Recent Publications

Reassessing the Barriers to Islamic Radicalization in Kazakhstan
July 29, 2015 — Authors: Ms Zhulduz Baizakova, Mr Roger N McDermott View the Executive SummaryCentral Asia has been experiencing an increase or activation of radical Islamic movements over the last decade or so. These complex processes include increasing urbanization, institutional and individual corruption, the growing gap between rich and poor, the inability of... MORE

Pakistan – The Most Dangerous Place in the World
July 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Larry P Goodson Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the July 2009 newsletter.Read Now MORE

Precision in the Global War on Terror: Inciting Muslims through the War of Ideas
April 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Sherifa D Zuhur Never before have Americans paid so much attention to Islam and Muslim ideology. Although efforts have been made to separate mainsteam views from extremist principles, Muslims feel that many of their basic beliefs are under attack in the ongoing war of ideas. The author explores why, surveying a broad swath of accusations... MORE

Saudi Arabia: Islamic Threat, Political Reform, and the Global War on Terror
March 1, 2005 — Author: Dr Sherifa D Zuhur This monograph examines the convergence of the war on terror on Saudi soil, calls for and modest programs of political reform, and heightened post-9/11 tensions with the United States. Saudi Arabia has been condemned for its Wahhabist version of Islam, and linked to the growth of salafist extremism operating locally,... MORE

Islamic Rulings on Warfare
November 1, 2004 — Authors: LTCDR Youssef H Aboul-Enein, Dr Sherifa D Zuhur The global war on terror (GWOT) and the battles with specific Islamist groups is, to some degree, a war of ideas. With a better understanding of Islamic concepts of war, peace, and Muslim relations with non-Muslims, those fighting the GWOT may gain support and increase their efficacy. The... MORE

Socio-Economic Roots of Radicalism?: Towards Explaining the Appeal of Islamic Radicals
July 1, 2003 — Author: Prof Alan Richards The author addresses the critical questions involved in understanding and coping with the roots of Islamic radicalism. He provides particular attention to the links between radicalism and a series of crises associated with modernization in the Islamic World. The result is a thoughtful and probing study including policy... MORE

Nationalism, Sectarianism, and the Future of the U.S. Presence in Post-Saddam Iraq
July 1, 2003 — Author: Dr W Andrew Terrill The author addresses the critical questions involved in understanding the background of Iraqi national identity and the ways in which it may evolve in the future to either the favor or detriment of the United States. He pays particular attention to the issue of Iraqi sectarianism and the emerging role of the Shi'ite... MORE

Jihadi Groups, Nuclear Pakistan, and the New Great Game
August 1, 2001 — Author: Dr M Ehsan Ahrari For the United States and other nations concerned with security in South and Central Asia, one of the most ominous trends has been the growing influence of Jihadist groups in Pakistan which feel obligated to wage holy war against everything that they perceive as non-Islamic. Their objective would be a Pakistani government... MORE

A Theory of Fundamentalism: An Inquiry into the Origin and Development of the Movement
September 28, 1995 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere Islamic fundamentalism is growing at such a rapid rate that many believe it threatens to take over the Middle East. To prevent this, enormous resources have been summoned, not only from within the region, but in the West as well. Yet, for all the efforts to contain, if not turn back the fundamentalists, the movement... MORE