Description
Book SynopsisDespite many countries'' successful efforts to capture and kill al-Qaida members, the al-Qaida network remains one of the most viable threats to international security. To combat this threat, we must understand why individuals continue to join the network. The Lesser Jihad provides unique insight into this question, exploring the diversity of recruits and the motivational forces that drive seemingly ordinary individuals to turn to secrecy and violence as a way of life. These motivational forces, or the push, combine with al-Qaida''s recruitment efforts, or the pull. Through robust and proactive propaganda efforts, the al-Qaida network entices potential recruits to follow its call to armed jihad. This insider''s look will help policymakers, government officials, academics, the press, and citizens to understandand combatrecruitment into the al-Qaida network.
Trade ReviewMastors and Deffenbaugh have made an original contribution . . . insightful and practicable, a notable achievement. Summing Up: Highly Recommended. * CHOICE *
By focusing on the al Qaeda network's recruitment processes, The Lesser Jihad is an important contribution to our understanding of the measures required to counter and defeat such a terrorist network. * The Washington Times *
The Lesser Jihad presents new information on how al Qaida and its affiliated groups manage the recruitment of new operatives into their diverse terrorist networks. The authors’ analysis is well-informed, original, and an important contribution to the field of terrorism studies. -- Joshua Sinai, The Analysis Corporation
Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Recruitment Dilemma Part I Chapter 2: The Beginning and Context Part II Chapter 3: The Demographics of Extremists: Is There a Profile? Chapter 4: Individual Motivation: The Push to Extremism Part III Chapter 5: Methods: The Pull to Extremism Part IV Chapter 6: The Way Ahead
