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A Theory of ISIS: Political Violence and the Global Order
In the course of a few years, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria—more commonly known as ISIS—has become classified as the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world. It is the subject of intense Western scrutiny, demonized by all, and shrouded in numerous myths and narratives.
Against these established narratives, Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou now presents his new theory of ISIS. Tracing the genealogy of ISIS and documenting its evolution in Iraq and Syria, he argues that ISIS has actually transcended Osama Bin Laden’s original scheme of Al Qaeda, mutating into a unprecedented hybrid between postcolonial violence, postmodernity, and postglobalization. A Theory of ISIS offers an original take on the militant group. Mohamedou explains the proliferation of terrorist attacks on the West and deepens our understanding of the group's impact on the very nature of contemporary political violence.
Against these established narratives, Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou now presents his new theory of ISIS. Tracing the genealogy of ISIS and documenting its evolution in Iraq and Syria, he argues that ISIS has actually transcended Osama Bin Laden’s original scheme of Al Qaeda, mutating into a unprecedented hybrid between postcolonial violence, postmodernity, and postglobalization. A Theory of ISIS offers an original take on the militant group. Mohamedou explains the proliferation of terrorist attacks on the West and deepens our understanding of the group's impact on the very nature of contemporary political violence.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published March 15, 2018
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July 15, 2019
Much needed book: ‘A theory of ISIS. Political Violence and the Transformation of the Global Order’ (Pluto Press, 2018).
This quote from the book (and mentioned in the The DIG podcast interview with the author earlier this year) stuck with me “to understand Western theories of the 1970s terrorism such as the German Red Army Faction or the Italian Brigades, one is invited to examine the societal conditions of post-war Germany and Italy, the ambient malaise in these countries 25 years after Nazism and fascism, and their relationship with their rebellious youth; to make sense of Al Qaeda or IS, one is asked to read the Qur’an”
So the key argument, or one of the key arguments, is that the current ‘dumbed-down, formulaic, actor-specific, politically sanitized, culturalist, commercial, Manichean, racialized and ahistorical representation of terrorism’ is unable to understand ISIS within the wider context of globalized political violence of 21st century neo-imperialism.
In the name of ‘anti-terrorism’ after 9/11 the US launched a process of renewed imperialism under the guise of the Global War on Terror which came back to haunt and endanger it and large parts of the West, what the author calls a ‘shipping back of colonial and interventionist violence’ to its imperialist sender. Now of course creating its own terrorist Other within the imperialist centre, with second generation immigrants born in situations of urban degradation and de-industrialization in an environment of increased state indifference and hostility coupled with racism joining the 'struggle'.
A political understanding of ISIS highlights that the West’s imperialist violence in the middle east (and elsewhere), ‘Islamist terror’ and the rise of Islamophobia and right-wing extremism in the West belong together. Bush’s, Obama’s and Clinton’s imperialism and Trump’s Muslim ban are two sides of the same coin. This is not a moral observation but to point out that there is continuity in ideological underpinnings - racism and neocolonialism - and the related political violence.
The common apolitical international relations framework of ‘Islamist extremism’ reflect an Orientalist, racialized concept of terrorism whereby the rational West is confronted by the ‘irrational violence’ of the brown savage. Beheading, rape, stoning versus a supposedly enlightened (and increasingly privatized) ‘humanitarian’ drone warfare, secret torture prisons and border camps. Thus not understanding the critical role that the imperialist/US violence in Iraq and elsewhere (think Abu Ghraib) played in bringing about ISIS.
Contra this Orientalist reading of ISIS, the book provides a history and genealogy of ‘Islamist terrorism’ with its origin in the 1988 founded Al Qaeda and the latter’s many mutations and transformations towards the post-modern ISIS (‘open source Al Qaeda’) with its pornographic violence and deeply embedded in a social media landscape marked by narcissism and consumerism. There are some very interesting breaks and continuities which I cannot reproduce here but really recommend reading.
While the book doesn’t necessary make the conclusion, I am happy to do it on the author’s behalf, lol: the answer to global terrorism and insecurity is not technocratic terrorism expertise or ever more militarization of ‘our’ Christmas markets; we need a truly, truly anti-imperialist political project and a rapid dismantling of the current imperialist global architecture (aka Bernie ❤)
This quote from the book (and mentioned in the The DIG podcast interview with the author earlier this year) stuck with me “to understand Western theories of the 1970s terrorism such as the German Red Army Faction or the Italian Brigades, one is invited to examine the societal conditions of post-war Germany and Italy, the ambient malaise in these countries 25 years after Nazism and fascism, and their relationship with their rebellious youth; to make sense of Al Qaeda or IS, one is asked to read the Qur’an”
So the key argument, or one of the key arguments, is that the current ‘dumbed-down, formulaic, actor-specific, politically sanitized, culturalist, commercial, Manichean, racialized and ahistorical representation of terrorism’ is unable to understand ISIS within the wider context of globalized political violence of 21st century neo-imperialism.
In the name of ‘anti-terrorism’ after 9/11 the US launched a process of renewed imperialism under the guise of the Global War on Terror which came back to haunt and endanger it and large parts of the West, what the author calls a ‘shipping back of colonial and interventionist violence’ to its imperialist sender. Now of course creating its own terrorist Other within the imperialist centre, with second generation immigrants born in situations of urban degradation and de-industrialization in an environment of increased state indifference and hostility coupled with racism joining the 'struggle'.
A political understanding of ISIS highlights that the West’s imperialist violence in the middle east (and elsewhere), ‘Islamist terror’ and the rise of Islamophobia and right-wing extremism in the West belong together. Bush’s, Obama’s and Clinton’s imperialism and Trump’s Muslim ban are two sides of the same coin. This is not a moral observation but to point out that there is continuity in ideological underpinnings - racism and neocolonialism - and the related political violence.
The common apolitical international relations framework of ‘Islamist extremism’ reflect an Orientalist, racialized concept of terrorism whereby the rational West is confronted by the ‘irrational violence’ of the brown savage. Beheading, rape, stoning versus a supposedly enlightened (and increasingly privatized) ‘humanitarian’ drone warfare, secret torture prisons and border camps. Thus not understanding the critical role that the imperialist/US violence in Iraq and elsewhere (think Abu Ghraib) played in bringing about ISIS.
Contra this Orientalist reading of ISIS, the book provides a history and genealogy of ‘Islamist terrorism’ with its origin in the 1988 founded Al Qaeda and the latter’s many mutations and transformations towards the post-modern ISIS (‘open source Al Qaeda’) with its pornographic violence and deeply embedded in a social media landscape marked by narcissism and consumerism. There are some very interesting breaks and continuities which I cannot reproduce here but really recommend reading.
While the book doesn’t necessary make the conclusion, I am happy to do it on the author’s behalf, lol: the answer to global terrorism and insecurity is not technocratic terrorism expertise or ever more militarization of ‘our’ Christmas markets; we need a truly, truly anti-imperialist political project and a rapid dismantling of the current imperialist global architecture (aka Bernie ❤)
Displaying 1 of 1 review