{"product_id":"9781848139084","title":"Al-Qaeda : From Global Network to Local Franchise","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAl-Qaeda\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Doctor Christina Hellmich\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince the attacks of September 11th 2001 and up to and beyond Osama bin Ladin's death, al-Qaeda has come to embody the new enigmatic face of terrorism, dominating discussions of national and international security. Yet in spite of the attention it receives, conflicting assumptions about the group abound. Is al-Qaeda a rigidly structured organization, a global network of semi-independent cells, a franchise, or simply an idea whose time has come? What is meant by talk of the 'global Salafi jihad' that is confronting the West? What are the implications of bin Ladin's death?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChristina Hellmich offers a critical examination of the widely-held notions regarding the origins and manifestations of al-Qaeda and the sources on which they rely, mapping the organisation's alleged transition from what began as a regional struggle against the Soviets in Afghanistan to the increasingly leaderless jihad of the post-9\/11 world. Rather than just providing yet another biography of al-Qaeda, Hellmich forensically examines discrepancies between the most common explanations and to the limits of what can realistically be known.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrawing on a wide variety of sources, 'al-Qaeda: From Global Network to Local Franchise' offers a penetrating insight into an organization which, for all its notoriety, is one of the least-understood of our time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A sensible, sharp, reasoned, comprehensive overview of analysis of modern Islamic militancy and discussion of the nature of the phenomenon of al-Qaeda.” —\u003ci\u003eJason Burke, author of al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Undermines many of the widely held assumptions about al-Qa'ida.” —\u003ci\u003eNelly Lahoud, Associate Professor, Combating Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy, West Point\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“If you think you know anything at all about al-Qaeda or simply want an accessible introduction to the subject, this book is a must-read. For the novice and expert alike, Al-Qaeda by Christina Hellmich is currently the best book in the very large field of al-Qaeda studies. An eloquent and incisive deconstruction of the mythology surrounding al-Qaeda and a trenchant critique of the contradictions at the heart of Western security policy, Christina Hellmich delivers an intelligent and balanced assessment of perhaps the most misunderstood group in the world.” —\u003ci\u003eRichard Jackson, Aberystwyth University, UK\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A comprehensive book filled with fresh material.” —\u003ci\u003eTime Out\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781848139084\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Zed Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40592902979790,"sku":"9781848139084","price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_4d66f3fa-c61a-4db0-a58f-0bea22ebdda0.jpg?v=1637777118","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781848139084","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}