Assessing ISIS: Success or Failure of Islamist Insurgencies
Journal Title: International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 4
Abstract
Assessing the current and long-term success of the Islamist insurgent group, the “Islamic State” (hereafter “ISIS”), requires not only identifying prerequisites for conducting insurgency but also assessing the group’s ability to attain the goals proclaimed by its ideology or program. Such success or failure can be determined by a systematic comparison with other Islamist insurgent groups which have either failed or succeeded in achieving their stated objectives. Examining the historical and theological backgrounds of movements, such as al Qaeda and Hezbollah, reveals that success requires having visible leadership openly controlling a territory and providing security and social services to its population. The importance of territorial control, a social-political infrastructure, and external legitimation is demonstrated by the relative success of groups enjoying Iranian support, such as Hezbollah, over Islamist groups following the non-state strategy of al Qaeda. ISIS has a visible leadership openly controlling a territory and providing at least minimal security and social services to its population but lacking belligerent status and having rejected alliances with like-minded Salafist groups sharing most of its goals. Another essential but often overlooked condition for success for militant Islamist movements is the endorsement of the traditional Muslim Ulema as guardians of the Islamic faith.
Authors and Affiliations
Sean K. Anderson
Keywords
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