The fight against radical Islamism has emerged as the defining struggle of the Twenty-First Century. Yet today the international community knows precious little about the groups that espouse this extremist ideology, their ideological programs, political and/or military capabilities, and worldwide appeal.
The threat posed by Islamism is very real, and it is growing. From Western Europe to Asia, from the Middle East to the Horn of Africa, moderate forces are finding themselves under growing assault by radical Islamist forces proposing a harsh totalitarian worldview. In some countries, such as Great Britain, Denmark and France, the challenge posed by radical Islamism is still limited in scope and embryonic in nature. But in others, including Somalia, Lebanon and Pakistan, it is mature, and poses a mortal danger to the future of the current state.
Charting the worldwide spread of radical Islamist ideology, as well as the successes and failures of foreign governments in confronting this challenge, is essential to informed policy-planning on the part of the U.S. government and our allies in this struggle.
The American Foreign Policy Council’s World Almanac of Islamism is a comprehensive resource focusing on the nature of the contemporary Islamist threat in individual countries and regions, intended to provide an accurate picture of the rise or decline of radical Islamism on a national, regional and global level.
The views expressed herein are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of AFPC. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and veracity of this work. Any remaining errors, misrepresentations or mischaracterizations should be considered those of the authors themselves.
Editors and Staff
Chief Editor/Project Manager: Ilan Berman, AFPC Vice President
Managing Editor/Project Coordinator: Jeff M. Smith, AFPC Kraemer Strategy Fellow
Website Architect: Rich Harrison, AFPC Research Fellow and Program Officer
Contributing Editor: Micah N. Levinson, AFPC Junior Fellow
Content Uploading: Amanda Pitrof, AFPC Junior Fellow
Website Developer: New Signature
Acknowledgements
The World Almanac of Islamism has been a massive intellectual and organizational undertaking, several years in the making*. This, the Almanac’s inaugural edition, would not have been possible without the dedication and assistance of a number of talented researchers, including Matthew Brodsky, Amanda Lamb, Michelle Hong, Zachary Young, Mary DePuglio, Lisa Aronson and Adam Schusterman.
Special thanks also go to AFPC Special Projects Coordinator Elizabeth Wood, for her assistance in the copy-editing of the project’s numerous chapters; to AFPC Research Associate Amanda Pitrof, for her extensive work on the layout and design of the Almanac’s print and online editions; to AFPC Junior Fellow Micah Levinson, for his role in fact-checking and copy-editing selected chapters of this collection; and to AFPC Research Fellow and Program Officer Rich Harrison for spearheading the creation and design of the Almanac’s digital edition.
Finally, AFPC President Herman Pirchner Jr. deserves special recognition for his vision in conceiving of this project, and for his encouragement and guidance throughout its development.
Ilan Berman
Chief Editor
Jeff M. Smith
Managing Editor
Washington, DC
July 2011
*The idea was first raised in 2008 by Theodore Roosevelt Malloch in a conversation with Herman Pirchner Jr. and John Wobensmith.
About the American Foreign Policy Council
For more than two-and-a-half decades, AFPC has played an essential role in the U.S. foreign policy debate. Founded in 1982, AFPC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to bringing information to those who make or influence the foreign policy of the United States and to assisting world leaders with building democracies and market economies. AFPC is widely recognized as a source of timely, insightful analysis on issues of foreign policy, and works closely with members of Congress, the Executive Branch and the policymaking community. It is staffed by noted specialists in foreign and defense policy, and serves as a valuable resource to officials in the highest levels of government.
AFPC’s publication program includes the sponsorship of numerous articles, monographs and books. In recent years, AFPC authors have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines including: the Washington Post, International Herald Tribune, Janes’s Defense Weekly, Washington Times, Wall Street Journal (including their Asian and European editions), Financial Times, National Review, Baltimore Sun, American Spectator, and the New York Post. American Foreign Policy Council spokesmen regularly give testimony before Congress as well as give commentary on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, BBC and other news channels. C-SPAN has covered AFPC’s public conferences on Missile Defense and other topics.
AFPC Mission Statement
The American Foreign Policy Council seeks to advance the security and prosperity of the United States by:
1) providing primary source information, as well as policy options, to persons and organizations who make or influence the national security and foreign policies of the United States;
2) arranging meetings and facilitating dialogue between American statesmen and their counterparts in other countries; and
3) fostering the acceptance and development of representative institutions and free market economies throughout the world in a manner consistent with the Constitution, the national interest, and the values of the United States.
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