The U.S. killed al-Qaeda’s leader. That might boost terrorism. Jenna Jordan - August 9, 2022 ‘Leadership decapitation’ can inspire Islamist extremist groups and followers to carry out more attacks, my research finds
‘Islamic State in Africa’ explores nine militant Islamist groups Dan Eizenga - July 14, 2022 This book takes a comprehensive look at the rise of Islamic State affiliates operating on the continent
The Islamic State’s leader died this month. What type of leader might come next? Tricia L. Bacon and Elizabeth Grimm - February 16, 2022 Our book on terrorist leaders gives some clues
Some good news from 2020: So far, very few Americans have been killed in terrorist attacks. Daniel Byman - December 21, 2020 Despite alarming headlines, domestic terror attacks left fewer Americans dead than in 2019
When tensions rise, retaliation isn’t the same as all-out war Michael Horowitz and Elizabeth N. Saunders - January 7, 2020 "Powder keg" situations rarely explode into war by accident.
Looking back at the Middle East’s 2019: Surprises from Trump, Saudi power moves, protests and more Stephanie Dahle - December 29, 2019 Here are 5 takeaways.
What radicalized ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi? Samuel Helfont - November 11, 2019 Iraq’s post-2003 chaos is actually to blame, not Saddam Hussein.
The death of Baghdadi isn’t the end of ISIS Jenna Jordan - November 5, 2019 Research shows eliminating the leader of a terrorist group is not enough
Worried about an Islamic State comeback? Here’s why that’s unlikely. Daniel Byman - October 28, 2019 Yes, Trump pulled U.S. troops out of northern Syria, but many other factors will probably keep ISIS down.
Here’s why the Taliban might still want to negotiate with the U.S. Rebecca Best and Navin Bapat - September 12, 2019 It’s riven by factions and losing loyalists to the Islamic State
Did bin Laden’s death help the Islamic State? Tricia Bacon and Elizabeth Arsenault - May 2, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72869" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An undated photo shows al-Qaeda leader
How 9/11 created a feedback loop for international jihadism Martha Crenshaw and Lisa Blaydes - September 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63827" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians pull
Why banning ‘extremist groups’ is dangerous for Indonesia Chernov Hwang - July 19, 2017 [caption id="attachment_61149" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People listen to an imam during a
Turkey’s President Erdogan has gone to extremes to win Sunday’s referendum. Here’s why. Melina Dunham and Lisel Hintz - April 14, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56822" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters
Why the words we use about terrorism matter Jacob Olidort - March 30, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56029" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An Islamic State fighter holds a
What is inspiring homegrown terror in the U.S.? It’s not just the Islamic State. Sarah Gilkes and Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens - December 6, 2016 [caption id="attachment_50780" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Crime scene investigators collect evidence as
After this month’s attack in Bamako, what do we know about fundamentalist Islam in Mali? Sebastian Elischer - November 30, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32796" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Malian security officials show an extremist
A provocative article says the Islamic State is a mystery. Here’s why that’s wrong. Costantino Pischedda - August 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28953" align="aligncenter" width="908"] In this June 23, 2014, file
A provocative article says the Islamic State is a mystery. Here's why that's wrong. - August 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28953" align="aligncenter" width="908"] In this June 23, 2014, file
Contesting the Caliphate Marc Lynch - July 22, 2015 [caption id="attachment_27696" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] In this photo released on
Silver bullet: Why decapitation strikes (don't) work Jason Lyall - June 19, 2015 The successful drone strike in Yemen on Monday against Nasser al-Wuhayshi,
Silver bullet: Why decapitation strikes (don’t) work Jason Lyall - June 19, 2015 The successful drone strike in Yemen on Monday against Nasser al-Wuhayshi,
The Islamic State, Boko Haram and the evolution of international jihad Nathaniel Allen - March 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23098" align="alignnone" width="620"] A wall painted by Boko Haram
The Islamic State’s model Aaron Zelin - January 28, 2015 [caption id="attachment_20630" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A member of security (L) for
Jihadi-Salafi views of the Islamic State Joas Wagemakers - January 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_20557" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A man walks past a
Is Libya a proxy war? Frederic Wehrey - October 24, 2014 [caption id="attachment_17106" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The remains of a burnt airplane
Why the Iraqi army collapsed (and what can be done about it) Keren Fraiman, Caitlin Talmadge, and Austin Long - June 13, 2014 The collapse of Iraqi security forces this week has been