Al-Qaida in Afghanistan

Since 9/11, al-Qaida has become one of the most infamous and widely discussed terrorist organizations in the world, with affiliates spread across the globe. However, little-known are the group's activities within Afghanistan itself, something which Anne Stenersen examines in this book. Using an array of unique primary sources, she presents an alternative narrative of al-Qaida's goals and strategies prior to 9/11. She argues that al-Qaida's actions were not just an ideological expression of religious fanaticism and violent anti-Americanism, but that they were actually far more practical and organised, with a more revolutionary and Middle Eastern-focused agenda than previously thought. Through Stenersen's analysis, we see how al-Qaida employed a dual strategy: with a small section focused on staging international terrorist attacks, but at the same time a larger part dedicated to building a resilient and cohesive organization that would ultimately serve as a vanguard for future Islamist revolutions.

Author: Anne Stenersen
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 07/26/2017
Pages: 220
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.72lbs
Size: 9.14h x 6.51w x 0.61d
ISBN: 9781107427761

About the Author
Stenersen, Anne: - Anne Stenersen is a Research Fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment's Terrorism Research Group. With an academic background rooted in Middle Eastern studies, Arabic and Russian, she has conducted research on militant Islamism, with a focus on CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) terrorism, al-Qaida's use of the internet, and the Taliban insurgency.