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Jihadis – A fresh look – approved in December 2005 issue
Landscapes of the Jihad: Militancy, Morality, Modernity. By Faisal Devi, Corneil University Press: 186 pages: @$25.
“Al Qaeda’s importance in the long run lies not in its pioneering a new form of networked militancy, but instead in its fragmentation of traditional structures of Muslim authority within new global landscapes.” Faisal Devji, a historian at the New School for Social Research in New York, proposes a radically new way of thinking about Osama bin Laden’s global jihad. Mr. Devji dispenses with conventional analysis and with much that is regarded as received wisdom. He owes an obvious debt to Oliver Roy, whose simulating book, “Globalised Islam”, appeared in 2003. To elaborate his thesis, Mr. Devji describes how jihad has subordinated the local to the global. Mr. bin Laden’s transformation of jihad, from a collective to an individual duty, is a radical departure from the classical Islamic tradition. Mr. Devji might appear to be too concerned with smoke and mirrors. He does not excuse or downplay the violence of jihad, but that is not his main concern. He believes that the new jihadis have “stolen the radical edge from fundamentalism” in bringing about a transformation of lslam. Despite its obvious weaknesses, “Landscapes of the Jihad” is, in its unconventional thinking, an oasis in the wearisome desert of al-Qaeda studies.
The Economist – November 2005.
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Unmasking Terror - Volume II – A Global Review of Terrorist Activities
Dear Readers,
Jamestown is pleased to announce the release of Unmasking Terror, Volume II: A Global Review of Terrorist Activities. This edited volume contains articles and interviews published in Terrorism Monitor and Terrorism Focus from September 11, 2004 through September 11, 2005 with a preface by Michael Scheuer. Unmasking Terror brings together over 50 experts on terrorism, intelligence and security, providing unique information and objective analysis on recent developments within global terrorist groups. The book seeks to understand the motivations of militant Islamists and exposes the underlying logic of terrorism, providing readers with insight and understanding into the complexities of international terrorism and jihad. The book is designed to serve as a desktop reference for private sector experts, policymakers and intelligence officials, and anyone seeking a greater understanding of the many challenges of combating terrorism. Unmasking Terror, Volume II: A Global Review of Terrorist Activities is available now for $29.95 at http://www.brookings.edu/unmaskingterrorvolume2
Sincerely,
Glen Howard
President, The Jamestown Foundation
Email dated 13.12.2005 from Mr. Mayer Nudell, USA.
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