Description
Book SynopsisAaron Y. Zelin uncovers the history of Tunisian involvement in the jihadi movement and offers an in-depth examination of the reasons why so many Tunisians became drawn to jihadism following the 2011 revolution.
Your Sons Are at Your Service is a meticulously researched account that challenges simplified views of jihadism’s appeal and success.
Trade ReviewBacked by an astonishing body of research,
Your Sons Are at Your Service is a sweeping, authoritative history of Tunisian jihadism, with new revelations on almost every page. Zelin is one of the most respected scholars studying terrorism at the top of his game in this debut book. -- J. M. Berger, author of
ExtremismIn this meticulously researched book packed with new discoveries, Zelin provides a comprehensive history of Tunisian jihadism, one of the least studied branches of the jihadi movement. But
Your Sons Are at Your Service is much more than a country case study: it provides important insights on broader topics such as postrevolutionary politics, Salafi activism, foreign fighting, rebel recruitment, jihadi ideology, the Islamic State, and the war in Libya. This book should be on the shelf of any serious student of the modern Middle East. -- Thomas Hegghammer, author of
Jihad in Saudi Arabia: Violence and Pan-Islamism Since 1979Zelin presents a striking and unique study of the Tunisian jihadi mobilization in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, its historical roots in the 1980s, and in the global jihadi movement. He has conducted extremely valuable and innovative research, collecting data and speaking with activists and leaders in the extremist circles on the ground in Tunisia. The book cements Zelin’s reputation as an expert in his field, prized for his independent voice on this critical subject. -- Jytte Klausen, Brandeis University
To understand modern jihadism as an ideology and dogma, the Tunisian jihadi movement provides a unique case. They were among the first, the most dedicated, and the most radical international recruits, challenging authorities at home and abroad. Some challenged the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and even the Islamic State. Zelin gives a glimpse into the past and future of jihadism through the Tunisian scope. -- Wassim Nasr, France 24
The stupefying body of research contained in this volume, the precise but constantly engaging historical reconstruction, and the meticulous fieldwork from which it stems — along with the remarkable precision of the vocabulary — make it one of the best works in the field of jihadi studies in quite some time. * European Eye on Radicalization *
Zelin’s step-by-step analysis of the response of the Tunisian state toward AST-orchestrated violence is particularly
illuminating. * Perspectives on Politics *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Abbreviations
Note on Transliteration
Introduction
1. The Generation of Zaytunah
2. A Scattered Group with a Less-Than-Perfect Image
3. Come Do Jihad
4. Sons of Tunisia
5. Tunisia Is a Land of
Dawa6. Hear from Us, Not About Us
7. Tunisians Can Be Found Everywhere in the Land of Jihad
8. It Was Mostly the Tunisians Who Were Involved in
Takfir9. Honest Ones Among the
Dawa People Must Come to al-Sham
10. We Are Here to Protect You from This Nonbeliever Government
11. The Future of the Tunisian Jihadi Movement
Author’s Note on Terminology
Notes
Bibliography
Index
