Strategic Culture and Violent Non-State Actors : A Comparative Study of Salafi-Jihadist Groups

Taylor & Francis Ltd

Strategic Culture and Violent Non-State ActorsA Comparative Study of Salafi-Jihadist Groups\nAuthor(s): Edward D. Last\nFormat: Hardback\nPublisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd, United Kingdom\nImprint: Routledge\nISBN-13: 9780367223632, 978-0367223632\nSynopsis\nThis book applies strategic culture concepts to violent non-state actors (VNSAs) in a comparative analysis. \n\nIn recent years, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has become notorious for kidnapping Western hostages in north-western Africa and for its role in the short-lived Islamist takeover of Mali. The group, formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, rebranded itself as an Al-Qaida franchise in 2007, leading to speculation of a change from its Algeria-centric agenda to an anti-Western one. This study compares and contrasts the ideas and behaviour of these two groups, using a strategic-cultural approach, and finds that, despite some commonalities, AQIM has a distinct strategic culture from Al-Qaida c.