Category: Articles of the Week

Sunday May 19: The evolving Taleban: changes in the insurgency’s DNA – Claudio Franco, Afghanistan Analysts Network: https://bit.ly/1150Nwo  Monday May 20: Amnesty for Boko Haram: Lessons from the Past – Alex Thurston, African Futures: https://bit.ly/12PF0fl  Hizballah’s Multiplying Qusayr Martyrs – Phillip Smyth, Jihadology: https://bit.ly/1177I8o  Tuesday May 21: Usama bin Laden Called Yunus Khalis “the Father Sheikh:” Weird But Possibly True – Kevin Bell, Jihadica: https://bit.ly/12rzUFk  Emotions and the Microfoundations of the Arab Uprisings – Wendy Pearlman, Perspectives on Politics: https://bit.ly/118EEDs  A Few Notes on Shi’ism in Syria and the Emergence of a Pro-Asad Shi’i Militia, Liwa’ Abu’l Fadl al-’Abbas – Christopher Anzalone, al-Wasat: https://bit.ly/12sODjA Wednesday May 22: Hezbollah’s Fallen Soldiers – Phillip Smyth, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/185tzpt  Is Jabhat al-Nosra breaking apart? – Aron Lund, Syria Comment: https://bit.ly/11bQzKF  Insurgent Compensation: Evidence from Iraq – Benjamin W. Bahney, Radha K. Iyengar, Patrick B. Johnston, Danielle F. Jung, Jacob N. Shapiro, and Howard J. Shatz, American Economic Review: bit.ly/10nZmdI Thursday May 23: Mali’s Challenges Post-French Intervention – Anouar Boukhars, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/13NNuWE  Morocco’s Stability in the Wake of the Arab Spring – Camille Tawil, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/13NNzJV  The Significance of Taliban Shari`a Courts in Afghanistan – Jami Forbes, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/12ylm77  Friday May 24: Ishmael as Abraham’s Sacrifice: Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn Kathīr on the Intended Victim – Younus Y. Mirza, Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations: https://bit.ly/170kEGe  Fear Factor: In defense of Obama’s deadly signature strikes – Philip Mudd, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/126QQWO  A table on what people mean by “lone wolves” and other terms – Andrew Zammit, The Murphy Raid: https://bit.ly/12DXLBR  Living in Fear: Religious Identity, Relative Deprivation and the Boko Haram Terrorism – Daniel Egiegba Agbiboa, African Security: https://bit.ly/12DZ7fX 

Saturday May 4:
Major salafi faction criticizes Jabhat al-Nosra – Aaron Lund, Syria Comment: https://bit.ly/16EVNGY 
Sunday May 5:
Notes on the Tsarnaevs’ Radicalization – Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, al-Wasat: https://bit.ly/18HPVcH 
Monday May 6:
Al Qâ’idah casually mentions the death of its commander in Pâkistân – Mr. Orange’s War Tracker: https://bit.ly/ZKUaDL 
Adding the Ballot to the Bullet? Hezb-e Islami in transition – Borhan Osman and Thomas Ruttig, Afghanistan Analysts Network: https://bit.ly/11bUDSm 
Tuesday May 7:
Early notes on the first issue of the jihadist magazine, Azan – Charles Cameron, Zen Pundit: https://bit.ly/12dqAVP 
What Jihadists Thought About Boston: ‘Allah Akbar. Let’s Move On’ – Shiraz Maher and Samar Batrawi, Foreign Affairs: https://fam.ag/16SF2Z1 
Struggling to Adapt- The Muslim Brotherhood in a New Syria -Aron Lund, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: https://bit.ly/16qLpmS
Wednesday May 8:
Networks as strategic repertoires: Functional differentiation among Al-Shabaab terror cells – Christian Leuprecht & Kenneth Hall, Global Crime: https://bit.ly/10b0LHf 
Jabhat al-Nusra: A Self-Professed AQ Affiliate – Charles Lister, Jihadica: https://bit.ly/ZPCze3 
The Future of Al-Qaeda: Results of a Foresight Project – The Canadian Security Intelligence Service: https://bit.ly/11jP8kF 
The Myths of Radicalization – J.M. Berger, Intel Wire: https://bit.ly/11jV2Cl 
Friday May 10:
Expanding the Scope of Jihadology: Intro to the Hizballah Cavalcade – Phillip Smyth, Jihadology: https://bit.ly/ZUwP2D 
Church–State Regimes and their Impact on the Institutionalization of Islamic Organizations in Western Europe – Patrick Loobuyck, Jonathan Debeer, and Petra Meier, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs: https://bit.ly/13nbMq0 
Islamic Umbrella Organizations and Contemporary Political Discourse on Islam in Germany – Matthias Kortmann and Kerstin Rosenow-Williams, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs: https://bit.ly/13nbNKC 
Citizenship/Religious Expression in West: Comparative Analysis of Experiences of Muslims in France,Germany, and the United States – Jackleen M. Salem, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs: https://bit.ly/13nbS16 
Mosques and Municipalities in Belgium: Negotiating Urban Spaces – Corinne Torrekens, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs: https://bit.ly/13nbTlC 
Saturday May 11:
Hizballah Cavalcade: Roundup of Iraqis Killed in Syria, Part 1 – Phillip Smyth, Jihadology: https://bit.ly/10Nrc1z 
Monday May 13:
Salman al-Awdah: In the shadow of revolutions – Madawi Al-Rasheed, London Magazine: https://bit.ly/13dSr7i 
Jihadi Twitter Activism part 2: Jabhat al-Nusra on the Twittersphere – Nico Prucha and Ali Fisher, Jihadica: https://bit.ly/13eeZVy 
The Riyadh Compound Bombings: Ten Years, and Ten Lessons, Later – Thomas Hegghammer, Asharq al-Awsat: https://bit.ly/17Fvocv
Tuesday May 14:
Usama bin Ladin’s “Father Sheikh”- Yunus Khalis & the Return of AQ’s Leadership to Afghanistan – Kevin Bell, Combating Terrorism Center: https://bit.ly/17qXZlA 
How Twitter Is Messing With Al-Qaeda’s Careful PR Machine – Tony Busch, The Atlantic: https://bit.ly/10okSSd 
Standoff Between the Tunisian Government and Ansar al-Sharia – Aaron Y. Zelin, Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://bit.ly/14l3rlS 
What’s in the names of terrorist groups (1): Jabhah al-Nusrah – Mr. Orange’s War Tracker: https://bit.ly/140f2Hl 
Wednesday May 15:
The moral maze: Dutch Salafis and the construction of a moral community of the faithful – Martijn de Koning, Contemporary Islam: https://bit.ly/12aTmpG 
Explaining the Western Response to the Arab Spring – Dan Byman, Journal of Strategic Studies: https://bit.ly/12aTPZb 
What is the Liwa’ Abu Fadl al-Abbas?: Assessing Syria’s Shia “International Brigade” Through Social Media Presence – Phillip Smyth, Jihadology: https://bit.ly/10pVVpz 
The Muslim Brotherhood Prepares for a Comeback in Syria – Raphaël Lefèvre, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace https://bit.ly/10qBOI0 
Thursday May 16:
Morocco’s Salafis: In Search of a Comprehensive Solution – Sanaa Karim, Sada Journal: https://bit.ly/16ku675 
Confronting Tunisia’s jihadists – Andrew Lebovich, The Middle East Channel: https://atfp.co/10ZY5Iy 
The ever-evolving al-Qaeda threat – Mitchell D. Silber, The AfPak Channel: https://atfp.co/184SOpr 
Friday May 17:
British Muslim youth: radicalisation, terrorism and the construction of the “other” – Orla Lynch, Critical Studies on Terrorism: https://bit.ly/10W0iux 
Hizballah Cavalcade: Roundup of Iraqis Killed in Syria, Part 2 – Phillip Smyth, Jihadology: https://bit.ly/18QCtpE 
Roman Catholic Approaches to the Qur’an since Vatican II – David Marshall, Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations: https://bit.ly/12BHjDJ 
Options and Strategies for Countering Online Radicalization in the United States – Peter R. Neumann, Studies inConflict and Terrorism: https://bit.ly/12BHpLI 
State-Sponsored Social Control of Illegitimate Social Movements: Strategies Used to Financially Damage Radical Islamic, Terrorist-Labeled Organizations – Samuel C. Lindsey and Michael J. Williams, Studies inConflict and Terrorism: https://bit.ly/12BHqPL 

Saturday April 27:
Jihadi Twitter activism – Introduction – Nico Prucha and Ali Fisher, Jihadica: https://bit.ly/ZFmS9Z 
Monday April 29:
Hizb Allah Resurrected: The Party of God’s Return to Tradecraft – Matthew Levitt, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/15UTTBL 
Boko Haram: Reversals and Retrenchment – David Cook, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/15UTZtf 
The Salafist Temptation: The Radicalization of Tunisia’s Post-Revolution Youth – Anne Wolf, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/10nUsvH 
Tuesday April 30:
Salafi-Jihadists and non-jihadist Salafists in Egypt – A case study about politics and methodology (manhaj) – Hazim Fouad, Jihadology: https://bit.ly/12Xt3Gg
Wednesday May 1:
The Ansar of Yemen: The Huthis and al-Qaeda – Lucas Winter, Small Wars Journal: https://bit.ly/10UNXb5 
The state and religion in the fundamentals of Islam and contemporary interpretation – Rached Ghannouchi, Contemporary Arab Affairs: https://bit.ly/10UOt91 
What changes have taken place in US foreign policy towards Islamists? – Fawaz A. Gerges, Contemporary Arab Affairs: https://bit.ly/12UydSy 
Thursday May 2:
Al-Qaradawi and the Help of the Unbelievers – Joas Wagemakers, Jihadica: https://bit.ly/17zhR3v 
Political Piety: The Politicization of Zakat – Samantha May, Middle East Critique: https://bit.ly/15bwUTN 
Personal grievance sharing, frame alignment, and hybrid organisational structures: the role of social media in North Africa’s 2011 uprisings – Sarah Anne Rennick, Journal of Contemporary African Studies: https://bit.ly/17zi6vr 
Friday May 3:
Beyond Living Together in Fragments: Muslims, Religious Diversity and Religious Identity in the Netherlands – Herman L. Beck, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs: https://bit.ly/108MdEP 

Saturday April 20:
Boston Marathon bombing and aftermath – Aaron Weisburd, Internet Haganah: https://bit.ly/11r4j6B 
Monday April 22:
Issues to watch in the wake of the Marathon Bombing – J.M. Berger, Intelwire: https://intelwire.net/10toDJ6 
Boston’s Jihadist Past – J.M. Berger, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/Y2mNLq
Tuesday April 23:
Inspiration Inflation – J.M. Berger, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/15MTX6P
Wednesday April 24:
Who’s Who in Tunisia’s Salafi-Jihadi Community – Aaron Y. Zelin, Militant Leadership Monitor: https://bit.ly/10Agu5z 
The militant groups next door – Stephen Tankel, AfPak Channel: https://atfp.co/10Aihrx 
Thursday April 25:
Personalized Jihad? – Yassin Musharbash, Abu Susu Blog: https://bit.ly/ZSeJdO
Did the FBI Bungle the Tsarnaev Case? – David Gomez, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/14Wt8NR
Somalia: Rumours Of Al-Shabaab’s Death Are Greatly Exaggerated – Stig Hansen, Africa Arguments: https://bit.ly/14U5WzJ 

Tuesday April 16:
Pious Way to Politics: The Rise of Political Salafism in Post-Mubarak Egypt – Khalil al-Anani and Maszlee Malik, Digest of Middle East Studies: https://bit.ly/ZnOn6h
Wednesday April 17:
AQIM’s existing –and disrupted– plans in –and from– the Sahel – Fernando Reinares, Real Instituto Elcano: https://bit.ly/11uQm8w 
The alleged arrest of a maimed terrorist – Mr. Orange’s War Tracker: https://bit.ly/12v3MmB
Thursday April 18:
Funding Terror – Shima Baradaran, Michael Findley, Daniel Nielson, and J. C. Sharman, University of Pennsylvania Law Review: https://bit.ly/ZAiKDs 
Friday April 19:
“Obliged to Unite under One Banner”: A Profile of Syria’s Jaysh al-Muhajireen wa’l-Ansar – Murad Batal al-Shishani, Terrorism Monitor: https://bit.ly/ZxkoJf 
Fighting Salafi-Jihadist Insurgencies: How Much Does Religion Really Matter? – Dan Byman, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism: https://bit.ly/117zOlE 
Al Qaeda’s Sharia Crisis: Sayyid Imam and the Jurisprudence of Lawful Military Jihad – Paul Kamolnick, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism: https://bit.ly/Zxlg0y 
Know Your Enemy: On the Futility of Distinguishing Between Terrorists and Insurgents – James Khalil, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism: https://bit.ly/Zxlyo1 

Tuesday April 9:
Introducing the “Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria” – Cole Bunzel, Jihadica: https://bit.ly/14UkPkh 
Is the Taleban Insurgency a Holy or an Unholy War? An Afghan-Pakistani ulema debate – Borhan Osman, Afghanistan Analysts Network: https://bit.ly/10Q7HZj 
AQI + S = ISIGS – Yassin Musharbash, Abu Susu Blog: https://bit.ly/Zo7ObW
Al-Qaeda Announces an Islamic State in Syria – Aaron Y. Zelin, Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://bit.ly/16MW46m 
Wednesday April 10:
Jabhat al-Nusra responds – Yassin Musharbash, Abu Susu Blog: https://bit.ly/10U1kEh 
Welcome to the Islamic State of Syria – Brian Fishman, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/Z8M3Qx
Thursday April 11:
Secularism and Islam: The Theological Predicament – Olivier Roy, The International Spectator: https://bit.ly/YoXcxS 
Salafism in Tunisia: An Interview with a Member of Ansar al-Sharia – Fabio Merone, Jadaliyya: https://bit.ly/ZbX2bY 
Friday April 12:
Islamists and Democracy: Cautions from Pakistan – Husain Haqqani, Journal of Democracy: https://bit.ly/12QoPm3 
The Strange Case of the White Jihadist of Timbuktu – Harald Doornbos and Jenan Moussa, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/Xyk5NE 

Saturday March 23:
Did Tunisia’s Salafi Jihadists Just Announce Their Allegiance to al-Qaeda? – Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Aaron Y. Zelin, al-Wasat: https://bit.ly/Xyaq6v 
Tuesday March 26:
Radical Islamism, Traditional Islam and Ethno-Nationalism in the Northern Caucasus – Chen Brama and Moshe Gammer, Middle Eastern Studies: https://bit.ly/WTyaVp 
Wednesday March 27:
Cooperation or Competition: Boko Haram and Ansaru After the Mali Intervention – Jacob Zenn, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/YU5rN3
AQIM’s Playbook in Mali – Pascale Combelles Siegel, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/YU5tEB
Al-Shabab’s Tactical and Media Strategies in the Wake of its Battlefield Setbacks – Christopher Anzalone, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/YU5AQv
Violent extremist group ecologies under stress – Manuel Cebrian, Manuel R. Torres, Ramon Huerta, and James H. Fowler, Nature: https://bit.ly/14y1buL 
Thursday March 28:
Why is Ansar al-Sharia Tunisia’s Leader Threatening the Government? – Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, al-Wasat: https://bit.ly/14xVUmQ 
Radicalisation, De-Radicalisation, Counter-Radicalisation: A Conceptual Discussion & Literature Review – Alex P. Schmid, The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague: https://bit.ly/14y1RQH 
Islam and Exceptionalism in American Political Discourse – Peter Mandaville, PS: Political Science & Politics: https://bit.ly/14y5gPt 
Tuesday April 2:
Islamism in Libya – Aaron Y. Zelin, World Almanac on Islamism: https://bit.ly/16kdvuG
European Foreign Fighters in Syria – Aaron Y. Zelin, The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence: https://bit.ly/XbTA0d 
Wednesday April 3:
Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria: No Easy Fix – Omar S. Mahmood, Homeland Security Policy Institute: https://bit.ly/17dzZAR 
Thursday April 4: 
Jama’atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan: Nigeria’s Evolving Militant Group – Freedom C. Onuoha, al-Jazeera Center for Studies: https://bit.ly/17eTBEB 
Anirban Ghosh, Arif Jamal, Christine Fair, Don Rassler, and Nadia Shoeb – The Fighters of Lashkar-e-Taiba: Recruitment, Training, Deployment and Death, Combating Terrorism Center: https://bit.ly/10CiWDN

Monday March 18:
The Arrest of Osama bin Laden’s Son-in-law – Michael W. S. Ryan, Terrorism Monitor: https://bit.ly/134wmhg 
Tuesday March 19:
Syria’s Salafi Insurgents: Rise of the Syrian Islamic Front – Aron Lund, Swedish Institute of International Affairs: https://bit.ly/WTrmcP 
Islamic law states and the International Court of Justice – Emilia Justyna Powell, Journal of Peace Research: https://bit.ly/YoMAua 
The Jihadi from the Block – Peter Tinti, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/10fk1mJ 
Wednesday March 20:
The 18th Document Or: News from Abottabad – Yassin Musharbash, Abu Susu Blog: https://bit.ly/Y4CmVz 
Are the Jihadi Forums Flagging? An Ideologue’s Lament – Cole Bunzel, Jihadica: https://bit.ly/16JS1KW 
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Calls on North African Jihadists to Fight in Sahel, Not Syria – Camille Tawil, Terrorism Monitor: https://bit.ly/YGV5jx 
Thursday March 21:
Islamist Militias Take to the Streets as Egyptians Look for Solutions to Internal Security Crisis – Andrew McGregor, Terrorism Monitor: https://bit.ly/13gT5H6 
Friday March 22:
The Glocalisation of Al Qaedaism – Prem Mahadevan, ISN: https://bit.ly/YJVlhI 
A militant Islamist/jihadi nexus is emerging in northern & eastern Syria – Charles Lister: https://bit.ly/XtxTek
The Jihadist from Phoenix – Ilan Ben Zion and Greg Tepper, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/XwdakS 

Monday March 11:
Terrorism and the Labor- Force Evidence of an Effect on Female Labor Force Participation and the Labor Gender Gap – Claude Berrebi and Jordan Ostwald, RAND: https://bit.ly/WibM7X 
Abu Ghaith and al-Qa’ida’s Dissident Faction in Iran – Vahid Brown, Jihadica: https://bit.ly/ZgSoas 
Al-Qaeda in Iraq Enters the Syrian Conflict – Aaron Y. Zelin, al-Wasat: https://bit.ly/15ISkEc 
Tuesday March 12:
Outsourcing Justice in the Sinai: Sharia Courts Thrive in the Shadow of a Weak State – Mara Revkin, Egypt Source: https://bit.ly/YZydi1 
Wednesday March 13:
Evolution of the Global Jihad: Female Suicide Bombers in Iraq – Jessica Davis, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: https://bit.ly/Wo2xDj 
Unpacking the Connection Between Terror and Islam – Justin Conrad and Daniel Milton, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: https://bit.ly/Wo2Gqk 
A Day Among the Diehard Terrorists: The Psychological Costs of Doing Ethnographic Research – Alessandro Orsini, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: https://bit.ly/Wo2MOO 
How the Muslim Brotherhood Hijacked Syria’s Revolution – Hassan Hassan, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/Wo3dsp 
Thursday March 14:
Jama’atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan: Nigeria’s Evolving Terrorist Group – Freedom C. Onuoha, al-Jazeera Center for Studies: https://bit.ly/13XJR1M 
The Quranic Mushrikūn and the resurrection (Part II) – Patricia Crone, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies: https://bit.ly/ZqkBvm 
Mission Creep in the War on Terror – Rosa Brooks, Foreign Policy: https://atfp.co/ZDB5yU 

Saturday March 2:
Characteristics of Lone-Wolf Violent Offenders: a Comparison of Assassins and School Attackers – Clark McCauley, Sophia Moskalenko, and Benjamin Van Son, Perspectives on Terrorism: https://bit.ly/12iXQj1
‘Bomb-Making for Beginners’: Inside al Al-Qaeda E-Learning Course – Anne Stenersen, Perspectives on Terrorism: https://bit.ly/12iXXLq
Thursday March 7:
The Emerging Red-Green Alliance: Where Political Islam Meets the Radical Left – Emmanuel Karagiannis and Clark McCauley, Terrorism and Political Violence: https://bit.ly/YexkPw
Coming to Believe “Truths” About Islamist Radicalization in Europe – Daniela Pisoiu, Terrorism and Political Violence: https://bit.ly/YextCt
“How to Fight Savage Tribes”: The Global War on Terror in Historical Perspective – Erik Ringmar, Terrorism and Political Violence: https://bit.ly/Yexzdn
Considering al-Qa’ida’s Innovation Doctrine: From Strategic Texts to “Innovation in Practice” – Brian A. Jackson and Bryce Loidolt, Terrorism and Political Violence: https://bit.ly/YexEh5
Do Drone Strikes Degrade Al Qaeda? Evidence From Propaganda Output – Megan Smith and James Igoe Walsh, Terrorism and Political Violence: https://bit.ly/YexKFF
Tunisia’s Post-Revolution Blues – Aaron Y. Zelin, Foreign Affairs: https://fam.ag/ZiqRE1
Youth Politics and Tunisian Salafism: Understanding the Jihadi Current – Monica Marks, Mediterranean Politics: https://bit.ly/WXGFRS
African Development Surge Could Play into AQIM Narrative – Nathaniel Greenberg, Center for Strategic Communication: https://bit.ly/XvfKuS
Friday March 8: 
Has online jihadist radicalisation been overhyped? – Andrew Zammit: https://bit.ly/WP3BNz
The Growing Alliance between Uzbek Extremists and the Pakistani Taliban – Jacob Zenn, Terrorism Monitor: https://bit.ly/ZlC9XY
An Analysis of Abu Mus’ab al-Suri’s “Call to Global Islamic Resistance” – M.W. Zackie, Journal of Strategic Security: https://bit.ly/ZlD5vs
Meeting Tunisia’s Ansar al-Sharia – Aaron Y. Zelin, The Middle East Channel: atfp.co/13LsRvF