Al-Qaida in Afghanistan

By Anne Stenersen

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1107427762
• ISBN13: 9781107427761
• Release Date: July 2017
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.5" x 9.1"