MOVEMENT STRATEGIES OF RADICAL GROUPS IN THE MIDDLE EAST: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN ISIS AND AL-QAEDA

Abstract

Radicalism remains a contentious issue in the Middle East today, with several radical movements closely associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda. This research examines the movement strategies of ISIS and Al-Qaeda, two groups often considered influential in the emergence of radical movements in various Middle Eastern countries. The study employs a qualitative descriptive method, focusing on mapping the movements of ISIS and Al-Qaeda and the implications of these movements for the emergence of new movements in the Middle East. The findings indicate that both ISIS and Al-Qaeda share a common understanding of the concept of jihad and a desire to establish an Islamic state in response to sectarian differences, Western-leaning governments in the region, and socio-political inequality in the Middle East. These movements have implications for the birth of other groups with similar ideologies, negatively impacting the region, and global perceptions of Islam.