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Discuss the rise of radical Islam and the flourishing of terror organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda. Additionally, you will also need to discuss the development of the Muslim Brotherhood and the role that they play within the rise of radical Islam throughout the Middle East. Please be sure to specifically discuss various leaders within these organizations and the impact that they specifically may have had upon the rise of radical Islam.
The rise of radical Islam, often associated with the ideology of Salafi-Jihadism, is a complex phenomenon rooted in geopolitical, socioeconomic, and ideological factors within the Middle East and beyond. It represents a militant interpretation of Islam that advocates for the use of violence (jihad) to establish a global caliphate governed by a strict, often literal, interpretation of Sharia (Islamic law).
Al-Qaeda (Arabic for "The Base") and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL) are the most notorious manifestations of this radical trend.
Al-Qaeda's Development:
Origins: The group emerged in the late 1980s from the network of Arab fighters (Mujahideen) who flocked to Afghanistan to fight the Soviet invasion (1979-1989).
Ideology: Al-Qaeda’s initial focus was the expulsion of Western, particularly US, influence from Muslim lands ("the far enemy"), viewing the presence of American troops in the Arabian Peninsula as a violation of Islamic sanctity.
Key Leader and Impact: Osama bin Laden (founder) galvanized the global jihadist movement through his charismatic leadership and the orchestration of spectacular, high-casualty attacks, most notably the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. This event redefined global terrorism, demonstrating Al-Qaeda's global reach and ambition, and fundamentally altering US foreign policy in the Middle East. Bin Laden’s successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri, became the chief ideologue, working to centralize the movement's messaging and strategy.
ISIS's Development:
Origins: ISIS has its roots in Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), founded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi following the 2003 US invasion. Zarqawi's group was known for its extreme brutality and sectarian violence against Shia Muslims, which led to a rift with Al-Qaeda’s central leadership.
Breakaway and Caliphate: After the group was severely weakened, its leadership was taken over by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2010. Capitalizing on the chaos of the Syrian Civil War and a resurgent insurgency in Iraq, Baghdadi broke with Al-Qaeda and, in 2014, declared a global Caliphate in the territory it controlled across Iraq and Syria, renaming the group the Islamic State.
Key Leader and Impact: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s declaration of a Caliphate was an unprecedented act in modern jihadism. It provided a powerful religious and political rallying cry, attracting thousands of foreign fighters and affiliates worldwide. ISIS’s takfiri (excommunication) ideology, viewing even other Muslims who do not conform as apostates worthy of death, led to extreme public violence, mass executions, and a sophisticated media campaign that amplified its brutality and attracted radicalized recruits.