1. Evolution of Today’s Crisis in Iraq and the Levant
What are the underlying historical and cultural factors for the rise of the Islamic State?
David Kallgren and Kevin Rukundo
Abstract
This research aims to describe
the rapid growth of the
Islamic State (IS), also known
as ISIS or ISIL. Drawing facts
from news articles, scholarly
publications, and recent
investigations conducted over
the group, we have sought to
illuminate the core ambitions
and principles that created IS
and to discuss the short- and
long-term implications for the
region.
Introduction
We assert that the recipe for extremism requires four main ingredients:
• Political, ethnic, or religious tension
• A common enemy
• Media attention, profitable to spread ideology and gather supporters
• Reliable funding
We would like to define the following terms:
• Levant, n. The eastern part of the Mediterranean with its islands and neighboring
countries1. This includes such countries as Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel.
• Islamism, n. Islamic militancy or fundamentalism. — Islamist, adj.1
• radical, n. A person who holds extreme or fanatical political or religious views,
especially one who resorts to or advocates extreme action1.
• insurgent, n. A person who, for political purposes, engages in armed hostility
against an established government. — insurgent, adj.2
• caliph, n. Title given to those who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad as real or
nominal ruler of the Muslim world, ostensibly with all his powers except that of
prophecy.3
The Current Political Climate
In recent years, Iraq and Syria have experienced exorbitant political instability.
• Until his resignation in September, Shi’a Prime Minister al-Maliki, an ally of
the United States8, became responsible for marginalization of Iraq’s Sunni
minority. A decade ago, the two groups were driven apart during the
Hussein dictatorship8, whose absent authority would soon be replaced.
• The corrupt Assad regime in Syria, over the past three years, has taken on
the onslaught of numerous insurgent organizations with the help of the
United States. IS, however, found itself amongst them9.
In both countries, the Islamic State has managed to gain a foothold,
monopolizing on each nation’s political tensions to become a significant threat
worldwide9. The self-proclaimed Islamic State may be defined as a radical
Islamist insurgent organization active in northern Syria and Iraq9.
The Islamic State’s Goal
• In June of 2014, the Islamic State declared itself a caliphate, citing the
intention to expand their borders throughout the Middle East and North
Africa9, uniting Sunni Muslims together under a system of strict Islamic
Sharia Law10.
• Despite terrible criticism worldwide, IS has demonstrated a remarkable
ability to play the cards in their own favor. Being a Sunni group itself, IS has
used this leverage to take advantage of the oppression facing Iraq’s Sunni
minority11. In late 2014, IS provoked the United States purposefully in order
to strengthen its recruitment base and reinforce the all-too-pervasive
notion that the United States is indifferent towards the plight of Sunni
Muslims in Iraq9.
Conclusion
• IS has rallied international support to create the state that now exists
between Iraq and Syria, yet not as much as they would have hoped.
Those who are on the side of IS view their work more as a holy war and
themselves as liberation fighters than they do a group of terror. Shias are
opposed to them. The majority of Sunnis see no sense, and Kurds have
established their own liberated nation in the north8. Enough people,
however, are passionate and have come to help the Islamic State, which
now controls enough funds and resources to be a viable threat, bringing
an estimated $2 million daily in sales from oil14.
• Because IS sees itself as fighting for the liberation of Sunnis within its
borders, we are left with the unsettling question of how we can stop a
group that is so passionately involved in the destruction of other people,
and yet so blatantly unaware that this is a great evil.
•
Military Erosion of IS
• Beginning on Sep 23, 2014, a coalition of various countries, such as the
United Kingdom and France, led by the United States, began bombing
key positions in Iraq and Syria held by IS.
• The coalition began its bombings against IS in Syria, and has been
moving systematically, targeting IS positions in more than three cities
and launching as many as 200 bombings10. Most airstrikes have been
aimed at IS compounds in the city of Raqqa, which the group has
declared to be its capital, as well as various other infrastructure
controlled by the group in the cities of Aleppo and Homs. Notably, these
bombings have been targeting oil sites controlled by the group as well13.
• The main objective of these military efforts is to cripple the State’s ability
to harm civilians and to cut off sources of its funding13. We have learned
too well from history, however, that combat only goes so far.
Works Cited1”Levant." Def. 2. "Islamism." Def. 1. "Radical." Def. 1. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford
University Press, 2014. Web. 1 Nov. 2014.
2Black, Henry C. "Insurgent.” Def. 1. Black's Law Dictionary. Ed. Brian A. Garner.
8th ed. 2004. Print.
3"Caliph." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, 2014. Web. 25 Oct. 2014.
4Blanchard, Christopher M. “Islam: Sunnis and Shiites.” 28 January 2009.
ADA494842. DTIC Online. Web. 17 October 2014.
5Patel, Eboo. Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the
Soul of a Generation. Boston: Beacon, 2007. Print.
6Menselsohn, Barak. "After Disowning ISIS, Al Qaeda Is Back On Top." Foreign
Affairs. Council on Foreign Relations, 13 Feb. 2014. Web. 24 Oct. 2014.
7"Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Iraq." United Nations
Human Rights. United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, and Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Oct. 2014. Web. 25 Oct.
2014.
8Georgy, Michael, and Ahmed Rasheed. "Power Struggle on Baghdad Streets as
Maliki Replaced but Refuses to Go." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 11 Aug. 2014.
Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
Complications for the Long Term
• In our introduction, we listed four elements that make insurgency and
terrorism seem very appealing. While funding and attention from the
media can be impeded for the present, the animosity that divides ethnic
groups like Shi'as, Sunnis, and Kurds still permeates the culture terribly.
• If the coalition against IS loses sight of the Sunni oppression inflicted by
the Shia governments, no effort to restore order will prevail. Just as we
have seen the former Saddam Hussein regime replace itself with today's
Islamic State, our military involvement today could be setting the stage
for something worse tomorrow.
• Eboo Patel once stated that “a big part of what the 21st century will be
about is whether religion is a bubble of isolation, a barrier of division, a
bomb of destruction, or a bridge of cooperation.”15 Patel is one of
today’s most prominent voices for religious pluralism, himself a Muslim.
• In order to progress, it is vital that as the West we build bridges with the
Middle East, not tear them down. Instability is a challenge that has
existed forever and one that will persist without avid work by both sides
to reach mutual understanding.
Background and Ideology
• The Sunni-Shi'a split in Islam arose from a controversy concerning the
legitimate successor of the Prophet Muhammad after his death in 632 AD4.
A close companion of the Prophet named Abu Bakr seemed by some to be
better qualified for leadership. However, supporters of 'Ali, a blood-relative
of the Prophet whom he had appointed previously, viewed the selection of
another as a violation of the will of God4. This controversy has developed
and continued through today.
Structure and Resources
• The Islamic State is led by Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi9. Its structure is
hierarchical, featuring a leadership council that rules over provincial
governments in Iraq and Syria13. Regional cells are mostly autonomous,
taking important orders from IS senior leaders. In order to recruit new
members, IS has employed both rigid ideology and oftentimes the threat of
death7. In Iraq, it has targeted young Sunni men and indoctrinated them12,
exploiting their anger towards the Shi’ite Maliki government. As one source
suggests, “most individuals who decide to fight for ISIS are not particularly
religious.”9 Rather, they are fighting a political battle for freedom.
• IS has proven intelligent and systematic in the way that it operates, being
especially intricate in matters of arms and funding. The Islamic State has
continued to fund and maintain itself through various criminal acts. These
include, but are not limited to9, 11, 13, 14:
– Oil smuggling
– Theft and/or extortion​
– Sale of electricity to the Syrian government​
– Private donations from donors in the gulf• While the doctrine of Islam is essentially peaceful5,
regional politics, external factors such as opposition to
the West (a terrible and powerful enemy), and a return
to historical roots have each inspired radical
organizations like al-Qaeda and IS to engage actively in
terrorism and militancy to promote their own interests.
• In February 2014, a growing power struggle led al-
Qaeda to sever all ties with IS6, then known as ISIL. The
emerging militant group became swiftly recognized
worldwide for its brutality, including the forced
conversion of Shi’a Muslims and Christians and
broadcasted massacres of those rejecting legitimacy of
the regime7 in a macabre display of strength.
*13 *13
*16
9Sprusansky, Dale. "Understanding ISIS: frequently asked questions." Washington
Report on Middle East Affairs Oct. 2014: 19+. Academic OneFile. Web. 9 Nov.
2014.
10CNN Library. "ISIS Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 16 Nov. 2014. Web. 17
Nov. 2014.
11Beauchamp, Zack; Fisher, Max; and Matthews, Dylan. "27 Maps That Explain the
Crisis in Iraq." Vox. Vox Media, 8 Aug. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
12Tawfeeq, Mohammed, and Chelsea J. Carter. "Officials: ISIS Recruiting on the
Rise in Sunni Areas of Iraq." CNN World. Cable News Network, 11 Aug. 2014. Web.
19 Nov. 2014.
13"Battle for Iraq and Syria in Maps." BBC News. BBC, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 19 Nov.
2014.
14Al-Khatteeb, Luay. "How Iraq's Black Market in Oil Funds ISIS." CNN. Cable News
Network, 22 Aug. 2014. Web. 08 Nov. 2014.
15Patel, Eboo. "Eboo Patel: Look to Young People for Leadership in Interfaith
Cooperation." Interview. Faith and Leadership. Leadership Education at Duke
Divinity, 11 Oct. 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.
16"Hard Choices." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 18 Oct. 2014. Web.
25 Oct. 2014.