The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global

The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global examines the transformation of jihadist movements from local struggles to transnational terrorism targeting the West. Through interviews with militants and analysis of primary sources, Fawaz A. Gerges traces the ideological shift that occurred within jihadist groups in the late 20th century. The book chronicles key figures and organizations in the evolution of the jihadist movement, from its roots in national liberation causes to its eventual focus on attacking the United States and its allies. Gerges documents the internal debates and power struggles that shaped this strategic reorientation, drawing on his direct conversations with former fighters. The research covers multiple countries and decades of history, analyzing how various social and political factors contributed to the rise of global jihadism. The narrative follows the movement through several critical junctures, including the Soviet-Afghan War, the Gulf War, and other regional conflicts. This work presents a framework for understanding how religious militancy can transform from local to global in scope, with implications for both policymakers and scholars of political violence. The author's analysis suggests broader patterns about how militant movements evolve and adapt their strategies over time.

Readers found the book provided detailed analysis of how jihadist movements shifted from local to global targets, backed by extensive interviews with militants and primary sources. Liked: - Clear explanation of internal debates within jihadist groups - Strong research and sourcing - Historical context for understanding Al-Qaeda's emergence - Accessible academic writing style Disliked: - Dense academic prose in some sections - Some readers wanted more focus on policy recommendations - A few noted redundant points across chapters Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) Sample review quotes: "Offers unique insights through direct interviews with former militants" - Goodreads reviewer "Could have condensed the same information into fewer pages" - Amazon reviewer "The best explanation I've read of why groups like Al-Qaeda broke from nationalist Islamic movements" - Goodreads reviewer

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🌟 The author conducted over 100 interviews with jihadis and Islamists across the Middle East while researching this book, including conversations with former militants who had direct connections to Al-Qaeda. 🌐 Gerges reveals that before 9/11, only a small minority of jihadists (less than 1%) supported attacking Western targets, with most focusing their struggle against local governments in the Middle East. 📚 The book examines how Al-Qaeda's strategy of targeting the "far enemy" (the West) instead of the "near enemy" (local Arab regimes) created a major split within the jihadist movement. 🗣️ Fawaz A. Gerges, raised in Lebanon during its civil war, brings unique insider-outsider perspective as both a Middle East scholar and someone who experienced regional conflicts firsthand. 🔄 The book documents how many former militant leaders, including founders of Egypt's Al-Jihad organization, eventually renounced violence and criticized Al-Qaeda's global jihad strategy as religiously and strategically misguided.