Suchergebnisse

Since the Arab Spring, the Arab countries of the Maghreb-Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya - have emerged as a vitally strategic concern for the United States and Europe, given their impact on hydrocarbon security, terrorism and Mediterranean migrant flows. The conservative Islamist trend known as Salafism has emerged as a major socio-political force on this landscape. While much attention has been focused on the disruptive, militant expressions of Salafi ideology like the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, Salafism is actually far more complex and dynamic. Informed by rich, on-the-ground interviews, 'Salafism in the Maghreb' is the definitive yet accessible account of this oft-misunderstood current of Islamism.

The geopolitical significance of the Sahara is becoming painfully clear. Islamist militant groups and transnational criminal networks are operating in the region's most fragile states, exploiting widespread corruption, weak government capacity, crushing poverty, and entrenched social and ethnic tensions. The unrest spills over borders and aggravates protracted regional crises. This insecurity raises urgent concerns for the broader Sahara and the West. Perilous Desert details the sources of instability and what can be done to minimize the threat of simmering conflicts.L