The War of Ideas Jihadism against Democracy

by Phares, Walid

• ISBN13: 9781403976390
• ISBN10: 1403976392
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-02-20
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Summary

From Afghanistan and Iraq to Europe and the United States we are engaged in one of the most heated wars of all time. In this incisive new book, the man that has been called--the only one to understand the mind of the jihadist--shows that the most important battle is actually taking place in the hearts and minds of the world's population. This is the war of ideas, where ideology is the most powerful weapon of all. Phares explores the beliefs of two opposing camps, one standing for democracy and human rights, and the other rejecting the idea of an international community and calling for jihad against the West. He reveals the strategies of both sides, explaining that new technologies and the growing media savvy of the jihadists have raised the stakes in the conflict. And most urgently, he warns that the West is in danger of losing the war, for whereas debate and theorizing rarely translate into action here, ideas and deeds are inextricably linked for the forces of jihad.

Author Biography

Walid Phares is a world-renowned terrorism and Middle East expert. He is a senior fellow at The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a visiting fellow at the European Foundation for Democracy. He has testified before the State Department many times and led NGO delegations to discuss Middle East terrorism with the UN Security Council. He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, al Jazeera, al Hurra, Fox News, and Abu Dhabi TV, among others, and is a frequent contributor to U.S. and international radio programs. A professor of Middle East Studies at Florida Atlantic University, he holds a doctorate in international relations and strategic studies. He is the author of several books, including Future Jihad: Terrorist Strategies against the West.

Table of Contents

The Historical Debates

The Antidemocracy Axis

Irreconcilable Views

The Jihadi War on International Principles

The Assault on Pluralism

Democracy's Pillars under Attack

Gender Apartheid

The First War of Ideas, 1945-1990

Battles over Minds: The Second War of Ideas, 1990-2001

The Clash of Futures: The Third War of Ideas, 2001-2006

The War on Learning

Inflaming Hearts and Fooling Minds

War on the Messengers

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