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The Islamic State and its Viability

2014; RELX Group (Netherlands); Linguagem: Inglês

10.2139/ssrn.2537725

1556-5068

Mohammed Nuruzzaman,

Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

This paper offers explanations for the rise of the Islamic State. It contends that the failure of the previous Nouri al-Maliki government to integrate the Sunni minority in the economic and political processes of Iraq was not solely responsible for the outbreak of violence last summer and the subsequent proclamation of the Islamic State; instead, there are deep historical reasons as well as contemporary realities, especially post-2003, that largely account for the emergence of this new phenomenon. The paper also critically examines the political, military and economic viability of the Islamic State and concludes that, unless defeated by the international coalition led by the US, the Islamic State may end up redrawing the political map of the Middle East.