The Islamist Phoenix: The Islamic State and the Redrawing of the Middle East by Loretta Napoleoni
An updated edition of The Islamist Phoenix is now available as ISIS: The Terror Nation (978-1-60980-725-2) From its birth in the late 1990s as the jihadist dream of terrorist leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the Islamic State (known by a variety of names, including ISIS, ISIL, and al Qaeda in Iraq) has grown into a massive enterprise, redrawing national borders across the Middle East and subjecting an area larger than the United Kingdom to its own vicious brand of Sharia law. In The Islamist Phoenix, world-renowned terrorism expert Loretta Napoleoni takes us beyond the headlines, demonstrating that while Western media portrays the Islamic State as little more than a gang of thugs on a winning streak, the organization is proposing a new model for nation building. Waging a traditional war of conquest to carve out the 21st-century version of the original Caliphate, IS uses modern technology to recruit and fundraise while engaging the local population in the day-to-day running of the new state. Rising from the ashes of failing jihadist enterprises, the Islamic State has shown a deep understanding of Middle Eastern politics, fully exploiting proxy war and shell-state tactics. This is not another terrorist network but a formidable enemy in tune with the new modernity of the current world disorder. As Napoleoni writes, Ignoring these facts is more than misleading and superficial, it is dangerous. 'Know your enemy' remains the most important adage in the fight against terrorism. Editorial Reviews The Islamist Phoenix is a great entry point for those in want of a more solid understanding of the history and social complexities involved in the rise of the Islamic State. Loretta Napoleoni explains how this iteration of Islamism does not form from a vacuum, but almost inevitably, and sometimes knowingly, from the circumstances and conditions of the West's recent involvement in the Middle East in the last century. The Islamic State can, and almost certainly will, be defeated. But, how it is defeated is what truly matters, especially in the years, decades, and centuries to come. -Chelsea Manning A vital contribution to our understanding of what is happening in the Middle East -Chris Hedges - From the Publisher 02/01/2015 In this thorough review of the rise and threat of the Islamic State (IS), Napoleoni (Terror Incorporated; Maonomics) attempts to help shed light on the nature of this threat and to explain the goals of the state. The author shows that Islamist terrorism has expanded and strengthened since the 9/11 attacks on the United States. She illustrates that the primary difference is in their ability to use military prowess, media manipulation, social programs, and, above all, nation-building to grow at an accelerated speed. Napoleoni asserts that their success in these areas has shown them to be a much more serious threat than they have been credited by Western leaders. While drawing parallels among other groups, including the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) and the Muslim Brotherhood, the author traces the historical context for the rise to power of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the new Caliphate. Napoleoni reminds the reader of Pope Francis's declaration that World War III has already begun, based on the numerous conflicts flaring up around the world. The IS is using terrorism to force a revitalization movement that promises to return their controlled territory to the old Caliphate but with modern means. Napoleoni clearly justifies her call to action, asserting that the failure of the West and the world to address this issue will have devastating consequences for the world order. VERDICT An excellent addition for those with an interest in political science and the modern Middle East.--Brenna Smeall, AtoZdatabases, Omaha, NE - Library Journal
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Binding: Paperback
Published by: Seven Stories Press: , 2014
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ISBN: 9781609806286 | 160980628X
160 pages.
Book Condition: Good
Cover worn
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