The Lesser Jihad: Recruits and the al-Qaida Network

(Paperback)

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Description

Despite many countries' successful efforts to capture and kill al-Qaida members, the al-Qaida network remains one of the most viable threats to international security. To combat this threat, we must understand why individuals continue to join the network. The Lesser Jihad provides unique insight into this question, exploring the diversity of recruits and the motivational forces that drive seemingly ordinary individuals to turn to secrecy and violence as a way of life. These motivational forces, or "the push," combine with al-Qaida's recruitment efforts, or "the pull." Through robust and proactive propaganda efforts, the al-Qaida network entices potential recruits to follow its call to armed jihad. This insider's look will help policymakers, government officials, academics, the press, and citizens to understandand combatrecruitment into the al-Qaida network.

Reviews

Mastors and Deffenbaugh have made an original contribution . . . insightful and practicable, a notable achievement. Summing Up: Highly Recommended. * Choice Reviews *
By focusing on the al Qaeda network's recruitment processes, The Lesser Jihad is an important contribution to our understanding of the measures required to counter and defeat such a terrorist network. * The Washington Times *
The Lesser Jihad presents new information on how al Qaida and its affiliated groups manage the recruitment of new operatives into their diverse terrorist networks. The authors analysis is well-informed, original, and an important contribution to the field of terrorism studies. -- Joshua Sinai, The Analysis Corporation

Author Bio

Elena Mastors is associate professor at the Naval War College. Alyssa Deffenbaugh is a program analyst with ManTech International Corporation.