The Islamic State

The Islamic State (also known as ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) is a jihadist militant group that has become one of the greatest scourges of the 21^st century. The extremist organization is now infamous for its highly publicized terrorist attacks, persecution of religious and ethnic minorities and affiliation with groups such as Al-Qaeda. In just 50 minutes, you will find out how its actions are shaping the face of 21^st century society and understand its profound influence on interfaith relations.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of the key moments in the Islamic State’s bloody history, including the proclamation of the caliphate, the capture of Mosul and the conflict in Syria. It also features biographies of the group’s leaders, a valuable introduction to the political, social and economic context and an evaluation of the impact of the Islamic State’s actions, giving you all the essential information about this radical group of religious terrorists.

About the Islamic State

Although the Islamic State is arguably one of the most highly publicized organizations of the 21^st century, the general public tends to know very little about it. The history of the group is tightly linked to that of Iraq, an unstable country split between several religions and suffering from rising violence. It is in this context that ISIL emerged, and the organization has been growing bolder and more aggressive over the years, staging several bloody, high-profile attacks across Europe. While it is still unclear how this conflict will play out, world leaders are beginning to band together to fight one of the greatest menaces of our times.

This clear and accessible 67-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to the Islamic State
• The origins of the Islamic State
  • The history of Iraq
  • The founders of the Islamic State
• Ideology
  • Religious stance
  • Aims
  • Strategy
• How ISIL works
  • An embryonic state
  • Life under the Islamic State
  • The financing of the Islamic State
  • Affiliations
  • Recruitment and communication strategies
• The fight against the Islamic State
  • The armed conflict in Syria: geopolitics and a proxy war
  • The victims of the Islamic State
• Summary