The Islamist Phoenix : The Islamic State (ISIS) and the Redrawing of the Middle East

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.”__From the eBook edition.__ 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. Prologue: A New Breed Of Terrorism? -- From Al Zarqawi To Al Baghdadi -- Rehearsals For The Caliphate -- The Paradox Of The New Rome -- The Islamist Phoenix -- The Modern Jihad -- Radical Salafism -- The New Mongols -- Contemporary Pre-modern Wars -- Epilogue. Loretta Napoleoni. Includes Bibliographical References. 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.” An updated edition of The Islamist Phoenix is now available as 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. 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.” From the eBook edition. 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... ISIS,ISIL,IS,Islamic State,Iraq,Syria,Afghanistan,Pakistan,Iran,Gaza,Palestine,Egypt,terrorism,terrorist,war,Caliphate,Islam,social media,technology,terrorist network,jihad,jihadist,al Qaeda,border,Sharia Law A timely, piercing study of the Islamic State, as its rise to prominence and domination of Middle Eastern politics, is explained in revealing detail by economist and bestselling author Loretta Napoleoni. Napoleoni illuminates the singularity of IS and how it differs from other jihadist organisations, particularly in terms of its economic structure and focus on consensus instead of pure violence. Napoleoni traces the beginnings of IS, its dynamic with al-Qaeda, and its current status as the first official Caliphate in over a century