Leaderless Jihad Terror Networks

Author : Marc Sageman
Publisher : University of Pennsylvania Press
ISBN 13 : 0812206789
Total Pages : 210 pages
Book Rating : 4.84/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Leaderless Jihad written by Marc Sageman and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. This book was released on 2011-09-28 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the post-September 11 world, Al Qaeda is no longer the central organizing force that aids or authorizes terrorist attacks or recruits terrorists. It is now more a source of inspiration for terrorist acts carried out by independent local groups that have branded themselves with the Al Qaeda name. Building on his previous groundbreaking work on the Al Qaeda network, forensic psychiatrist Marc Sageman has greatly expanded his research to explain how Islamic terrorism emerges and operates in the twenty-first century. In Leaderless Jihad, Sageman rejects the views that place responsibility for terrorism on society or a flawed, predisposed individual. Instead, he argues, the individual, outside influence, and group dynamics come together in a four-step process through which Muslim youth become radicalized. First, traumatic events either experienced personally or learned about indirectly spark moral outrage. Individuals interpret this outrage through a specific ideology, more felt and understood than based on doctrine. Usually in a chat room or other Internet-based venues, adherents share this moral outrage, which resonates with the personal experiences of others. The outrage is acted on by a group, either online or offline. Leaderless Jihad offers a ray of hope. Drawing on historical analogies, Sageman argues that the zeal of jihadism is self-terminating; eventually its followers will turn away from violence as a means of expressing their discontent. The book concludes with Sageman's recommendations for the application of his research to counterterrorism law enforcement efforts.

Author : Marc Sageman
Publisher : University of Pennsylvania Press
ISBN 13 : 0812206797
Total Pages : 233 pages
Book Rating : 4.91/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Understanding Terror Networks written by Marc Sageman and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. This book was released on 2011-09-21 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For decades, a new type of terrorism has been quietly gathering ranks in the world. America's ability to remain oblivious to these new movements ended on September 11, 2001. The Islamist fanatics in the global Salafi jihad (the violent, revivalist social movement of which al Qaeda is a part) target the West, but their operations mercilessly slaughter thousands of people of all races and religions throughout the world. Marc Sageman challenges conventional wisdom about terrorism, observing that the key to mounting an effective defense against future attacks is a thorough understanding of the networks that allow these new terrorists to proliferate. Based on intensive study of biographical data on 172 participants in the jihad, Understanding Terror Networks gives us the first social explanation of the global wave of activity. Sageman traces its roots in Egypt, gestation in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan war, exile in the Sudan, and growth of branches worldwide, including detailed accounts of life within the Hamburg and Montreal cells that planned attacks on the United States. U.S. government strategies to combat the jihad are based on the traditional reasons an individual was thought to turn to terrorism: poverty, trauma, madness, and ignorance. Sageman refutes all these notions, showing that, for the vast majority of the mujahedin, social bonds predated ideological commitment, and it was these social networks that inspired alienated young Muslims to join the jihad. These men, isolated from the rest of society, were transformed into fanatics yearning for martyrdom and eager to kill. The tight bonds of family and friendship, paradoxically enhanced by the tenuous links between the cell groups (making it difficult for authorities to trace connections), contributed to the jihad movement's flexibility and longevity. And although Sageman's systematic analysis highlights the crucial role the networks played in the terrorists' success, he states unequivocally that the level of commitment and choice to embrace violence were entirely their own. Understanding Terror Networks combines Sageman's scrutiny of sources, personal acquaintance with Islamic fundamentalists, deep appreciation of history, and effective application of network theory, modeling, and forensic psychology. Sageman's unique research allows him to go beyond available academic studies, which are light on facts, and journalistic narratives, which are devoid of theory. The result is a profound contribution to our understanding of the perpetrators of 9/11 that has practical implications for the war on terror.

Author : Marc Sageman
Publisher : University of Pennsylvania Press
ISBN 13 : 0812248899
Total Pages : 220 pages
Book Rating : 4.90/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Misunderstanding Terrorism written by Marc Sageman and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Misunderstanding Terrorism provides a striking reassessment of the scope and nature of the global neo-jihadi threat to the West. The post-9/11 decade experienced the emergence of new forms of political violence and new terrorist actors. More recently, Marc Sageman's understanding of how and why people have adopted fundamentalist ideologies and terrorist methods has evolved. Author of the classic Understanding Terror Networks, Sageman has become only more critical of the U.S. government's approach to the problem. He argues that U.S. society has been transformed for the worse by an extreme overreaction to a limited threat—limited, he insists, despite spectacular recent incidents, which he takes fully into account. Indeed, his discussion of just how limited the threat is marks a major contribution to the discussion and debate over the best way to a measured and much more effective response.

Author : Marc Sageman
Publisher : University of Pennsylvania Press
ISBN 13 : 0812248775
Total Pages : 520 pages
Book Rating : 4.77/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Turning to Political Violence written by Marc Sageman and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. This book was released on 2017-06-22 with total page 520 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Counterterrorism consultant Marc Sageman examines the history and theory of political violence in his comprehensive new book. Seeking patterns across numerous key case studies, Turning to Political Violence offers a paradigm-shifting perspective that yields stark new implications for the ways liberal democracies should respond to terrorism.

Author : Peter L. Bergen
Publisher : Crown
ISBN 13 : 0804139547
Total Pages : 410 pages
Book Rating : 4.40/5 ( download)

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Download or read book United States of Jihad written by Peter L. Bergen and published by Crown. This book was released on 2016 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a look at "homegrown" Islamist terrorism, from 9/11 to the present, discusses the perpetrators who have acted both in the U.S. and abroad, and examines the controversial tactics used to track potential terrorists. --Publisher's description.

Author : Mitchell D. Silber
Publisher : University of Pennsylvania Press
ISBN 13 : 0812205227
Total Pages : 368 pages
Book Rating : 4.20/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The Al Qaeda Factor written by Mitchell D. Silber and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. This book was released on 2011-11-29 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The horrific and devastating events of September 11, 2001 changed the world's perception of Al Qaeda. What had been considered a small band of revolutionary terrorists capable only of attacking Western targets in the Middle East and Africa suddenly demonstrated an ability to strike globally with enormous impact. Subsequent plots perpetuated the impression of Al Qaeda as a highly organized and rigidly controlled organization with recruiters, operatives, and sleeper cells in the West who could be activated on command. We now know, however, that the role of Al Qaeda in global jihadist plots has varied significantly over time. New York Police Department terrorism expert Mitchell D. Silber argues that to comprehend the threat posed by the transnational jihad movement, we must have a greater and more nuanced understanding of the dynamics behind Al Qaeda plots. In The Al Qaeda Factor he examines sixteen Al Qaeda-associated plots and attacks, from the 1993 World Trade Center bombing to today. For each case, he probes primary sources and applies a series of questions to determine the precise involvement of Al Qaeda. What connects radicalized groups in the West to the core Al Qaeda organization in the borderlands of Afghanistan and Pakistan? Does one of the plotters have to attend an Al Qaeda training camp or meet with an Al Qaeda trainer, or can they simply be inspired by Al Qaeda ideology? Further analysis examines the specifics of Al Qaeda's role in the inspiration, formation, membership, and organization of terrorist groups. Silber also identifies potential points of vulnerability, which may raise the odds of thwarting future terrorist attacks in the West. The Al Qaeda Factor demonstrates that the role of Al Qaeda is very limited even in plots with direct involvement. Silber finds that in the majority of cases, individuals went to Al Qaeda seeking aid or training, but even then there was limited direct command and control of the terrorists' activities—a sobering conclusion that demonstrates that even the destruction of Al Qaeda's core would not stop Al Qaeda plots.

Author : Brynjar Lia
Publisher : Hurst & Company
ISBN 13 : 9781850658566
Total Pages : 510 pages
Book Rating : 4.60/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Architect of Global Jihad written by Brynjar Lia and published by Hurst & Company. This book was released on 2007 with total page 510 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Despite His Alleged Capture In Pakistan In Late 2005, Abu Mus’Abal-Suri, A Syrian Originally Known As Mustafa Sethmarian Nasar, Remains A Potent Political And Ideological Figure. Al-Suri Trained A Generation Of Young Jihadis At Al-Qaida’S Afghan Camps And Helped Establish The Organisation’S European Networks. Having Gained Extensive Military Experience Fighting In The Syrian Islamist Insurgency Of The Early 1980S, He Helped To Shape Al-Qaida’S Global Strategy In A Series Of Writings, Including His Influential Global Islamic Resistance Call. In This 1,600 Page Book, Al-Suri Outlines A Broad Strategy For Al-Qaida’S Younger Generation To Follow And Describes Practical Ways To Implement The Theories And Tactics Of Jihadi Guerilla Warfare. In Architect Of Global Jihad, Brynjar Lia Translates Two Key Concepts From Al-Suri’S Global Islamic Resistance Call And Exposes His Methods For Maximizing The Political Impact Of Jihadi Violence And Building Successful, Autonomous Cells For ‘Individualised Terrorism’. Al-Suri’S Words Have Inspired Many Of Today’S Militants, Making Lia’S Detailed Portrait Required Reading For Students And Specialists Of Islamist Movements And The Study Of Contemporary Forms Of Terrorism."

Author : Scott Atran
Publisher : Harper Collins
ISBN 13 : 0062020749
Total Pages : 580 pages
Book Rating : 4.41/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Talking to the Enemy written by Scott Atran and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2010-10-19 with total page 580 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Atran explores the way terrorists think of themselves and teaches us, at last, intelligent ways to think about terrorists.” —Christopher Dickey, Newsweek Middle East Editor and author of Securing the City Talking to the Enemy by Scott Atran is an eye-opening and important book that offers readers a startling look deep inside terror groups. Based on the author’s unprecedented access to and in-depth interviews with terrorists and jihadis—including Al Qaeda, Hamas, and Taliban extremists, as well as members of other radical Islamic terror organizations—Talking to the Enemy provides fresh insight and unexpected answers to why there are people in this world willing to kill and die for a cause. A riveting, compelling work in the tradition of The Looming Tower and Terror in the Name of God, Talking to the Enemy is required reading for anyone interested in making the world a safer, more secure place for everyone.

Author : Jason Burke
Publisher : Random House
ISBN 13 : 1473522692
Total Pages : 320 pages
Book Rating : 4.95/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The New Threat From Islamic Militancy written by Jason Burke and published by Random House. This book was released on 2015-08-27 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE 2016 In The New Threat renowned expert and prize-winning reporter Jason Burke provides the clearest and most comprehensive guide to Islamic militancy today. From Syria to Somalia, from Libya to Indonesia, from Yemen to the capitals of Europe, Islamic militancy appears stronger, more widespread and more threatening than ever. ISIS and other groups, such as Boko Haram, together command significant military power, rule millions and control extensive territories. Elsewhere Al-Qaeda remains potent and is rapidly evolving. Factions and subsidiaries proliferate worldwide, and a new generation of Western Jihadists are emerging, joining conflicts abroad and attacking at home. Who are these groups and what do they actually want? What connects them and how do they differ? How are we to understand their tactics of online activism and grotesque violence? Drawing on almost two decades of frontline reporting as well as a vast range of sources, from intelligence officials to the militants themselves, renowned expert Jason Burke cuts through the mass of opinion and misinformation to explain dispassionately and with total clarity the nature of the threat we now face. He shows that Islamic militancy has changed dramatically in recent years. Far from being a ‘medieval’ throwback, it is modern, dynamic and resilient. Despite everything, it is entirely comprehensible. The New Threat is essential reading if we are to understand our fears rather than succumb to them, to act rationally and effectively, and to address successfully one of the most urgent problems of our time.

Author : Mia Bloom
Publisher : University of Pennsylvania Press
ISBN 13 : 0812208102
Total Pages : 322 pages
Book Rating : 4.08/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Bombshell written by Mia Bloom and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. This book was released on 2012-08-13 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Between 1985 and 2008, female suicide bombers committed more than 230 attacks—about a quarter of all such acts. Women have become the ideal stealth weapon for terrorist groups. They are less likely to be suspected or searched and as a result have been used to strike at the heart of coalition troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. This alarming tactic has been highly effective, garnering extra media attention and helping to recruit more numbers to the terrorists' cause. Yet, as Mia Bloom explains in Bombshell: Women and Terrorism, female involvement in terrorism is not confined to suicide bombing and not limited to the Middle East. From Northern Ireland to Sri Lanka, women have been engaged in all manner of terrorist activities, from generating propaganda to blowing up targets. What drives women to participate in terrorist activities? Bloom—a scholar of both international studies and women's studies—blends scrupulous research with psychological insight to unearth affecting stories from women who were formerly terrorists. She moves beyond gender stereotypes to examine the conditions that really influence female violence, arguing that while women terrorists can be just as bloodthirsty as their male counterparts, their motivations tend to be more intricate and multilayered. Through compelling case studies she demonstrates that though some of these women volunteer as martyrs, many more have been coerced by physical threats or other means of social control. As evidenced by the March 2011 release of Al Qaeda's magazine Al Shamikha, dubbed the jihadi Cosmo, it is clear that women are the future of even the most conservative terrorist organizations. Bombshell is a groundbreaking book that reveals the inner workings of a shocking, unfamiliar world.