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Radical Origins: Why We Are Losing the Battle Against Islamic Extremism and How to Turn the Tide
More than thirteen years ago after the "War on Terror" was declared, many in the West now feel less secure than ever before. Many security experts believe global Jihad is on the rise throughout the West, and yet these same experts do not know how to stop the rising tide.
Military action abroad and police action at home have only attended to the symptoms of terrorism, not the cause. The root, according to Dr. Ibrahim, is actually the extreme ideology of Wahhabism—the puritanical, reactionary, isolationist, xenophobic, and bigoted sect of Sunni Islam that has been the ideological bedrock of the state of Saudi Arabia since its original rise in the 18th Century.
Foreign policy, socio-economic factors, alienation, and identity are often invoked in explaining the rise in radicalization, and while they do have a role to play, these are secondary factors. The primary cause is ideology, and Dr. Ibrahim places the origins of this radical extremism in historic context in a cogent manner, while also articulating specific policy goals and social action points going forward. Much of it hinges on altering decades of geopolitics regarding Saudi Arabia.
In his groundbreaking Radical Origins, Dr. Ibrahim will provide an accessible primer on radicalism, an understanding of jihadist history, and a way forward, debunking misconceptions about Islam and this jihadist offshoot along the way. This remarkable work culminates in a powerful body of evidence about how to contain, reduce, and stop the spread of radicalization once and for all.
Military action abroad and police action at home have only attended to the symptoms of terrorism, not the cause. The root, according to Dr. Ibrahim, is actually the extreme ideology of Wahhabism—the puritanical, reactionary, isolationist, xenophobic, and bigoted sect of Sunni Islam that has been the ideological bedrock of the state of Saudi Arabia since its original rise in the 18th Century.
Foreign policy, socio-economic factors, alienation, and identity are often invoked in explaining the rise in radicalization, and while they do have a role to play, these are secondary factors. The primary cause is ideology, and Dr. Ibrahim places the origins of this radical extremism in historic context in a cogent manner, while also articulating specific policy goals and social action points going forward. Much of it hinges on altering decades of geopolitics regarding Saudi Arabia.
In his groundbreaking Radical Origins, Dr. Ibrahim will provide an accessible primer on radicalism, an understanding of jihadist history, and a way forward, debunking misconceptions about Islam and this jihadist offshoot along the way. This remarkable work culminates in a powerful body of evidence about how to contain, reduce, and stop the spread of radicalization once and for all.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
336 pages, Hardcover
Published November 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 13, 2018
3.75 / 5.0
Premise of book is that Islamic Extremism has its global roots in Salafist Wahhabist fundamentalist Islamic Theology that defines the other as any sect or religion that fails to adhere to their interpretation of the faith. Argument is basically how this core belief is so easily co-opted by radical extremists and used to justify terrorist activities in it's pursuit of an idealized pure Islam embodied in a Modern Caliphate. Places important secondary blame on House of Saud for its courting and financing Wahhabism in order to achieve and maintain sectarian power in Saudi Arabia.
Enabling Ideology + Enabling Financing + Marginalized Individuals + Economic Insecurity + Persecution Complex + Group Identity = Islamic Extemist.
Simple pathway is investigated and well argued and seems logical as such. Suggestions as ways to intervene in Pathway are a touch wishful thinking.
Struggles, as we all seem to do, to convey nuance of cultural mores and environment on individual behavior particularly when dealing with the increase or decrease in the frequency of low frequency events. In this case thread is better stated as: Saudi financial support of Wahhabist teaching both internally and internationally, spreads an Interpretation of Islam that sees itself as the persecuted other, and regards other others as heretical. This breeds a sense of resentment in adherents when faced with troubles attributed to the other and combined with a sense of powerlessness. This feeling prompts are small fraction of adherents to radical resistance, and a smaller subset to Islamic Extremism, and smaller subset to active terrorism including suicide bombings etc. As the original pool is enlarged globally with the financing of Saudi Oil money, the pool at each subsequent stage enlarges proportionately.
Probably butchered this theme but reason I rated this 3.75 was because author had same problem elucidating and making explicit this theme.
Premise of book is that Islamic Extremism has its global roots in Salafist Wahhabist fundamentalist Islamic Theology that defines the other as any sect or religion that fails to adhere to their interpretation of the faith. Argument is basically how this core belief is so easily co-opted by radical extremists and used to justify terrorist activities in it's pursuit of an idealized pure Islam embodied in a Modern Caliphate. Places important secondary blame on House of Saud for its courting and financing Wahhabism in order to achieve and maintain sectarian power in Saudi Arabia.
Enabling Ideology + Enabling Financing + Marginalized Individuals + Economic Insecurity + Persecution Complex + Group Identity = Islamic Extemist.
Simple pathway is investigated and well argued and seems logical as such. Suggestions as ways to intervene in Pathway are a touch wishful thinking.
Struggles, as we all seem to do, to convey nuance of cultural mores and environment on individual behavior particularly when dealing with the increase or decrease in the frequency of low frequency events. In this case thread is better stated as: Saudi financial support of Wahhabist teaching both internally and internationally, spreads an Interpretation of Islam that sees itself as the persecuted other, and regards other others as heretical. This breeds a sense of resentment in adherents when faced with troubles attributed to the other and combined with a sense of powerlessness. This feeling prompts are small fraction of adherents to radical resistance, and a smaller subset to Islamic Extremism, and smaller subset to active terrorism including suicide bombings etc. As the original pool is enlarged globally with the financing of Saudi Oil money, the pool at each subsequent stage enlarges proportionately.
Probably butchered this theme but reason I rated this 3.75 was because author had same problem elucidating and making explicit this theme.
Read
March 5, 2020I've read a number of books on this subject and this is one of the best surely . Author does a great job in making sense of all the noise we hear around jihad and salafism .
AL Saud family may hire a hit-man for Dr azeem but if they do they wouldn't have read the book completely, its not a outright critique of them and do have a balanced approach to extremism . Dosen't mean he goes soft on war mongers .
A brief history of Muhammad and early Islam is also very INTERESTING .
Chapters on Balkans and Saudi family are especially worth a read . Its an insider look into a world we only see in headlines and one minute story bytes .
Its a good read specially after binge reading Christoper hitchens .
NOTES ---------------
AL Saud family may hire a hit-man for Dr azeem but if they do they wouldn't have read the book completely, its not a outright critique of them and do have a balanced approach to extremism . Dosen't mean he goes soft on war mongers .
A brief history of Muhammad and early Islam is also very INTERESTING .
Chapters on Balkans and Saudi family are especially worth a read . Its an insider look into a world we only see in headlines and one minute story bytes .
Its a good read specially after binge reading Christoper hitchens .
NOTES ---------------
Read
October 23, 2020DNF @ pg 74. I'm really interested in the topic but the author's writing style is so dry and boring. I also think he isn't fully honest and sees early Islam through rose-coloured glasses. While I 100% support highlighting the good and peaceful parts of Islam that most Muslims live by in order to critique violent fundamentalism, I don't support pretending that Islam is, in its so-called "pure " form, perfect (because no religion is!). His bias is super evident. For example, he acts like destroying important pagan religious items is somehow no big deal....that is literally a culture! That is not ok! The author needs to be more critical in general. I will give the author props for challenging fundamentalism without demonizing Muslims in general though, as that is very important.
May 14, 2018
I didn't find this book interesting. It couldn't hold my attention.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews