the minds of people before they decide to use political violence as means to attain their goals? Also this book asks: what has to happen in the minds of people in order to preclude them from using political violence as a way of attaining their goals? This volume unites scholars from several disciplines and perspectives from a number of different geographical, social and cultural contexts with the overarching aim to refine our understanding of what ‘radicalization’ actually implies.Table of Contents1 Introduction: Understanding Ideological Radicalization, Andreas Önnerforsand Kristian Steiner2 “Christianist” Lone Wolf Terrorism, Matthew Feldman3 Who is Setting Your Agenda?: Social Network Analysis of Radical Movements’, Josef Slerka and Vit Sisler4 Taking the Streets with Concepts, Andreas Onnerfors5 Political Radicalization in Israel, Dani Filc6 Peace Expectations in Messianic Judaism, Kristian Steiner, Anders Lundberg7 Dealing with the Intimate Enemy, Sarbeswar Sahoo8 Elections, Violence and (de)radicalization, Megan Dyfvermark (Reif)9 The Perfect Storm: A Study of Boko Haram, Caroline Varin10 Ideas, Perceptions or Realities, Jonathan Githens-Mazer11 Exit from Terrorism and Violence and Extremism, Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen12 Conclusion, Andreas Onnerfors and Kristian Steiner

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Book SynopsisExamining the way terrorism challenges traditional norms, this title discusses the morality of various practices of torture, and explores the infamous ticking time-bomb scenario. It addresses criticisms of torture, analyzing the impact its adoption could have on democracy, institutional structures, and foreign policy.Trade Review"Terrorism, Ticking Time-Bombs, and Torture adds much to current discussion of a great many issues. Fritz Allhoff broadens the torture and terrorism debate, deftly analyzes exceptionalism and absolutism, probes the ticking time-bomb scenario to surprising and controversial effect, and offers novel empirical data and a trenchant interpretation of complex legal issues." (Michael L. Gross, University of Haifa)"

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Book SynopsisOn July 31, 1997, a six-man Emergency Service team from the NYPD raided a terrorist cell in Brooklyn - and thus narrowly prevented a devastating suicide bombing of the New York subway. This book tells the dramatic story of that raid, the painstaking police work that went into it, and its unexpected aftermath.Trade Review"This is the most honest, accurate, and heartfelt look beneath the surface of the NYPD that I've ever read. This writer understands cops. The core event, the 1997 raid that prevented a Brooklyn subway bombing, moves with the pace of a thriller, yet Jennifer Hunt perfectly, movingly captures the thoughts and emotions of the cops involved. It's a rare accomplishment to get cops to pour out their hearts like this." - Ed Dee, retired NYPD Lieutenant, author of The Con Man's Daughter"

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Book SynopsisBeginning with a dissection of the instruction manual given to each of the 9/11 hijackers, this book talks about the September 11 and serves as a study on the character of religion. It shows how the terrorists justified acts of destruction and mass murder "in the name of God, the most merciful, the most compassionate."Trade Review"From time to time there appears a work... that serves to focus the wide-ranging, often contentious discussion of religion's significance within broader cultural dynamics. Bruce Lincoln's Holy Terrors is one such text.... Anyone still struggling toward a more nuanced comprehension of 9/11 would do well to spend time with this book." - Theodore Pulcini, Middle East Journal "Modernity has ended twice: in its Marxist form in 1989 Berlin, and in its liberal form on September 11, 2001. In order to understand such major historical changes we need both large-scale and focused analyses - a combination seldom to be found in one volume. But here Bruce Lincoln... has given us just such a mix of discrete and large-picture analysis." - Stephen Healey, Christian Century"

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Book SynopsisConsidering the ways the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have been aestheticized, exploited, and appropriated, this title examines the complex and paradoxical character of American public discourse since then. Calling for a sustained cultural and theoretical analysis, it considers these events with a perspective grounded in the humanities.Trade Review"Simpson's book is a necessary attempt to critically engage what we call '9/11' as a singular moment in the history of memory, as a cultural event. Its major contribution resides in that it forces us to reflect on the monumental imprint of 9/11 and on its dissemination and circulation in public mourning and remembrance, in architecture and memorialization. The book articulates a passionate and ethical call for cultural and theoretical analysis." - Gil Anidjar, Columbia University"

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Book SynopsisOn March 16, 1978, the former prime minister of Italy, Aldo Moro, was kidnapped by the Red Brigades, and what followedthe fifty-five days of captivity that resulted in Moro's murderconstitutes one of the most striking social dramas of the twentieth century. In this compelling study of terrorism, Robin Wagner-Pacifici employs methods from sociology, symbolic anthropology, and literary criticism to decode the many social texts that shaped the event: political speeches, newspaper reports, television and radio news, editorials, photographs, Moro's letters, Red Brigade communiques, and appeals by various international figures. The analysis of these texts calls into question the function of politics, social drama, spectacle, and theater. Wagner-Pacifici provides a dramaturgic analysis of the Moro affair as a method for discussing the culture of politics in Italy.

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Book SynopsisStates that counterterrorism has become pivotal in promoting terrorism. This title contrasts the psychological insight of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" with "The 9/11 Commission Report", plumbs the mindset of terrorists in works by Oriana Fallaci and Jean Genet, and maps the continuities between the cold war and the fight against terrorism.Trade Review"This is a brilliant book - a rich and insightful theoretical analysis. Zulaika presents an in-depth critical and cultural deconstruction of what terrorism means symbolically, how it is used in political discourse, and how it is applied by the U.S. government as a means of manufacturing consent for violent policies of counterterrorism." - Jeffrey Sluka, author of Death Squad"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Ecoliberation makes an important contribution to the literature in a number of ways. First and foremost, studies of social movements routinely ignore anarchism, and Jennifer Grubbs describes tendencies within the anarchist movement and radical milieus in detail. A compelling work.” Deric Shannon, Emory University and editor of The End of the World as We Know It? Crisis, Resistance, and the Age of Austerity

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Book SynopsisThis book challenges the belief that democratic institutions and economic growth are effective tools for defeating an insurgency. Jeffrey Treistman reveals that while moderate violence can lead to government overthrow, bad actors that pursue indiscriminate violence and brutal repression can defeat a rebellion. As a result, bad states sometimes win.Trade Review"An interesting and provocative work. Readers interested in the debate over the efficacy of population-centric COIN will find this book worth reading." Choice“Drawing on relevant professional experience, a sound theory built on robust engagement with the literature, and careful quantitative and qualitative analysis, Treistman makes a compelling case for his argument that a repressive counterinsurgent strategy will succeed when it engages in extreme levels of repression or barbarism.” H-War

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