A Theory of Isis

Presenting a new theory of ISIS, Mohamedou traces its genealogy and documents its evolution in Iraq and Syria. He argues that ISIS has transcended Osama Bin Laden's original project of Al Qaeda, mutating into an unprecedented hybrid form that distills postcolonial violence, postmodernity and the emerging post-globalization international order. Mohamedou analyzes ISIS from a social sciences perspective and unpacks its dynamics by looking beyond superficial questions such as its terrorist nature and religious rhetoric. He transforms our understanding of ISIS and its impact on the very nature of contemporary political violence. --Adapted from publisher description.

Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou is the author of A Theory of ISIS and Understanding Al Qaeda. His writing brought a fresh approach to the studies of extremism, conflict, political violence and peace-building. He was a committed pan-Africanist and pan-Arabist. He worked as Professor of International History at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, and served as Mauritia's youngest foreign minister in 2008.