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Profiling the Islamic State

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Profiling the Islamic State

Brookings Doha Center Analysis Paper

Brookings Institution,

5 min read
5 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Islamic State is trying to gain control in the Middle East through military, political, socioeconomic and religious intervention.

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative

Recommendation

The violent acts of Islamic State (IS) capture global attention. IS has characteristics common to terrorist organisations; it is a professional organization trying to gain control through military, political, socioeconomic and religious intervention. In this paper for the Brookings Doha Center, researcher Charles Lister explains the rise of IS and analyzes its military and political strategies. getAbstract recommends Lister’s perspective to members of antiterrorist squads, policy makers, and those interested in politics and international relations.

Summary

Islamic State (IS), founded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as Jama‘at al-Tawhid wa al-Jihad (JTWJ), was originally established as the protector of the Sunni community and to restore the Islamic caliphate in Iraq and neighboring regions. IS is now a multifaceted organization that professionally grooms its new recruits by providing religious and military training. Its military strategies are driven by information gathered from sources across the Middle East.

Technology has enabled IS to reach out to a wider audience and inspire potential jihadis from distant countries. IS uses social media to release ...

About the Author

Charles Lister is a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center. His current research assesses the state of the insurgency in Syria, particularly the growth of Salafi and jihadi groups.


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