Introduction The so-called “Islamic State,” also known as ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) or ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), has captivated the world’s attention as of late. Its brutal tactics, vehement opposition to western-influenced societal norms, and ultra-radical interpretation of Sharia law have sent scholars, journalists, government officials, and ordinary citizens into a frenzy trying to comprehend this troubling phenomenon. ISIS is responsible for countless atrocities to include horrific beheadings, immolation, and chilling video releases of hostages and ominous threats. It has proven keenly adept at recruiting new members to its cause; these members hail from many regions around the globe. Led by the …show more content…
The combination of these factors has greatly influenced the coalescence and successes of ISIS thus far. Furthermore, I agree with Dr. Paul Staniland of the University of Chicago in determining that ISIS represents what can be considered a vanguard insurgent organization, and has the potential to coalesce into an integrated one in the future. Finally, ISIS shares several key similarities and differences with notable Islamic political organizations and insurgent networks of the past few to include the Palestinian Hamas and the Afghan Taliban. To properly analyze these factors of development, relevant theoretical framework will be highlighted including insurgent cohesion and development, alliance formation in civil wars and the factors determining levels of insurgent violence. Second, a comparative study of the previously mentioned organizations will be utilized to cross-examine ISIS’ composition and behavior. Similarities and differences in organizational structure and methodology between the case studies will be correlated. Finally, using existing theory as well as relevant data from the case studies will lead to determining whether ISIS is truly unique or merely a facsimile of other radical Islamic political insurgencies progressing through a certain stage of development. The case studies
Since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, America has been on edge about the topic of terrorism. Groups like Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Taliban, and now more recently, ISIS, has kept the world cautious of their every next move. Looking more closely into how these groups are formed and operate could help us better understand how they can be stopped. Studying the history of terrorist organizations can help us better predict the future of terrorist organizations.
During ISIS’s rise to power, there have been several key players, which have influenced the growth or decline of its movement. The center of Gravity (COG) for ISIS has been its ability to recruit volunteer foreign fighters from around to engage in its caliphate. In addition, local people from Iraqi, Syrian, and other Nations have been key players because of ISIS’s efforts promote fear and violence against their family or communities. Sunnis and Shia countries focused on regional power and security. Furthermore, the U.S. and its 70 Allies through Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign aim to defeat ISIS and promoting regional stability. The last key players are rival terrorist franchises or organizations like AQ, Taliban, Al Shabaab, and Hamas
Dictatorships are corrupt, but jihadist terrorist groups are far more destructive. Could it have been failed regime change which created a political vacuum that enabled ISIS to seize power? Critical mistakes made by America helped to construct the malicious growth of ISIS which in turn, suggests this was indeed the case. The theoretical idea that America has established international conflicts which sparked the rise of Isis is relevant to today’s world. Regardless of the fact that this is a controversial topic, it is hazardous to the numerous lives around the globe.
One of the greatest hybrid threats to global stability today is the rise of the Islamic State. ISIS has been using hybrid techniques for a number of years. Current insurgent activity taking place in Iraq and Syria has been well documented. ISIS has shown time and again that they are a well-organized military-like group with its structured rank and coordinated offensive tactics. In addition to insurgent actions, ISIS has taken to terrorism in many countries around the world in order to promote its objectives. Recently it has been discovered that ISIS has also teamed with criminal organizations in both Europe, Asia, and North America. Additionally, ISIS has waged an information war against its enemies by spreading its propaganda through news outlets
Over the past year or two, newspapers, radio stations, and news broadcasts have been covering the rapid ascent of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS. But they have spread far beyond those material boundaries, reaching into the minds and homes of young people across the globe. These young people are led to believe that ISIS is saving the world, not harming it and that they must partake in the fight for religious dictatorship. They are instructed over the internet to perform acts of terrorism in their own country, known as domestic terrorism. Due to the dramatic increase in terrorist activity
In current media there are constant stories of terror attacks including bombings, shootings, and sieges. Many of these assaults have been undertaken by the religious extremist group, ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), which have stemmed from the basic religious teachings of
ISIS is a terrorist group that originated from Al Qaeda in 2004. This group was an ally to Osama Bin Laden’s notorious Al Qaeda; “meaning they both were radical anti-Western militant groups devoted to establishing independent Islamic state in the region” (Thompson, 2015). The differences with ISIS and Osama’s terrorist group is that ISIS has proved to be more brutal and more effective at controlling the territory it has seized. With ISIS being the strongest current terrorist organization the question has been proposed; how will the world defeat this “group”? How has it affected the world? How will the end of this “organization” affect the world, if there ever will be an end? In order for ISIS to be destroyed all of these questions must be
The Global Jihad was materialized as the 21st century phenomenon, and its understanding by academics has been controversial. Two main features can be identified, the insurgent character of its strategy, and the transnational element of the organization. An insurgent movement is understood as
From the time when the United States invaded Iraq eleven years ago, a noxious insurgence aeriated at numerous customs of conflict which has attested irrepressible, malleable, and tenacious strive to convey on hostility. A nation of Saddam and al-Zarqawi, Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) reins a third of conjointly Syria and Iraq in its charisma avowed bravura of war. Around the beginning of 2010, U.S. and Iraqi forces destroyed two topmost al-Qaeda and Iraq frontrunners; which then sanctioned Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to become the spearhead of an assemblage destabilized by a strenuous operation directed at culminating a Sunni uprising in the country (CNN, 2015). By virtually all provision, Iraq is entangled in civil war. In addition, ISIS has engrossed nearly twelve thousand supporters from overseas already and at least three thousand devotees are from the West (Feroli & Dulin, 2013).
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, popularly known as ISIS and Daesh, is the 21st centuries rising global threat to humanity. The world has united to reduce and ultimately prevent genocide. In the paper ISIS will be referenced as Daesh. The initial part of the essay will cover Daesh origins, ideology, goals, and objectives. It is essential to know the similarities of the present Daesh brutalities and historic barbarisms of Wahhabism. The rest of the essay will focus on leadership, funding, and capabilities, such as physical bases support locations. The conclusion will attempt to raise concern of the internal threat within the United States. This essay will be limited to sources not having access to restricted or classified information. The closing goal of this essay is to embolden the serious threat to the United States and other countries seeking pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
All around the world, many are whispering questions about this new terrorist group ISIS. Are they truly a danger to the United States or any other country or are they only dangerous to the Middle East? Can they be easily defeated or have they gotten too far out of hand to be stopped? Critical thinkers, however, are formulating their opinions on the situation. The naïve disbelieve that this notorious terrorist group poses any real threat to humanity and that all are safe from their reaches and brutality. While others believe they are very dangerous and maybe too strong to completely handle or stop. These analyzers are wise to be skeptical about the IS’s abilities because once one underestimates the strength of its opponent
ISIS is identified as a Salafi extremist group, which refers to a very conservative outlook on the Islamic religion. With these abhorrent views of non-Muslims, many of the members have resorted to domestic violence, including suicide bombings and other forms of provoking fear in the innocent. Countries such as Iraq and Syria have made multiple attempts to combat ISIS, but they are currently deemed too powerful to be seized from power. A number of factors contribute to the horrific actions that are executed by the Islamic State, such as the disarmament of Saddam Hussein’s military back in the early 2000’s. Once the former Iraqi soldiers realized that they could not fight for their country, they transitioned into ISIS fighters and began to advocate for a much different cause- one that would affect millions of lives all over the
Therefore, the fact that ISIL has become very active in the context of civil war could be a strong indicator of its affiliation to AQ. This, as Robbins (2014) argues, is because civil wars can be said to be better and more reliable predictors of AQ affiliated groups than mere affiliation. This further means that the civil wars in Syria and Iraq could be better used to determine which groups taking part are AQ-affiliated than the mere fact that the groups have been known to be affiliated. It means that being known as an AQ affiliate does not matter much in determining the true affiliation of a group to AQ as does the group’s participation in civil wars (Robbins, 2014). ISIL emerged as very strong terrorist group within the context of the Iraqi civil war and has continued to show its lethality in the civil war in Syria (Laub and Masters, 2014). These two civil wars could be used, therefore, to better determine whether or not ISIL is actually an AQ affiliate. Determining this would in turn help in ascertaining the level of threat posed by AQ.
During the last decade, the Middle East has attracted the attention of the world’s eye for many reasons. Particularly, for the socials, political, and economic changes that have happened in these countries through the years. Consequently, the Middle East has lived a massive wave of military interventions, civil wars, violence, and death. Specifically, in the region of Iraq and Syria, where the people suffer the consequences of all the conflicts and affect the social development of this community. Under these circumstances, many military and terrorist affiliate groups have emerged, such as Al Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the most notorious and bloody one ISIS. Particularly, these groups have some religion's background, and their values are
“The Secret History of ISIS” demonstrates how different social, economic, and political problems in different countries came together in a coincidence and have led to a catastrophe.