Annotated Bibliography: Analysis of the Rise of the Islamic State

This annotated bibliography explores the factors contributing to the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) through an analysis of five scholarly sources. The sources include articles and books examining the group's expansion, military strategies, financial resources, ideological underpinnings, and its evolving presence in various regions. The bibliography provides summaries of each source's arguments, evaluations of their credibility and relevance, and reflections on the key themes and findings. The sources cover a range of perspectives on ISIS, from its origins and initial successes in Iraq and Syria to its evolving strategies in Europe, its organizational structure, the role of external actors, and the impact of military defeats and leadership changes. The bibliography highlights the importance of understanding the complex interplay of factors that facilitated the rise of ISIS, including political instability, ideological motivations, and strategic adaptations.

Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 0
International Terrorism
APRIL 18, 2020
STUDENT DETAILS

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1
Annotated Bibliography
Essay topic: what accounts for the rise of the Islamic State?
1. Ali, H. (2020) The Rise And Fall Of Islamic State: Current Challenges And Future
Prospects. Asian Affairs, pp.1-24
This article discusses the reason of quick extension of Islamic state. It also determines the
sources of strengths, and assesses the repercussion of the military defeat and demise of
the front-runner of organisation on its capability to endure. Ali also focuses deeply on the
future of Islamic state. In 2014, Islamic state was capable to control larger swath of Iraq
and Syria. Also, Islamic state declared the development of what it called “Caliphate
State”. In addition, ISIS was conquered systematically throughout the longer conflict on
the front of Syria and Iraq. There were various local as well as world-wide parties who
were contributed in this battle. In last quarter of 2019, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (leader of
ISIS) was murdered in American raid at the secured home in area of Idlib
(Syria). Further, Ali explains that loss of army of organisation as well as murder of the
leader does not mean the end of ISIS in any way and the aforementioned takfiri
philosophy minimum in the mid period. It is confirmed by past record of jihadists group
that various entities were capable to follow and keep the steadiness after the death of the
leader. It is as same as matter of al-Qaeda after murder of Osama bin Laden in year 2011.
Moreover, Islamic state is not federal along with graded organization. However, it is
international terrorist jihadist system having various associates in different nations around
the world. It increases chance of continuity of this organisation, even if the structure has
fragmented in Iraq and Syria.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 2
2. Cockburn, P. (2015) The Rise of Islamic State: ISIS and the New Sunni
Revolution. London: Verso
Patrick Cockburn states his view about the rise of Islamic State. According to him, the
Islamic State amazed all over the world by developing new authoritative forces in Middle
East in 2014. By merging spiritual extremism and power of army, the new self-explored
caliphate stances the fear to radical status-quo of entire area. Further, Cockburn mentions
about the conflict behind theatrical untying of international policy of USA. Furthermore,
it is explained that how the West developed the condition for explosive success of ISIS
by strengthening conflict in Syria. The West (NATO as well as US) particularly
undervalued the activists’ prospective until it was botched to perform against jihadi
promoters in Muslim countries like Pakistan, Turkey along with Saudi Arabia.
3. Lister, C.R. and Cockburn, P. (2015) The Islamic State: A Brief Introduction; The
Rise of Islamic State: ISIS and the New Sunni Revolution. Foreign Affairs. Last
modified August, 18
In this article, Lister and Cockburn focuses on the powers of ISIS or Islamic state.
According to them, ISIS is most creative and dominant organisation. It is reported by
Lister that in earlier period of 2015, this organisation may have 30000 participants in
army. Out of them, 15000 members were not belonged to Syria and Iraq. ISIS maybe has
approximately 2 billion dollars in assets. The annual income of ISIS is between 200
million dollars and 300 million dollars. There are more than one thousand previous
officers in armed force of Saddam Hussein. Most of the officers are placed on key

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 3
commendable position in ISIS. It is also mentioned by Lister that ISIS is evidently
strongly organised. In addition, Cockburn declares that USA has yet to take on what
should be actual target of the war on jihadist and ISIS more commonly: Saudi Arab as
well as Pakistan. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia both provide logistic assistance and
economic help to ISIS and radical group, such as rivals of ISIS in Jabhat al-Nusra (Syria).
4. Soufan, A.H. (2017) Anatomy of Terror: From the Death of bin Laden to the Rise of
the Islamic State. New York: WW Norton & Company
The book written by Soufan critically discusses about structure, methods, as well as
history of terrorists and organisation. Soufan conducted deep investigation and mentions
in his book that the radical Islamist group clutched larger parts of Iraq as well as Syria.
Islamic states levied its cruel rules on about 8 million persons, carried out uncountable
murders, demolished traditional heritages, and produced revenue of billions from oil,
coercion, theft, and capturing. After 5 year of violent and blood-spattered fights, local
force, supported by worldwide power, has compelled Islamic state out of land it once
measured. As per the opinion provided by Soufan, the Jihadist groups comprehend
vicious fights as essential to eliminate problems for restoring the rules of god on earth
and defend the Muslim people against what they reflect infidels as well as defectors.
Additionally, the group has already developed the secret setup in Iraq. The topmost
commander of USA in the Middle East has given warning to preserve "cautious
aggressive" against groups that "retain leader, fighter, sources, facilitator, and the
irreverent philosophy that fuels the efforts"

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 4
5. Turner, J. (2020) Manufacturing the Jihad in Europe: The Islamic State’s
Strategy. The International Spectator, 55(1), pp.112-125
This article defines the ISIS as “terrorist organization.” Without knowing social as well
as financial subtleties of violence, it is harmful for the security of nation and the policy’s
responses to ISIS. Turner highlights the point that as Islamic State caliphate has distorted
in Middle East, now it is looking for extending the influence in another place, specifically
in European nations where inter communal tension of achievement is present. Turner
states that Islamic state has organised administration of savagery principle throughout the
performance of terrorism as part of the approach to enhance division by worsening threat
along with disbelief amongst groups, and motivating sympathy for far-right players
among non-Muslims and potentially alienating counterterrorism policies by governments,
pushing Muslim people out of ‘grey area’. The anticipated outcomes are to channel state
means and stat Europe as unsympathetic to Muslim people. It promotes the concept of the
‘war on Islam.’