Jihadist ideology, Western counter-ideology, and the ABC model

Abstract

Counter-ideology is an important part of counter-radicalisation, but much counter-ideology aimed at jihadism is likely to be ineffective because it advances propositions that make more sense to Western governments than to the Muslims at whom the counter-ideology is addressed. This article uses an ‘ABC’ model to analyse the major components of jihadist ideology. It shows that much of the counter-ideology is aimed at parts of the jihadist narrative that are widely accepted among Muslims, and so are almost immune to counter-ideology. It is the jihadist course of action – jihad – that is not widely accepted, and this is the element of jihadist ideology against which counter-ideology should be directed.

Keywords:

• counter-radicalisation
• jihad
• ideology
• takfir
• terrorism

Notes

1. When this happens, what was originally a terrorist group may have become a violent criminal enterprise.

2. The 85% and the 76% were calculated by adding together those who thought that Islam had a big impact on politics and that this was good, and those who thought that Islam did not have a big impact on politics and this was bad.

3. Al-Qaeda was in fact much less successful at endorsement than at provocation.