Ideology and action serious threats to global order are said to emanate from al qaeda, exemplified by bombings and multiple deaths. Two alqaeda affiliates, alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, and alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, quickly issued a joint statement eulogizing almasri. Inside al qaeda examines the leadership, ideology, structure, strategies, and tactics of the most violent politicoreligious organization the world has ever seen. Al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap is a sunni terrorist organization and al qaeda aq affiliate based in yemen. Alqaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s. He is considered by many to be the father of modern political. It is no coincidence that the leader of alqaeda, ayman alzawahiri, recently has 1 other acronyms have been used to designate isis, such as isil islamic state of iraq and the levant isil or even its arabic acronym daesh. The ultimate goal of al qaeda ideology is to establish a jurisprudential rule rooted in salafi and wahhabi ideas, which would rule the whole world. Now, for the first time, the al qaeda reader gathers together the essential texts and documents that trace the origin, history, and evolution of the ideas of alqaeda founders ayman alzawahiri and osama bin laden. The ideology of the mujahedin filling al qaedas ranks envisions repulsion of western influences and a return to early muslim values in order to revive the glory days of islam. Emerging from the 2009 merger of the yemeni and saudi arabian branches of al qaeda, aqap has claimed numerous attacks in yemen and has also targeted westerners at home and abroad. Al qaeda ideologies, aims, beliefs and motivations al qaeda. Terrorism analysts believe that these campaigns have been designed to elicit psychological reactions and communicate complex political messages to a global audience as well as to specific subpopulations in the islamic world, the united states, europe, and asia.
Paper prepared for the ecpr joint sessions of workshops, uppsala, april 2004. Al qaeda, trends in terrorism and future potentialities. Al qaeda origins, ideology, goals and future 465 al qaeda. The al qaeda manual the attached manual was located by the manchester england metropolitan police during a search of an al qaeda members home. This analysis finds that through the shift of alqaeda from a terrorist group to a movement which is ideologically directed by alqaeda, the groups doctrine and ideology lack consistency. First, does al qaeda follow the parameters set out by the theories of propaganda to wage a successful online propaganda campaign. As azzam explained in alqaeda alsulbah, an ideology without a vanguard to promote and propagate it would be stillborn, perishing before it sees light and life. Protesters, often with women in the lead, took to the streets demanding greater dignity, opportunity and politi cal pluralism. Al qaeda s leading thinkers are steeped in these reformerslong struggle against the establishment. Al qaeda has its roots in an organization that grew out of the mekhtab al khidemat the services office organization and from 1989 their name became al qaeda or in english the base or foundation pbs frontline, n. Understanding alqaedas ideology for counternarrative work.
After the 1993 attack, the symbolism of the world trade center took on a significance far beyond itself. Such a religious government is the most important goal of al qaeda. Statements released by osama bin laden and his deputy ayman al zawahiri since late 2004 have rekindled public debate in europe and the. The purpose of this paper is to explore the origins, objectives, ideology, motivation, leadership structure, targets, strategies, tactics, and future of al qaeda. History, ideology, and infrastructure has been a meaningful journey, fusing my academic experiences in the fields of international relations and middle eastern studies. Shia, the iraqi and syrian regimes, and secular, pro. While alqaeda conducted one major attack every year prior to 911, alqaeda and its associated groups have conducted one attack every three months since 911. Statements and evolving ideology summary al qaeda leaders and affiliates have conducted sophisticated public relations and media campaigns since the mid1990s. This paper addresses the ideological differences that drive the divergent strategies pursued by al qaeda and isis. Yet most people in the west know very little about it, or their view is clouded by misperceptions and half truths. Although it is the most hunted terrorist group in history, the campaign of holy war unleashed by alqaeda is likely to outlive itself and the current generation of islamists.
Pdf ideology as narrative the mythic discourse of al. The objective of this thesis is to investigate al qaedas use of propaganda and to answer two major questions. Mar, 2018 the new ideological tactics of alqaeda proves the statement of the council on foreign relations of the us thatin recent years, alqaeda has been quietly rebuilding and fortifying its various branches, systematically implemented an ambitious strategy and discreetly consolidated its influence wherever the movement has a significant presence. We have not seen the end of al qaeda, its associated movements, or its ideology. Al qaeda, its affiliated groups, associated groups, and adherents. Al qaedas use of indiscriminate violence is supported by a compelling narrative that authorises its strategy, justifies its violent tactics, propagates its ideology and wins new recruits. The attached manual was located by the manchester england. The resiliency of al qaeda and the likelihood of a postbin laden al qaeda let us briefly consider each. This al qaeda affiliate has established an expansive network of partnerships with local opposition groups that have grown either dependent on or fiercely loyal to the organization. A comparative analysis of alqaeda and the islamic state is 3 globally.
The new ideological tactics of alqaeda proves the statement of the council on foreign relations of the us thatin recent years, alqaeda has been quietly rebuilding and fortifying its various branches, systematically implemented an ambitious strategy and discreetly consolidated its influence wherever the movement has a significant presence. Abstract serious threats to global order are now said to emanate from various, often transnational, islamic fundamentalisms, with 9 11 as a. Exposing islams new war on christians 20 and the al qaeda reader 2007. This combination of theology and political objectives needs to be uprooted through rigorous scrutiny, and sustained intellectual confrontation. Isis the ruling to kill the americans and their allies civilians and military is an individual duty for every muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the alaqsa mosque and the holy mosque mecca from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of islam, defeated and unable to threaten any muslim. Doctrines the islamic states brand of jihadisalafism.
Al qaeda ideologies, aims, beliefs and motivations. The past nearly two decades have seen the degrading, destruction, and dispersing of al. Understanding alqaedas ideology for counternarrative. Is theirs a coherent dogma or a fragmented and illthoughtout. Qaedas ideology and bring about its inevitable collapse. Like other totalitarian movements, the movements leaders have rationalized their brutality in a number of published treatises. Ayman al zawahiri, the deputy to osama bin laden, was the leader of egyptian islamic jihad eij. The aim is to bring together and synthesise current insights. Introduction in early 2011, revolutions in egypt, tunisi a, libya and yemen heralded a new era of arab politics.
Gerges explains the shift in the is strategy from a focus on the near enemy. The perspectives of the historian and the political scientist are both essential in understanding and addressing al qaeda, but they can lead to an underestimation of the phenomenon facing us. Notable exceptions, although not specifically addressing the question of ideology, are p. Kathleen hammerberg, alexander powell, zack gold, david knoll, and william rosenau, independent assessment of u. This project began as an inquiry on changes in us counterterrorism. Syrian al qaeda affiliate jabhat al nusra poses one of the most significant longterm threats of any salafijihadi group. This article investigates the rationales of different explanatory models that have been utilized to explain the ideology of al qaeda.
Second, we explain the evolution of the group by phases, from its origins to the present day. Since 20, al qaeda and isis have varied little in core ideology but have adopted divergent strategies and tactics. The ideology of global extremism can only be countered if it is first understood. New ideological tactics of alqaeda to revive its power. This article examines a corpus of extremist islamist texts for the period from 2007 to 2012, including transcripts of audio and videos produced by alqaeda in the islamic maghrib aqim. Pdf ideology as narrative the mythic discourse of alqaeda. Al qaeda is the first multinational terrorist group of the twentyfirst century and it confronts the world with a new kind of threat. Al qaeda leaders and affiliates have conducted sophisticated public relations and media campaigns since the mid1990s.
This widely acclaimed book fills this gap with a comprehensive analysis of al qaedathe origins, leadership, ideology, and strategy of the terrorist network that brought down the twin towers and continues to threaten us today. Terrorism analysts believe that these campaigns have been designed to elicit psychological reactions and communicate. The manual was found in a computer file described as the military series related to the declaration of jihad. Two al qaeda affiliates, al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, and al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, quickly issued a joint statement eulogizing al masri. Ideologies, aims, beliefs and motivations introduction al qaeda arabic for the base is a loosely knit terrorist network that facilitates the activities of likeminded militant islamic groups in more than 60 countries around the globe. It is a religious school based on excess and falsehood whose function is to accuse the companions of muhammad of heresy in a campaign against islam, in order to free the way for a group of those who call for a dialogue in the name of the hidden mahdi who. Government efforts against al qaeda, cna drm2017u015710final, august 2017. This widely acclaimed book fills this gap with a comprehensive analysis of al qaeda the origins, leadership, ideology, and strategy of the terrorist network that brought down the twin towers and continues to threaten us today. In order to counter the process of radicalization, it is necessary to understand the attraction of the narrative or the messages of alqaeda and its inspired followers. While al qaeda conducted one major attack every year prior to 911, al qaeda and its associated groups have conducted one attack every three months since 911. The al qaeda network today also comprises semiautonomous or self radicalized actors, who often have only peripheral or ephemeral ties to either the core cadre in pakistan or affiliated groups elsewhere. The definitive work on al qaeda, this book is based on five years of research, including extensive interviews with its members. Al qaeda and associated movements aqam has become an increasingly.
Although it is the most hunted terrorist group in history, the campaign of holy war unleashed by al qaeda is likely to outlive itself and the current generation of islamists. Can we speak of an ideology behind bin ladens and alqaedas politics of violence. This article examines a corpus of extremist islamist texts for the period from 2007 to 2012, including transcripts of audio and videos produced by al qaeda in the islamic maghrib aqim. Inside the jihadi mind understanding ideology and propaganda. Aqap and aqim eulogize zawahiri deputy abu al khayr al masri, site intelligence group, march 2, 2017. In the last decade, the question what could be an effective counternarrative to win the zbattle of ideas and reach the hearts and minds of those. This article, based on a combination of wide ranging research and front line. Alqaedas single narrative and attempts to develop counter narratives.
This new jihadist terrorist organization focuses its attention on driving the infidels from. Al qaedas leading thinkers are steeped in these reformerslong struggle against the establishment. Pdf al qaedas organizational structure and its evolution. Abstract serious threats to global order are now said to emanate from various, often transnational, islamic fundamentalisms, with 9 11 as a key example, followed by. Alqaeda has sometimes capitalized on isis tacticsand made gains in unexpected ways.
This study, the intellectual origin of alqaedas ideology in the twentieth century begins with an examination of hassan albanna. Apr 29, 2015 yet even in its early days the group bickered with the al qaeda leadership. Isis people of discernment and knowledge among muslims know the extent of danger to islam of the 12er school of shiism. Utilizing narrative analysis, we examine the way aqim used. This research paperseeks to map effort s to counter the attraction of alqaedas ideology. The teaching of the reformers has been heterodox and revolutionary. Al qaedas ideology was islamist, but its techniques and ideas were western. The fight against the enemy nearest to you has precedence over the fight. Sep 10, 2018 al qaedas ideology was islamist, but its techniques and ideas were western. Alqaedas single narrative and attempts to develop counter. Aqap and aqim eulogize zawahiri deputy abu alkhayr almasri, site intelligence group, march 2, 2017. But isis and alqaeda remain the two major global brands. Albanna is known for founding the muslim brothers and melding the rhetoric of islamic populism with the apparatus of a modern social movement. Al qaedas ideology is expressed in its single narrative, a unifying.
Bin laden left his life of luxury in saudi arabia to become a guerrilla fighter in 1979, when the soviet union invaded afghanistan. From perceptions of madmen and religious hypocrites to wahhabis of the twentyfirst century and salafijihadists, what these approaches have in common is an outsidein perspective that assumes a concept of the underlying logic of al qaeda without. Since 20, al qaeda and isis have varied little in core ideology but have adopted diver. It began as a logistical network to support muslims fighting against the soviet union during the afghan war and transformed into the active terrorist organization known for. Caliphate and religious jurisprudential salafi rule in the ideology of al qaeda. Protesters, often with women in the lead, took to the streets demanding greater dignity, opportunity and politi cal. The competence and determination of the remaining al qaeda leadership cadre 6. Statements released following the july 2005 al qaedalinked suicide. The base, the foundation, alternatively spelled alqaida and alqaida is a transnational extremist salafist militant organization founded in 1988 by osama bin laden, abdullah azzam, and several other arab volunteers during the sovietafghan war. The origins of al qaedas ideology central intelligence agency. It is no coincidence that the leader of alqaeda, ayman alzawahiri, recently has 1 other acronyms have been used to designate isis, such as isil islamic state of iraq and the levant. To best describe the militant campaign of al qaeda and similar groups, the term, salafist jihad, is. After the 911 attacks, osama bin ladens alqaeda had approximately 300 militants.