This paper analyses if the terrorist organization ISIS has really been defeated. A lot of politicians, journalist, authors and scientists say simply no, because regardless of what happens to ISIS, this ideology (jihadi-salafism) still persists. The Caliphate has been destroyed but the ISIS ideology is still everywhere. Firstly the root cause for rising ISIS is analysed. Secondly, the starting point of ISIS as well as the further development of ISIS and its aims is evaluated. Furthermore, the research question if ISIS has been defeated, is discussed. And lastly, the future of this terrorist organization is considered.
The Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is the world’s most dangerous, terrorist organization that follows the ideology of Salafist Jihadist groups, which fight in the name of Islam by creating an Islamic state in the world. President Donald Trump tweeted on 19th December 2018 that the U.S. would withdraw its troops from Syria, claiming the Islamic State terror group had been defeated and that there was no longer a reason to deploy U.S. forces in the war-torn nation.
The ISIS terror group organization changed its name several times. Al Baghdadi created the current name of ISIS as he took leadership of the Islamic state in 2010. Abu Baker al-Baghdadi took advantage of the outbreak of the crisis in neighbouring Syria in 2011 to move there and expand in 2013. His goal was to seize Syrian territory and connect it to Iraq. It was first and foremost an extension of the global Salafi-jihadist movement.
Table of Contents
Introduction:
I. Root cause for rising ISIS
II. Starting point of ISIS
III. Further development of ISIS and its aims
IV. Has ISIS Been Defeated?
V. The Future of ISIS
Objectives & Core Topics
This dossier examines the geopolitical and ideological state of the terrorist organization ISIS following claims of its defeat. It investigates whether the loss of physical territory equates to the eradication of the group's threat or if its underlying ideology persists as a global challenge.
- The impact of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq on the rise of ISIS.
- The role of Camp Bucca as a catalyst for network and ideology formation.
- The strategic evolution and territorial expansion of the "Islamic State."
- Critical analysis of official claims regarding the defeat of ISIS.
- The persistence of jihadist-salafist ideology and global militant activity.
Excerpt from the Book
I. Root cause for rising ISIS
The U.S. military attacks on invasion of Iraq in 2003 have had an impact on the creation of ISIS. (Donnelly, 2016). FAWAZ A. GERGES Book ISIS: A History gives some details about how the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was the start point for the Islamic State. Gerges claims in his book that the main factor of ISIS’s rebirth “can be seen as an extension of Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) which was itself a creature of the 2003 US- led invasion of Iraq and its aftermath” (Gerges, 2017, p. 8). However, after nineteen days of throwing Saddam’s government out, the U.S occupying authorities disbanded the Iraqi Army. This decision upset Iraqi men who due to their previous profession, were armed, angry, and possessed military training and suddenly made them humiliated and out of work. (Filkins, 2015) Further, the destruction of Iraq’s institutions “triggered a deep sectarian divide between Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims” (Gerges, 2017, p. 11) which could be argued led to the rise of ISIS from “an inconsequential nonstate actor to an Islamic state” (Gerges, 2017, p. 12). Moreover, killing thousands of Iraqis, torturing them in Abu Ghraib prison, and making them jobless helped drive thousands of Iraqis into the arms of radical groups. Besides, David Kilcullen a former military advisor to the U.S. claimed in his interview with Channel 4, “There would be no ISIS if we had not invaded Iraq,” (Dearden, 2016). In short, it could be said that the U.S. invasion of Iraq was behind the rise of ISIS.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the rise of ISIS as a global terrorist threat and questions the accuracy of official statements regarding its total defeat.
I. Root cause for rising ISIS: Analyzes how the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and subsequent disbanding of the Iraqi army created the structural conditions for ISIS to emerge.
II. Starting point of ISIS: Explores the role of Camp Bucca as a radicalization hub where extremist networks and future leaders, including al-Baghdadi, were forged.
III. Further development of ISIS and its aims: Details the transition of the group from an insurgency to a self-declared 'Caliphate' and its strategies for territorial control and resource acquisition.
IV. Has ISIS Been Defeated?: Critically evaluates the political claims of a total defeat of ISIS in light of continued terrorist activity and the persistence of the group's global militant network.
V. The Future of ISIS: Discusses the ongoing threat posed by the group's resilient ideology and the challenges of dealing with returning foreign fighters.
Keywords
ISIS, Islamic State, War on Terror, Iraq War, Camp Bucca, Ideology, Salafist Jihadism, Caliphate, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Terrorism, Radicalization, Geopolitics, Middle East, Counter-terrorism, Militant network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dossier?
The dossier explores the origins, growth, and current status of the terrorist organization known as ISIS, specifically questioning the validity of declarations that the group has been completely defeated.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
The document covers the historical roots post-2003, the radicalization processes in detention facilities, the territorial expansion in Syria and Iraq, and the contemporary ideological and militant survival of the group.
What is the core research question?
The central question is whether the destruction of the physical "Caliphate" equates to the defeat of ISIS or if the underlying jihadist-salafist ideology remains a potent, ongoing threat.
What scientific methodology is utilized in this paper?
The paper utilizes a qualitative document analysis, synthesizing academic books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and contemporary news reports to build its argumentation.
What aspects are addressed in the main body?
The main body examines the causal relationship between the Iraq War and ISIS's birth, the role of U.S. detention camps, the organizational shift of the group, and the gap between official U.S. policy claims and the reality of ongoing militant activities.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include ISIS, Islamic State, Salafist Jihadism, Iraq War, Camp Bucca, Counter-terrorism, and Geopolitical destabilization.
How does the author characterize the role of Camp Bucca?
The author identifies Camp Bucca as a "factory" and "Al-Qaeda School" where displaced Iraqi military personnel and jihadists were able to network and formalize the ideology that fueled the later formation of ISIS.
What is the significance of the "Caliphate" being destroyed versus the ideology remaining?
The dossier highlights a crucial distinction: while the physical territory and military infrastructure of the "Islamic State" have been largely dismantled, the extremist ideology remains active, allowing the group to transition into a decentralized, global threat.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nidal Rashow (Autor:in), 2019, Has ISIS Been Defeated? The Future and Further Development of ISIS, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1008312
