Understanding Al Qaeda: The Transformation of War

-- Shows how we must engage with Al Qaeda to defeat terrorism -- "Mohamedou provides a much-needed secular understanding of Al Qaeda. Unlike most writers, [he] insists on understanding the changing significance of [Al Qaeda's] discourse against a historical backdrop." Mahmood Mamdani, Herbert Lehman Professor of Government, Columbia University and author of 'Good Muslim, Bad Muslim' "This sober and sobering analysis is essential reading for Americans and Europeans, and opinion leaders everywhere." Abdullahi An-Naim, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law, Emory University Why does Al Qaeda attack the West? What are they trying to achieve? This incisive book argues that it's essential for the West to take a new approach to dealing with Al Qaeda. The 'war on terror' is failing, and only serves to recruit more terrorists to Al Qaeda's cause. Offering a cogent analysis of Al Qaeda's development, starting with its creation almost twenty years ago, Mohamedou explains that there is a clear strategy to Al Qaeda's actions -- and how best the international community can deal with this new kind of warfare. There is a great deal of resistance to a scientific, dispassionate understanding of Al Qaeda. This is the first book to examine the central tenets of the organisation and its demands and -- most importantly -- how it may be possible to achieve a peaceful future.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. Casus Belli 2. Changed Context 3. Purpose and Pattern 4. Fallacies and Primacies 5. The Way Forward Appendices Chronology Bibliography

About the Author :
Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou (1968 - 2024) was a political historian, diplomat and acclaimed public intellectual.His books include a trilogy of the post-9/11 era: Contre-Croisade - Le 11 Septembre et le Retournement du monde, Understanding Al Qaeda and A Theory of ISIS. 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 Mauritania's youngest foreign minister in 2008.

Review :
Mohammad Mohamedou has written a political analysis which provides a much-needed secular understanding of Al Qaeda as one among several organized forces in a rapidly changing international arena. Unlike most writers on the subject who tend to be mezmarized by Al Qaeda's religious discourse, Mohamedou insists on understanding the changing significance of the discourse against a historical backdrop of actions and events. This sober and sobering analysis is essential reading for Americans and Europeans, and opinion leaders everywhere. In times of crisis, listen to those who tell you what you need to know, not those who tell you what you want to hear. Very thought provoking.