Strategic Culture and Strategic Studies: An Alternative Framework for Assessing al-Qaeda and the Global Jihad Movement - Osama bin Laden, AQAM, Sudan, Irregular Warfare, Islamic Terrorism

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book Strategic Culture and Strategic Studies: An Alternative Framework for Assessing al-Qaeda and the Global Jihad Movement - Osama bin Laden, AQAM, Sudan, Irregular Warfare, Islamic Terrorism by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781311422989
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: April 20, 2014
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781311422989
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: April 20, 2014
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

More than a decade after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States by al-Qaeda and a year after the death of Osama bin Laden, this unique text offers an innovative analysis of that organization's strategic culture. This analysis upends the conventional wisdom that only nation-states can have a strategic culture, an internal process through which issues of strategic significance and intent are discussed, debated, refined, and executed.

In many ways the U.S. national security establishment was unprepared for this attack and the global conflict that followed. Despite the end of the Cold War the United States remained militarily postured primarily to engage with other nation-states. Al-Qaeda as a non-state actor with global reach posed a decidedly new challenge. In this monograph the author advances our understanding of this non-traditional adversary through an analysis of the shared beliefs, assumptions, and modes of behavior that comprise the al-Qaeda strategic culture. Through a strategic culture framework he identifies and assesses the factors and developments that have shaped al-Qaeda's evolution and behavior over nearly two decades.

The resurgence of Salafi Islam in the early 20th century is at the core of al-Qaeda's identity and forms the basis for its vision and a justification for the group's self-declared role. Though many Muslims who adhere to the Salifi interpretation are peaceful, al-Qaeda established a transnational armed movement that ultimately sought to foster regime change locally in apostate Muslim states and serve as the vanguard of a larger global religious, political, and social movement.

This monograph traces the internal debates and strategic-level decision making amongst al-Qaeda factions following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the subsequent strategic reassessment as the mujahidin were sent to other geographical areas to pursue operations against both a 'near' and 'far' enemy. Here al-Qaeda often exploited ungoverned territory to establish new bases and remain out of reach of security forces. An examination of al-Qaeda's discourse over core strategic subjects of doctrine, strategy, operational art, and related issues offers valuable insights into the behavior of al-Qaeda and its affiliated movements.

In pursuit of its goals al-Qaeda drew on a wide range of operational art, both kinetic and non-kinetic. Leveraging new Internet technologies, al-Qaeda developed a strong information operations capability. This capability was used not only to publicize their cause and create empathy for their goals throughout the Muslim world but to inspire and recruit others to take up arms against their local leadership, lending support to al-Qaeda's global campaign. At the same time al-Qaeda utilized relatively low technology kinetic means, improvised explosive devices to great effect in Iraq, and disseminated how-to manuals on the Internet for others to use in the global campaign.

Though the threat from al-Qaeda may now be diminished, the tactics and techniques utilized by this non-traditional adversary are likely to be emulated by other irregular threats in years to come. An understanding of how such organizations "think" and "plan" at the strategic level is necessary in order to be better prepared for future threats. Dr. Shultz's research is a unique contribution to our understanding of al-Qaeda as a complex actor guided by its own strategic culture.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

More than a decade after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States by al-Qaeda and a year after the death of Osama bin Laden, this unique text offers an innovative analysis of that organization's strategic culture. This analysis upends the conventional wisdom that only nation-states can have a strategic culture, an internal process through which issues of strategic significance and intent are discussed, debated, refined, and executed.

In many ways the U.S. national security establishment was unprepared for this attack and the global conflict that followed. Despite the end of the Cold War the United States remained militarily postured primarily to engage with other nation-states. Al-Qaeda as a non-state actor with global reach posed a decidedly new challenge. In this monograph the author advances our understanding of this non-traditional adversary through an analysis of the shared beliefs, assumptions, and modes of behavior that comprise the al-Qaeda strategic culture. Through a strategic culture framework he identifies and assesses the factors and developments that have shaped al-Qaeda's evolution and behavior over nearly two decades.

The resurgence of Salafi Islam in the early 20th century is at the core of al-Qaeda's identity and forms the basis for its vision and a justification for the group's self-declared role. Though many Muslims who adhere to the Salifi interpretation are peaceful, al-Qaeda established a transnational armed movement that ultimately sought to foster regime change locally in apostate Muslim states and serve as the vanguard of a larger global religious, political, and social movement.

This monograph traces the internal debates and strategic-level decision making amongst al-Qaeda factions following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the subsequent strategic reassessment as the mujahidin were sent to other geographical areas to pursue operations against both a 'near' and 'far' enemy. Here al-Qaeda often exploited ungoverned territory to establish new bases and remain out of reach of security forces. An examination of al-Qaeda's discourse over core strategic subjects of doctrine, strategy, operational art, and related issues offers valuable insights into the behavior of al-Qaeda and its affiliated movements.

In pursuit of its goals al-Qaeda drew on a wide range of operational art, both kinetic and non-kinetic. Leveraging new Internet technologies, al-Qaeda developed a strong information operations capability. This capability was used not only to publicize their cause and create empathy for their goals throughout the Muslim world but to inspire and recruit others to take up arms against their local leadership, lending support to al-Qaeda's global campaign. At the same time al-Qaeda utilized relatively low technology kinetic means, improvised explosive devices to great effect in Iraq, and disseminated how-to manuals on the Internet for others to use in the global campaign.

Though the threat from al-Qaeda may now be diminished, the tactics and techniques utilized by this non-traditional adversary are likely to be emulated by other irregular threats in years to come. An understanding of how such organizations "think" and "plan" at the strategic level is necessary in order to be better prepared for future threats. Dr. Shultz's research is a unique contribution to our understanding of al-Qaeda as a complex actor guided by its own strategic culture.

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book The First 109 Minutes: 9/11 Attacks and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) - NORAD, The Four Terror Flights, Air Defense Response, Post-Attack, plus Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office Review Book by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The U.S. Air Service in World War I: Volume II - Early Concepts of Military Aviation, 1913 to 1919, Foulois, Mitchell, Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Observation Balloons, Area and Precision Bombing by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Wrestling the Bear: The Rise of Russian Hybrid Warfare - Enter Vladimir Putin, Estonia, Georgia, Ukraine and Crimea, Shootdown of Flight MH17, NATO and Countering the Hybrid Threat, Little Green Men by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Operation Urgent Fury: The Planning and Execution of Joint Operations in Grenada, 1983 - The Crisis, Planning and Preparation, Combat Operations, Press Controversy, Assessment by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Reclamation: Managing Water in the West - The Bureau of Reclamation: From Developing to Managing Water, 1945-2000, Volume 2 - Part 1: Hells Canyon, Columbia, Utah, Arizona, Fish versus Dams by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: Intelligence Field Manual and Doctrine Publications - FM 2-0, ADP 2-0, ADRP 2-0, Full Spectrum Operations, Counterintelligence (Professional Format Series) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Air Force Reserve Year in Review, 2015 and 2014: Covers Command, Tenth, Twenty-second, and Fourth Air Force, Yellow Ribbon Program, Global Vigilance with MQ-9 Reaper, 489th Bomb Group's B-1 Lancer by Progressive Management
Cover of the book NASA Report: Independent Review Team Orbital Sciences ATK ISS Space Station Resupply Orb-3 Cygnus Antares Rocket Failure Accident Investigation Report, October 2014 Event, Wallops MARS Launch Site by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Spyplanes and National Reconnaissance in the 20th Century: The Amazing Story of the U-2 Program, A-12 Oxcart, Francis Gary Powers Incident, Cuba Missile Crisis, Aquatone and Genetrix Projects by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 20th Century Nuclear Power Plant Accidents: Three Mile Island (TMI) Reactor Accident in Pennsylvania - Partial Meltdown, Radiation Releases, Causes, Report of the Presidential Commission on TMI by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Nepal in Perspective: Orientation Guide and Nepal Cultural Orientation: Geography, History, Economy, Security, Mount Everest, Mahabharat Lekh, Kathmandu Valley, Siwalik, Madheshi, Tarai Castes, Tharu by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2011 Nuclear Power Plant Sourcebook: Cesium-137 Radioisotope, Radiation Health Effects and Toxicological Profile, Medical Treatment with Prussian Blue, Fukushima Accident Radioactive Release by Progressive Management
Cover of the book NASA Report on Mars Exploration: Frontier In-Situ Resource Utilization for Enabling Sustained Human Presence on Mars - ISRU, Surface Habitats, Entry Descent and Landing, Fuels, Food, Robotics by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation, Emergency Responder Guidelines: DOJ Guides for Law Enforcement, Fire Service, EMS, Investigators, Plus FBI Terrorism Reports by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Carcinoma of Unknown Primary (CUP), Occult Primary Malignancy - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy