The De-Radicalization of Jihadists: Transforming Armed Islamist Movements

by Ashour; Omar

• ISBN13: 9780415485456
• ISBN10: 0415485452
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-06-04
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This book is the first detailed study of the causes of de-radicalization in armed Islamist movements. It is based on frontline research that includes interviews with Jihadist leaders, mid-ranking commanders, and young sympathizers, as well as former security and intelligence officers and state officials. Additionally, it is also the first book to analyze the particular conditions under which successful de-radicalization can take place. The current literature on Islamist movements attempts to explain two principal issues: their support of violence (radicalization) and their changing attitudes towards democracy and democratization (moderation). However, the reasons behind renouncing (behavioural de-radicalization) and de-legitimizing (ideological de-radicalization) violence have not been evaluated to date. The author provides an in-depth analysis of the de-radicalization processes of the Egyptian Muslim Brothers (1951-73), former allies of al-Qa'ida, such as al-Gama'a al-Islammiyya (Islamic Group of Egypt, 1997-2002) and al-Jihad Organization (2007- present), as well as of Algerian Islamist groups (1997-2000). The book also analyzes cases of de-radicalization failure. The two questions that the book highlights and attempts to answer are Why? and How? For example, why do radical Islamist militants revise their ideologies, strategies and objectives and initiate a de-radicalization process; and what are the necessary conditions behind successful de-radicalization? De-radicalization of Jihadists shows how a combination of charismatic leadership, state repression, social interactions and selective inducements can ultimately lead jihadists to abandon 'jihad' and de-legitimize violence. This book will be of great interest to students of radical Islamist movements and Islamic Studies, terrorism and political violence, security studies, and Middle Eastern politics. Omar Ashouris a Lecturer in Politics in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter. He has a PhD in International Relations from McGill University in Canada.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	p. vii
Foreword	p. viii
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
List of abbreviations	p. xiv
A theory of de-radicalization	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Definitions and typology	p. 4
A typology of Islamists	p. 7
How does de-radicalization develop?	p. 11
Method of investigation	p. 17
The general structure of the book	p. 18
The good, the bad and the ugly: moderation, radicalization and de-radicalization in Islamist movements	p. 19
On radicalization	p. 19
On moderation	p. 25
On de-radicalization: a gap in the literature	p. 30
Conclusion: what is new?	p. 31
Historical overviews of de-radicalization cases	p. 33
Historical background of the Muslim Brothers	p. 33
Historical background of the Islamic Group	p. 45
Historical overviews of other armed Islamist movements	p. 51
Conclusion	p. 61
The untold story: the de-radicalization of the armed wings of the Muslim Brothers	p. 63
The de-radicalization attempts: successes and failures	p. 64
The first attempt (1951-1953)	p. 64
The second attempt (1964-1965)	p. 74
The third attempt (1969-1973)	p. 80
Conclusion	p. 86
The de-radicalization of al-Qa'ida's allies: the Islamic Group and al-Jihad Organization	p. 90
The causes of de-radicalization of the Islamic Group	p. 91
The causes of de-radicalization of al-Jihad Organization	p. 102
Al-Jihad's de-radicalization: the effects on al-Qa'ida	p. 106
Conclusion	p. 108
De-radicalization in Algeria: successes and failures	p. 110
Setting up the argument: ideology, controversial terms and missing variables	p. 111
The de-radicalization process of the AIS	p. 118
The de-radicalization failure of the GIA	p. 127
The further radicalization of the GSPC	p. 131
Conclusion	p. 134
A world without violent Jihad?	p. 136
The findings in comparative perspectives	p. 137
Research and policy implications	p. 143
Notes	p. 146
Bibliography	p. 181
Index	p. 198
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