Publications

The Islamic State burst onto the Middle East scene as an entity whose conduct and very essence challenge the existing regional order. With its military conquests in Iraq and Syria, its establishment of branches elsewhere in the Middle East and beyond, its state-like governance in the areas under its control, and the cruelty it typically exhibits, the Islamic State has become the focus of regional and international interest and concern. The articles compiled in this volume examine ways of dealing with one of the most salient military, sociopolitical, cultural, and intellectual challenges on today’s global agenda.

There are many question marks surrounding the future of the Islamic State. Relating to historical, religious, military, economic, social, cultural, and geopolitical aspects, the articles in this volume address many of the questions prompted by the dramatic emergence of the Islamic State and examine ideas on how to grapple with this phenomenon. Taken together, they paint a portrait of the complex reality that has evolved in the Middle East in recent years, and attempt to outline future trends. In addition to this multi-disciplinary interpretation of the Islamic State and its related challenges, the collection presents insights that can assist in formulating policies to cope with this challenging situation.
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Contents

Preface
Part I Background
A State Is Born: What Lies behind the Establishment of the Islamic State / Kobi Michael
The Islamic Caliphate: A Controversial Consensus / Ofir Winter
Radicalism and Islamic Terror: Historical Background / Meir Litvak 
The Internal Conflict in the Global Jihad Camp / Yoram Schweitzer Part II The Sum of Its Parts
The Islamic State as an Intelligence Challenge / David Siman-Tov and Yotam Hacohen
The Military Power of the Islamic State / Gabi Siboni
The Islamic State: Rich Organization, Poor State / Shmuel Even and Carmit Valensi
The Islamic State: Governance and Civilian Consolidation / Carmit Valensi
Fighting against the Islamic State: The Legal Challenges / Keren Aviram
The Islamic State’s Use of Social Media: Terrorism’s Siren Song in the Digital Age / Adam Hoffman
A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Islamic State Galaxy / Orit Perlov

Part III From Where It Sprang, and the Nearby Environment
The Islamic State and the Iraqi State: A Guide to the Perplexed / Ronen Zeidel
The Islamic State Kingdom in Syria / Eyal Zisser
Kurdistan, the Islamic State, and Paradigm Shifts in the Middle East / Ofra Bengio
Lebanon and the Rise of the Islamic State / Benedetta Berti
Jordan and the Islamic State Challenge / Asher Susser
The Influence of the Islamic State on Israel’s Arab Citizens and on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank/ Aviad Mandelbaum and Yoram Schweitzer

Part IV Regional Forces
Iran vs. the Islamic State: The Enemy of My Enemy is also My Enemy / Ephraim Kam
The Islamic State vs. the Saudi State / Yoel Guzansky
Turkey in Face of the Threat from the Islamic State: Finally in Sync with its NATO Allies? / Gallia Lindenstrauss
Israel and the Islamic State / Shlomo Brom

Part V The Sphere of Influence
Wilayat Sinai: The Islamic State’s Egyptian Affiliate / Zack Gold
The Islamic State in Libya: Challenge and Response / Shaul Shay and Av Baras
The Islamic State and its Intentions for Africa / Smadar Shaul and Yoram Schweitzer
The Spread of the Islamic State in Southern Asia: Between Vision and Reality / Meirav Mishali-Ram

Part VI The World Powers
The United States vs. the Islamic State / Oded Eran and Afik Barak
Russia and the Islamic State Challenge / Zvi Magen, Sarah Fainberg, and Ilan Shklarsky
The European Union and the Rise of the Islamic State / Shimon Stein
The Islamic State: The Danger that China Would Rather Not Name / Eyal Propper

Part VII Threat Assessment and Strategic Confrontation
The Strategic Challenge: Contending with the Islamic State / Udi Dekel
The Islamic State Challenge: How Severe Is It? / Amos Yadlin

Conclusion
Above and Below the Surface of the Islamic State / Yoram Schweitzer and Omer Einav
Contributors

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