Jihad in the West
The Rise of Militant Salafism

Explores the rise of Al Qaeda-influenced movements and militant Salafism, the most significant form of terrorism facing Western countries.

Frazer Egerton (Author)

9781107002821, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 March 2011

228 pages, 1 table
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.1 cm, 0.5 kg

'Frazer Egerton's Jihad in the West: The Rise of Militant Salafism is one of the most intelligent and articulate contributions to the study of terrorism and political violence in recent years. It stands out as an original conceptual contribution to a burgeoning literature on an aspect of political violence most frequently characterised by high-profile terrorist attacks carried out in New York and Washington, Madrid and London … It is safe to say that Egerton's fresh and original analysis has provided a basis on which we can better conceptualise responses to the question and a very sound platform from which to improve future research in this arena. As such, this is a book that should be essential reading for academics, researchers and students in terrorism studies, as well as practitioners and policymakers concerned with counterterrorism.' Robert Lambert, Critical Studies on Terrorism

Militant Salafism is one of the most significant movements in politics today. Unfortunately its significance has not been matched by understanding. To begin to address this knowledge deficit this book argues that, rather than the largely unhelpful pursuit of individual 'root causes' offered in much of the literature, we would be better served by looking at the factors that have enabled and facilitated a particular political imaginary. That political imaginary is one that allows individuals to conceive of themselves as integral members of a global battle waged between the forces of Islam and the West, something that lies at the heart of militant Salafism. Frazer Egerton shows how the ubiquity of modern media and the prevalence of movement have allowed for a transformation of existing beliefs into an ideology supportive of militant Salafism against the West amongst Western Muslims.

Introduction
1. Mad Mullah or freedom fighter? What is a militant Salafist?
2. What is wrong with these people?
3. Taking us everywhere: the role of the political imaginary
4. (Hyper)media and the construction of the militant community
5. Movement: from actual to ideological
6. Why me? The role of broader narratives and intermediaries
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Terrorism, armed struggle [JPWL], International relations [JPS], Social theory [JHBA], Sociology [JHB], Islamic studies [JFSR2]