Jihadi Culture
The Art and Social Practices of Militant Islamists

This book studies the art forms and social practices that make up much of the daily life of jihadi culture.

Thomas Hegghammer (Edited by)

9781107017955, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 22 June 2017

284 pages
23.5 x 15.5 x 1.7 cm, 0.59 kg

'A broad and ambitious collection, Jihadi Culture offers a nuanced approach for understanding militant jihadism, not through dry doctrine, but through the power of culture - a subject that warrants such attention.' Rebecca Wolfe, The Times Literary Supplement

Al-Qaida and Islamic State continue to captivate the world with their extreme violence. While much attention has been given to the operations and doctrines of jihadi groups, this is the first book to explore their culture. Using a wealth of primary sources, the authors examine what goes on inside these organizations and what daily life is like for the foot-soldiers. They show that Islamist militants have a rich aesthetic culture and do much more than fight and train. Life in a jihadi group is in fact filled with poetry and music, and fighters spend time on surprising things like dream interpretation and weeping. Readers will discover an entirely new perspective on radical Islamists: that despite their reputation as macho men, they value humility, artistic sensitivity, and displays of emotion. Cultural practices are essential for understanding the jihadi worldview and may shed important new light on decision-making and recruitment processes in extremist groups. This original book will interest anyone in academia, government, or the general public who is intrigued by the appeal and resilience of the jihadi movement.

Introduction: why study jihadi culture? Thomas Hegghammer
1. Poetry in jihadi culture Robyn Creswell and Bernard Haykel
2. A cappella songs (anashid) in jihadi culture Nelly Lahoud
3. A musicological perspective on jihadi anashid Jonathan Pieslak
4. The visual culture of jihad Afshon Ostovar
5. A history of jihadi cinematography Anne Stenersen
6. The Islamic dream tradition and jihadi militancy Iain R. Edgar and Gwynned de Looijer
7. Contemporary martyrdom ideology and material culture David B. Cook
8. Non-military practices in jihadi groups Thomas Hegghammer
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Terrorism, armed struggle [JPWL], Political ideologies [JPF], Islam [HRH]