Jihad in the West

Reviews / Votes

'This book is a must read if you want to understand why moderately religious, generally apolitical young men in some Western cities turn into fighters - mujahideen - identifying with others across the world in a politico-religious struggle. Frazer Egerton does not offer a simple account of this transition, but it is a persuasive one.' Ken Booth, Aberystwyth University 'Frazer Egerton's Jihad in the West: The Rise of Militant Salafism is the most comprehensive study on the enduring extremist and terrorist threat facing the western world. As ideological extremism is the parent of terrorism, this book is essential reading for both policy and decisionmakers.' Rohan Gunaratna, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and author of Inside al Qaeda: Global Network of Terror 'Frazer Egerton has written an important book about the political imaginary of militant Salafism and its dynamic interplay in different contexts which explains why this al-Qaeda inspired ideology has such widespread appeal at home and abroad. With razorsharp analysis, this is a must read for all those seeking a deeper insight into the complex, polymorphus and evolving al-Qaeda phenomena.' Magnus Ranstorp, Research Director, Center for Asymmetric Threat Studies, Swedish National Defence College 'One of the clearest, most critical and rigorous analyses of militant Salafism in the West, Frazer Egerton makes a powerful contribution to our efforts at understanding the complex dynamics that shape and sustain those for whom simply holding radical views is not enough. This remarkable book is essential reading for scholars of terrorism as well as those tasked with responding to it.' John Horgan, Director, International Center for the Study of Terrorism, Pennsylvania State University 'In each chapter, Egerton is assiduous in citing academia and providing case-studies from the panoply of Islamist terror cells that have troubled the West.' Raffaello Pantucci, International Affairs 'Frazer Egerton's Jihad in the West: The Rise of Militant Salafism is one of the most intelligent and articulate contributions to the study of terrorism and political violence in recent years. It stands out as an original conceptual contribution to a burgeoning literature on an aspect of political violence most frequently characterised by high-profile terrorist attacks carried out in New York and Washington, Madrid and London ... It is safe to say that Egerton's fresh and original analysis has provided a basis on which we can better conceptualise responses to the question and a very sound platform from which to improve future research in this arena. As such, this is a book that should be essential reading for academics, researchers and students in terrorism studies, as well as practitioners and policymakers concerned with counterterrorism.' Robert Lambert, Critical Studies on Terrorism