ISIS: An Introduction and Guide to the Islamic State
Providing up-to-date information for general readers as well as those well-informed about the Islamic State, this book offers an essential understanding of the rise of ISIS and its current influence in the Middle East as well as worldwide.

ISIS—also referred to as ISIL, the Islamic State, or Daesh—began to assert its power and gain recognition for its militant and terroristic activities in April 2013. After the coordinated attacks in Paris on November 13th, 2015, ISIS has captured the full attention of observers in the West. This accessible book explains what ISIS is, what the group's goals are, what their members believe, and why their ranks are growing. Readers will gain an understanding of how ISIS is a unique group—one seeking to be the army of the righteous fighting to defeat the unbelievers and usher in the end of days—but that the extremist views of ISIS are an expression of a growing frustration with life in the Middle East and elsewhere shared by a larger community of non-state and post-state actors.

The book provides an introduction that documents the origins of ISIS within the larger Al Qaeda organization during the Iraq War. The following chapters discuss the origins, development, and territorial expansion of ISIS in Syria and Iraq and examine the ideological motivations behind the emergence of ISIS, thereby enabling a nuanced understanding of the importance of ISIS in contemporary history. Other entries discuss individuals, events, and organizations that put ISIS in historical context in terms of contemporary events since the Iraq War into the present and explain the group's position within the complex conflict currently boiling in the Middle East.

1123105676
ISIS: An Introduction and Guide to the Islamic State
Providing up-to-date information for general readers as well as those well-informed about the Islamic State, this book offers an essential understanding of the rise of ISIS and its current influence in the Middle East as well as worldwide.

ISIS—also referred to as ISIL, the Islamic State, or Daesh—began to assert its power and gain recognition for its militant and terroristic activities in April 2013. After the coordinated attacks in Paris on November 13th, 2015, ISIS has captured the full attention of observers in the West. This accessible book explains what ISIS is, what the group's goals are, what their members believe, and why their ranks are growing. Readers will gain an understanding of how ISIS is a unique group—one seeking to be the army of the righteous fighting to defeat the unbelievers and usher in the end of days—but that the extremist views of ISIS are an expression of a growing frustration with life in the Middle East and elsewhere shared by a larger community of non-state and post-state actors.

The book provides an introduction that documents the origins of ISIS within the larger Al Qaeda organization during the Iraq War. The following chapters discuss the origins, development, and territorial expansion of ISIS in Syria and Iraq and examine the ideological motivations behind the emergence of ISIS, thereby enabling a nuanced understanding of the importance of ISIS in contemporary history. Other entries discuss individuals, events, and organizations that put ISIS in historical context in terms of contemporary events since the Iraq War into the present and explain the group's position within the complex conflict currently boiling in the Middle East.

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ISIS: An Introduction and Guide to the Islamic State

ISIS: An Introduction and Guide to the Islamic State

by Brian L. Steed
ISIS: An Introduction and Guide to the Islamic State

ISIS: An Introduction and Guide to the Islamic State

by Brian L. Steed

Hardcover

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Overview

Providing up-to-date information for general readers as well as those well-informed about the Islamic State, this book offers an essential understanding of the rise of ISIS and its current influence in the Middle East as well as worldwide.

ISIS—also referred to as ISIL, the Islamic State, or Daesh—began to assert its power and gain recognition for its militant and terroristic activities in April 2013. After the coordinated attacks in Paris on November 13th, 2015, ISIS has captured the full attention of observers in the West. This accessible book explains what ISIS is, what the group's goals are, what their members believe, and why their ranks are growing. Readers will gain an understanding of how ISIS is a unique group—one seeking to be the army of the righteous fighting to defeat the unbelievers and usher in the end of days—but that the extremist views of ISIS are an expression of a growing frustration with life in the Middle East and elsewhere shared by a larger community of non-state and post-state actors.

The book provides an introduction that documents the origins of ISIS within the larger Al Qaeda organization during the Iraq War. The following chapters discuss the origins, development, and territorial expansion of ISIS in Syria and Iraq and examine the ideological motivations behind the emergence of ISIS, thereby enabling a nuanced understanding of the importance of ISIS in contemporary history. Other entries discuss individuals, events, and organizations that put ISIS in historical context in terms of contemporary events since the Iraq War into the present and explain the group's position within the complex conflict currently boiling in the Middle East.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781440849862
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 06/20/2016
Pages: 216
Product dimensions: 6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Brian L. Steed is assistant professor of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and a U.S. Army Middle East foreign area officer.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Introduction: The Significance of ISIS 1

What's in a Name?: IS, ISIS, ISIL, Da'ash 5

What Is ISIS? 9

Leaders of ISIS 13

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi 13

Abu Ayyub al-Masri 16

Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi 16

Abu Bakr al-Quraishi al-Baghdadi 17

The History and Operations of ISIS: Iraq to Syria to Iraq Again 21

Phase 1: Operating in al-Qaeda's Shadow 21

Phase 2: A State Is Declared 24

Phase 3: Arab Spring 25

Phase 4: Building the State 27

Phase 5: Declaring the State 29

Phase 6: Defending the State 31

Ideas behind ISIS 35

Management of Savagery: Violence as a Tool 35

Salafist Ideology 36

Religious End-of-Days Interpretations 38

Caliphate 39

Slavery' 40

Idolatry 40

Enemies of ISIS 43

U.S.-Led Coalition (Part of Operation Inherent Resolve) 43

Syrian Regime 44

Syrian Opposition 45

Iraqi Regime 47

Popular Mobilization Forces 48

Tribes 49

Kurdish Resistance 50

Iran 51

The Attraction of ISIS 53

Recruiting 53

Women in ISIS 55

Financing ISIS 55

Allegiance to ISIS: The Loyal Following 59

Conservative Sunni Muslims 60

Former Ba'athists and Former Iraqi Regime Members 60

Sunni Nationalists 61

Salafi-Jihadis 61

Foreign Fighters 61

Foreign Supporters 62

Allies and Franchises 62

ISIS and the Media 63

Twitter 63

Web Sites 64

Video 64

Magazine-Dabiq 64

Taking Credit 65

Violence for Media's Sake 65

Life in the Islamic State 67

Is ISIS a State? 71

Reference Entries 73

Abbasid Caliphate 73

Al-Amiri, Hadi 74

Al-Assad, Bashar Hafez 74

Al-Baghdadi, Abu Abdullah al-Rashid 75

Al-Baghdadi, Abu Bakr 76

Al-Maqdisi, Abu Muhammad 76

Al-Masri, Abu Ayyub 77

Al-Qaeda 77

Al-Sham (Levant) 78

Al-Zarqawi, Abu Musab 79

Al-Zawahiri, Ay man 79

Alawi (Alawite[sJ) 80

Amir al-Mu'minin. (Prince of the Faithful) 81

Arab 81

Arab Spring 82

Baghdad, Iraq S3

Bay'ah (Oath of Allegiance) 84

Bayji, Battle of 85

Bin Laden, Osama 86

Boko Haram 87

Caliph 88

Caliph, Rashidun 89

Caliphate 92

CENTCOM 93

Crusades 94

Dabiq, Battle of 96

Dabiq Magazine 97

Dajjal 99

Deir al-Zour, Battle of 100

Fallujah, Iraq 100

Hadith 102

Hijrah 103

Hezbollah 104

Islam 106

Islam, Five Pillars 107

Islamic Conquests (Seventh Century) 109

Israel 111

Jabhat al-Nusra 113

Lihad 114

Kharajites or Khawarij 116

Kobane, Battle of 116

Mahdi 117

Mosul, Iraq 118

Nasheed 119

Omar, Mohammed 121

Operation Desert Storm 123

Operation Inherent Resolve 124

Operation Iraqi Freedom 124

Ottoman Empire 128

Palmyra, Syria 128

Quran 129

Quraysh 130

Ramadi, Battle of 131

Raqqa, Syria 132

Safavid Empire 132

Sahwa (Sunni Uprising) 133

Salafist 135

Sharia 136

Shia 137

Soleimani, Qasem 138

Sunni or ahl al-sunna 138

The Surge 139

Sykes-Picot Agreement 141

Tikrit, Battle of 142

Umayyad Caliphate 142

Ummah 144

Wahhabi 144

Wilayah 145

Yazidi 147

Appendix: Obama Administration Strategy Report, March 24, 2016 149

Chronology 159

Bibliography 175

Index 189

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