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Irregular War: ISIS and the New Threat from the Margins
If the rise of Islamic State can overthrow powerful states in a matter of weeks, what kind of a secure future can the world expect? After more than a decade of the war on terror, security specialists thought that Islamist paramilitary movements were in decline; the threat from ISIS in Syria and Iraq, Boko Haram in Nigeria, al-Qaida in Yemen, the chaos in Libya and the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan have all shown that to be wishful thinking. Once again the West is at war in the Middle East. Paul Rogers, the distinguished global security specialist, provides a much-needed look at the rise of such global terrorist movements from the margins and presents a new argument as troubling as it is compelling. While Islamic State has taken root in the Middle East and North Africa and has increasing impact across the world as thousands of young men and women rally to its cause, Rogers argues that it should be seen not just as a threat in its own right but as a marker of a much more dangerous world riddled with irregular war.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2016
6 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Paul Rogers
23 books7 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Paul Rogers is Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford and Global Security Consultant with Oxford Research Group (ORG). He has worked in the field of international security, arms control and political violence for over 30 years. He lectures at universities and defence colleges in several countries and has written or edited 26 books, including Global Security and the War on Terror: Elite Power and the Illusion of Control (Routledge, 2008) and Why We're Losing the War on Terror (Polity, 2008). Since October 2001 he has written monthly Briefing Papers on international security and the "war on terror" for ORG. He is also a regular commentator on global security issues in both the national and international media, and is openDemocracy’s International Security Editor.
In the 1960s he worked with the Haslemere Group, an early pressure group on trade and development issues before embarking on an academic career first at Huddersfield and then at Bradford. [wikipedia]
Paul Rogers is Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford and Global Security Consultant with Oxford Research Group (ORG). He has worked in the field of international security, arms control and political violence for over 30 years. He lectures at universities and defence colleges in several countries and has written or edited 26 books, including Global Security and the War on Terror: Elite Power and the Illusion of Control (Routledge, 2008) and Why We're Losing the War on Terror (Polity, 2008). Since October 2001 he has written monthly Briefing Papers on international security and the "war on terror" for ORG. He is also a regular commentator on global security issues in both the national and international media, and is openDemocracy’s International Security Editor.
In the 1960s he worked with the Haslemere Group, an early pressure group on trade and development issues before embarking on an academic career first at Huddersfield and then at Bradford. [wikipedia]
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 20, 2016
‘By any analysis the War on Terror has been a conspicuous failure, but it continues as what appears to be the only way forward.’
So, what exactly has been achieved since the War on Terror began? Does anyone really believe that the world is any safer now then it was 15 years ago? You only need to look at the threat from ISIS in Syria and Iraq, the activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria, the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and recent acts of terrorism in Europe to see that this isn’t true. So, what are the factors leading the rise in global terrorism? Why are the Islamist paramilitary movements gaining strength?
‘After 15 years of the War on Terror, there have been more than 250,000 people killed, principally in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the majority of them civilians.’
In this book, Professor Paul Rogers looks how these global terrorist movements are arising in the margins. He makes a case that these revolts are made more likely by the widening global socio-economic divide and by the onset of climate disruption. How can this process be arrested? Professor Rogers outlines a number of changes that would need to be made, especially among the world’s elite communities, and is cautiously optimistic that the changes required can be made.
‘It is particularly difficult from a Western standpoint to understand the perception that it is Islam that is under attack, that it is in retreat in the face of aggression and that must be defended.’
I found Professor Rogers’s book thought-provoking, and will need to reread it to better understand all of the points he has made. Do I agree with all of his conclusions? I’m not sure, but I agree unless we look at the reasons behind the growth in global terrorism, mostly economic, environmental and military factors, we are not likely to be able find the common ground required to make the changes necessary. And if we don’t, what will the world look like in another 15 years?
Paul Rogers is Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University and the Global Security Consultant for the Oxford Research Group. He is a leading expert in the field of international security, arms control and political violence with over 30 years’ experience. Professor Rogers is a regular commentator on global security issues in both national and international media, and is International Security Editor for Open Democracy. He is the author of ‘Why We’re Losing the War on Terror’, and ‘Losing Control: Global Security in the 21st Century’.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and I.B. Tauris for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
So, what exactly has been achieved since the War on Terror began? Does anyone really believe that the world is any safer now then it was 15 years ago? You only need to look at the threat from ISIS in Syria and Iraq, the activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria, the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and recent acts of terrorism in Europe to see that this isn’t true. So, what are the factors leading the rise in global terrorism? Why are the Islamist paramilitary movements gaining strength?
‘After 15 years of the War on Terror, there have been more than 250,000 people killed, principally in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the majority of them civilians.’
In this book, Professor Paul Rogers looks how these global terrorist movements are arising in the margins. He makes a case that these revolts are made more likely by the widening global socio-economic divide and by the onset of climate disruption. How can this process be arrested? Professor Rogers outlines a number of changes that would need to be made, especially among the world’s elite communities, and is cautiously optimistic that the changes required can be made.
‘It is particularly difficult from a Western standpoint to understand the perception that it is Islam that is under attack, that it is in retreat in the face of aggression and that must be defended.’
I found Professor Rogers’s book thought-provoking, and will need to reread it to better understand all of the points he has made. Do I agree with all of his conclusions? I’m not sure, but I agree unless we look at the reasons behind the growth in global terrorism, mostly economic, environmental and military factors, we are not likely to be able find the common ground required to make the changes necessary. And if we don’t, what will the world look like in another 15 years?
Paul Rogers is Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University and the Global Security Consultant for the Oxford Research Group. He is a leading expert in the field of international security, arms control and political violence with over 30 years’ experience. Professor Rogers is a regular commentator on global security issues in both national and international media, and is International Security Editor for Open Democracy. He is the author of ‘Why We’re Losing the War on Terror’, and ‘Losing Control: Global Security in the 21st Century’.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and I.B. Tauris for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
December 13, 2016
A frankly terrifying book!
With the terrorist strikes in 2001 in America, and subsequent ones in Europe and other parts of the world since then we live in a more paranoid state than ever before. The Al Qaeda threat was extinguished to a certain extent by action by the USA and others and the security experts considered that the Islamic paramilitary organisations had been in decline.
But they hadn’t gone.
The rise of ISIS, Boko Haram and the resurrection of the Taliban has brought very worrying developments to the so-called war on terror, and once again the west is at war in the Middle East. These groups have moved on from what Al Qaeda was and did and the effect that they are having is quite terrifying, and yet the West really hasn’t grasped what they are or how to deal with them. In this detail and disturbing analysis of the situation, Rogers sets the context of the rise of their power and influence in the region. In our rapidly changing world he details the issues that we need to deal with urgently to starve them of the power base that they are drawing on, including dealing with the scandalous wealth divide in many societies, how climate change will lead to huge insecurity and fragility across the world and how the neo-liberal economy is not fit for purpose.
It is not an easy book and makes for challenging, grim and unsettling reading. But it is essential that people engage politically to press our governments to start to deal with these situations in a sensible and intelligent way rather than throwing money and weapons in and making everything much, much worse.
Paul
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
With the terrorist strikes in 2001 in America, and subsequent ones in Europe and other parts of the world since then we live in a more paranoid state than ever before. The Al Qaeda threat was extinguished to a certain extent by action by the USA and others and the security experts considered that the Islamic paramilitary organisations had been in decline.
But they hadn’t gone.
The rise of ISIS, Boko Haram and the resurrection of the Taliban has brought very worrying developments to the so-called war on terror, and once again the west is at war in the Middle East. These groups have moved on from what Al Qaeda was and did and the effect that they are having is quite terrifying, and yet the West really hasn’t grasped what they are or how to deal with them. In this detail and disturbing analysis of the situation, Rogers sets the context of the rise of their power and influence in the region. In our rapidly changing world he details the issues that we need to deal with urgently to starve them of the power base that they are drawing on, including dealing with the scandalous wealth divide in many societies, how climate change will lead to huge insecurity and fragility across the world and how the neo-liberal economy is not fit for purpose.
It is not an easy book and makes for challenging, grim and unsettling reading. But it is essential that people engage politically to press our governments to start to deal with these situations in a sensible and intelligent way rather than throwing money and weapons in and making everything much, much worse.
Paul
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
August 4, 2018
This a calm and logical warning that ISIS is not an isolated and insulated event, that ISIS is largely a result of a war in Iraq conducted by USA and Israel. ISIS has gained force through the ever-growing numbers of refugees created by military strife, by economic depression, and climactic degradation. He shows that what seem to be weak movements, like the one that brought down the Towers, can inflict great harm by exploiting the weakness of advanced and well-armed nations. As a result of some of the atrocities committed by US soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere, Islamic extremists have come to see themselves as protecting themselves and the world against the Western World Crusade of Domination. And ISIS sees itself as acting for eternity, which should terrify us, since they are willing to die and kill, and perhaps destroy the world.
He warns, that other, non-Islamic, poor and marginalized people, could join forces to form another variety of ISIS. He makes clear that our old knee jerk reaction of warfare as security is not going to cure the world of these groups. Economic and social disparities and climactic upheavals will create an increasingly angry world and only a world that is more fairly distributed among everyone will bring calm and peace.
He warns, that other, non-Islamic, poor and marginalized people, could join forces to form another variety of ISIS. He makes clear that our old knee jerk reaction of warfare as security is not going to cure the world of these groups. Economic and social disparities and climactic upheavals will create an increasingly angry world and only a world that is more fairly distributed among everyone will bring calm and peace.
October 15, 2018
It's curious how we forget all of the elements that have created the War on Terror yet they persist. A frightening look at our incapacity to deal with all of the challenges before us and how we have passively watched as they are created, and ignored, daily.
February 26, 2017
Paul Rogers is a noted academic with great knowledge in security studies, so he presents an intriguing perspective on the threats to societies not only in developed countries but in others in the coming decades. However, I was disappointed that he did not go deeper into his analysis of current terrorist and insurgent groups to develop his argument further. I would have especially liked to have seen more discussion about such groups in Asia, particulaly in Pakistan, linking these to his thesis. I also felt he spent more words that necessary on the threats from chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, and the serioiusness of climate change and economic marginalization. I found insufficient linking of these issues to his thesis. I would agree with "Dave" below that 2/3 of the book is interesting but I had trouble with the other 1/3.
September 6, 2016
Terrorism continues to leave its mark on the world and despite much-vaunted “wars on terror” and other actions it seems to show no sign of calming down. Is the west really so powerless to act? Could it do more? Does it want to? Are radical and brutal terror groups such as ISIS a one-off or are they an indication of a troubling, emerging future? Do we face other perils than “just” terror?
This book seeks to calmly look at matters, noting that so-called marginal majority terror groups are actively utilising asymmetric and hybrid warfare against nation states with often great success. Fear itself can be just as powerful a weapon as the action that may follow. Even advanced, well-equipped countries are suffering and not really making in-roads to cull terror attempts because they are effectively more reactive and defensive than proactive and offensive. Many are still looking for nation-state enemies with structures and behaviours to match, so anything that can come out of left-field may knock them for six.
It is a bit of a challenging read and may suffer from information overload, yet the author does a good job in getting the reader thinking about often unpleasant, difficult and concerning matters. We, the general public, may be powerless individually but we should still be engaged and alert to the problems that we may face; maybe then we can be better-informed and demand more from our leaders. A lot of the information may whoosh over your head, however it does remain a powerful, challenging and considerate book.
Terror groups such as ISIS are not the only things responsible for global insecurity, argues the author, noting that deepening socio-economic divisions contribute to the relative marginalisation of most people across the world. There may also be deep environmental issues due to climate change. Wars over water and foodstuff have been forecast for some time and written off by many as being conjecture and fear-mongering. When people get desperate, for whatever reasons, the next course of action may be very desperate indeed.
This book demands focus. It is not a light read. It is, however, a worthy and interesting read for those who are interested by defence, security and world affairs. It should have a much wider, generalist audience too, yet the book in its current form would be a bit too impenetrable for that.
Autamme.com
This book seeks to calmly look at matters, noting that so-called marginal majority terror groups are actively utilising asymmetric and hybrid warfare against nation states with often great success. Fear itself can be just as powerful a weapon as the action that may follow. Even advanced, well-equipped countries are suffering and not really making in-roads to cull terror attempts because they are effectively more reactive and defensive than proactive and offensive. Many are still looking for nation-state enemies with structures and behaviours to match, so anything that can come out of left-field may knock them for six.
It is a bit of a challenging read and may suffer from information overload, yet the author does a good job in getting the reader thinking about often unpleasant, difficult and concerning matters. We, the general public, may be powerless individually but we should still be engaged and alert to the problems that we may face; maybe then we can be better-informed and demand more from our leaders. A lot of the information may whoosh over your head, however it does remain a powerful, challenging and considerate book.
Terror groups such as ISIS are not the only things responsible for global insecurity, argues the author, noting that deepening socio-economic divisions contribute to the relative marginalisation of most people across the world. There may also be deep environmental issues due to climate change. Wars over water and foodstuff have been forecast for some time and written off by many as being conjecture and fear-mongering. When people get desperate, for whatever reasons, the next course of action may be very desperate indeed.
This book demands focus. It is not a light read. It is, however, a worthy and interesting read for those who are interested by defence, security and world affairs. It should have a much wider, generalist audience too, yet the book in its current form would be a bit too impenetrable for that.
Autamme.com
July 23, 2016
Review originally posted at Book of Bogan
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I Don't Know... am really not sure how to feel about this book, and the more I thought about it, something came to mind -- the delicious lyrics and worldly wisdom of Ozzy Osbourne. I would say that 2/3rds of this book is an interesting, and extremely up-to-date discussion about the problems which have faced the 'West' over the past 15 years; the problems of waging war in an asymmetric environment; and the rise of, or evolution of the ISIS movement, and America's role in the protogenesis of that movement. (War Pigs)
And then for no apparent reason, it's all aboard the goddamn Crazy Train as the author takes a left turn into a much more partisan discussion of the environment, climate change denial, and assorted other related topics. Now don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily disagree with the author's politics, or his point of view... I just don't understand what it is doing in the middle of this book, as though he thought he might slip in a few chapters to send his message to people trying to learn about irregular wars...
But never fear, after he has a little Paranoid Bark at the Moon, he manages to get back on the Road to Nowhere, and finishes off with a final discussion back on the original topic of the book. And that is the central problem with this book for me - by derailing itself, it lost some of the impact that could have been wound into a solid conclusion.
There are other books out there written about ISIS, and other books about the failures of the governments of our world. I don't think the book made the best use of its time, spreading itself too thin across the material.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I Don't Know... am really not sure how to feel about this book, and the more I thought about it, something came to mind -- the delicious lyrics and worldly wisdom of Ozzy Osbourne. I would say that 2/3rds of this book is an interesting, and extremely up-to-date discussion about the problems which have faced the 'West' over the past 15 years; the problems of waging war in an asymmetric environment; and the rise of, or evolution of the ISIS movement, and America's role in the protogenesis of that movement. (War Pigs)
And then for no apparent reason, it's all aboard the goddamn Crazy Train as the author takes a left turn into a much more partisan discussion of the environment, climate change denial, and assorted other related topics. Now don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily disagree with the author's politics, or his point of view... I just don't understand what it is doing in the middle of this book, as though he thought he might slip in a few chapters to send his message to people trying to learn about irregular wars...
But never fear, after he has a little Paranoid Bark at the Moon, he manages to get back on the Road to Nowhere, and finishes off with a final discussion back on the original topic of the book. And that is the central problem with this book for me - by derailing itself, it lost some of the impact that could have been wound into a solid conclusion.
There are other books out there written about ISIS, and other books about the failures of the governments of our world. I don't think the book made the best use of its time, spreading itself too thin across the material.
December 20, 2017
“The geographer and politician Edwin Brooks argued more than 40 years ago that what we had to avoid was a dystopian future of a ‘crowded glowering planet of massive inequalities of wealth buttressed by stark force and endlessly threatened by desperate men in the global ghettoes”
Must read. Makes it pretty clear extinction is a process, not an event.
Must read. Makes it pretty clear extinction is a process, not an event.
August 27, 2016
I have been discussing the issues brought up in this book for awhile with friends but I never had any substantial information to back our arguments. This book did a wonderful job of helping me to understand points I already "understood" while also bringing in other worries or arguments like global warming.
to-be-avoided
June 10, 2016Spammed by publisher
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews