Contextualising Jihadi Thought

‘If you want to understand the origins, ideological and political worldviews of what is popularly referred to as transnational jihadism, then Jeevan Deol and Zaheer Kazmi’s Contextualising Jihadi Thought is the book to read. A masterful and accessible global perspective that will be welcomed by academic experts, policymakers and students alike.’ * John L. Esposito, University Professor, Georgetown University and author of The Future of Islam *‘This is a complex text that aims at understanding transnational jihadist networks through the study of their ideologies, intellectual histories, political engagements and geographic contexts. It includes richly detailed case studies of local militant groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, India, North Africa, South-East Asia and the UK. A breath of fresh air in a subject area dominated by narrow and simplistic commentaries, which take the ideological narratives of jihadist factions at face value.’ * Fawaz A. Gerges, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics, and author of The Rise and Fall of Al-Qaeda *‘Jeevan Deol and Zaheer Kazmi have brought together an extremely impressive team of contributors to write one of the best available books on jihadi ideology. This is essential reading for any serious student of al-Qaida and the jihadi movement.’ * Thomas Hegghammer, Director of Terrorism studies, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) *‘A truly valuable contribution to the understanding of jihadi discourse and rationale, bringing into light new analysis and interpretation of these movements, in a legitimate and largely successful attempt to “de-exoticise” them.’- * Professor Jean-Pierre Filiu, Sciences Po, Paris, author, The Arab Revolution *

Jeevan Deol is an Affiliated Lecturer of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies in the University of Cambridge. Zaheer Kazmi is a Senior Associate Member of St Antony’s College, University of Oxford. He was formerly a Senior Research Analyst at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He holds a PhD in international political theory from the University of Cambridge