Leiden University Student Repository

Verver, Nicky (2019)

Non-Western Strategic Studies: An Islamic Way of War?

Master thesis | International Relations (MA)

The thesis researches the potential of a separate jihadi strategy domain within the field of Strategic Studies. The thesis examines three case studies; Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda. These case studies are compared on three separate elements of strategy; the ends, ways and means. The thesis concludes that these jihadi organizations lend certain aspects of Western strategic scholars and applied them to their own practices. Thus, it can be said that a separate field of jihadi strategic studies can be useful and relevant to strategic studies. Additionally, the analysis shows that jihadi organizations do think strategically when it comes to obtaining their objectives, and that they borrow elements from other jihadi organizations and Western strategic studies. This seems to suggest that no real ‘Western’ or ‘Islamic’ Way of War exists, but rather that strategic thinking is influenced by cultural heritage and the cultures that it comes into contact with.

Strategy

International Relations

Islam

Jihadi Strategy

Terrorism

Jihadism

Author

Verver, Nicky

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Global Conflict in Modern Era

Supervisors

Duyvesteyn, Isabelle

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en