DOHA: Aljazeera Center for Studies has released an in-depth study on Islamic State, also known as IS or Daesh that examines the emergence and dramatic rise of the militant organisation.
The dossier, titled “Deciphering Daesh: Origins, Impact and Future”, released both in English and in Arabic, provides information on the group’s ideological origins, its links to Al Qaeda, its structure, its geographic and ideological expansion into Eurasia and what the future will bring for the group post-international coalition attacks.
Participating researchers include Dr Motaz Al Khateeb, Shafeeq Choucair, Hassan Abu Haniyeh, Hazem Al Amin, Dr Tareq Osman, Tamer Badawi and Dr Mohammad Aburumman.
There are a number of key findings from the dossier. First, the vacuum left by political and social repression in the Mena region has allowed violent groups to take root and overrun entire societies. This is particularly prudent given that internationally-backed despots have been given a free hand to suppress all opposition, peaceful or otherwise, creating region-wide political disillusionment.
Second, there is consensus that it is not one single “magic” formula that resulted in the group’s emergence: rather, contextual, individual and ideological factors all contributed to the creation of Daesh. Most importantly, fighting an ideology militarily will not defeat it, meaning that the international coalition’s strikes on the group will not suffice to stop Daesh’s spread.
The English dossier contains seven chapters and can be accessed at the link: http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/dossiers/decipheringdaeshoriginsimpactandfuture/2014/12/20141238492604185.html.
The English version was edited by AJCS researcher, Malak Chabkoun, and the Arabic version was edited by Dr Fatima Al Smadi, senior researcher at the Centre. The Arabic version can be found here: http://studies.aljazeera.net/files/isil/2014/11/2014112354937991206.htm.
The Peninsula
