The Jihad post-Arab Spring: Contextualising Islamic radicalism in Egypt and Tunisia

Abstract

This article examines the rise in jihadi activity within North Africa in recent years and aims to answer two fundamental questions: first, how have local and foreign jihadi groups capitalised on the unique domestic contexts in Tunisia and Egypt in the aftermath of the Arab Spring revolutions to advance their insurgencies? Next, what are the key factors conducive to extremism in both countries that have facilitated this? This study highlights the importance of contending with extremism with respect to the differentiated socio-historical, political and economic circumstances of each country. From a broader perspective, several trends common in the rise of extremism in both countries are identified. First, there is a tendency of extremism to consolidate in proportion to the amount of institutional void. Next, conditions of poverty often supply futile ground for the entrenchment of terrorism; in particular, the study highlights on how jihadi groups have made a concerted effort to damage the economic interests of each country. Finally, the presence of historical grievances provides a conducive environment for extremism. In light of the threat of cell dispersion following the recent defeats faced by ISIS in Syria and Iraq, an understanding of jihadi operations in North Africa becomes increasingly crucial.

Keywords:

• Terrorism
• radicalism
• Jihadism
• MENA
• Arab Spring
• ISIS
• al-Qaeda

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the journal’s editors and anonymous reviewers for their very valued and appreciated feedback. All mistakes and oversights are my own.

Notes on contributor

Ric is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He previously obtained a MSc in Political Science from University College London (UCL), where he conducted research on terrorism and minority communities, and has worked as an Intelligence Analyst for a number of years before embarking on his doctoral studies. He can be reached at [email protected].

ORCID

Ric Neo http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6418-4350

Notes

1 Matfess, ‘In Africa, All Jihad is Local’.

2 Hardy, ‘Comparing Theories of Radicalisation with Countering Violent Extremism Policy’.

3 Hroub, ‘Political Islam: Context versus Ideology’.

4 Wiktorowicz, ‘Islamic Activism and Social Movement Theory’.

5 Abadie, ‘Poverty, Political Freedom, and the Roots of Terrorism’.

6 Marrouchi, ‘Introduction: Colonialism, Islamism, Terrorism’.

7 Hroub, ‘Political Islam: Context versus Ideology’.

8 Ibid.

9 Mandaville, ‘Global Political Islam’.

10 Barton, ‘Indonesia’s Struggle: Jemaah Islamiyah and the Soul of Islam’.

11 Romdhani, ‘North Africa: Beyond Jihadist Radicalization’.

12 Zelin, ‘Fifteen Years after the Djerba Synagogue Bombing’.

13 Gartenstein-Ross and Bridget Moreng, ‘Tunisian Jihadism after the Sousse Massacre’.

14 Mackintosh, ‘9 Injured When Woman Blows Herself up in Tunisia’s Capital’.

15 The Salafi movement is a reform movement within Sunni Islam that developed in Egypt in the late nineteenth century as a response to Western European imperialism. It had roots in the eighteenth-century Wahhabi movement that originated in the Najd region of modern-day Saudi Arabia, and advocates a return to an unadulterated, pure form of Islam. In general, Salafism has become associated with literalist, strict and puritanical approaches to Islam.

16 Mattes, ’Tunisian-Style Jihad’.

17 Goerzig, ‘Terrorist Learning in Context–The Case of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’.

18 Mattes, ’Tunisian-Style Jihad’.

19 Yess, ‘Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb Backs Isis’.

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22 Mattes, ‘Tunisian-Style Jihad’.

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24 Kadercan, ‘What the Isis Crisis Means for the Future of the Middle East’.

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26 Schmid, ‘Public Opinion Survey’.

27 Romdhani, ‘North Africa: Beyond Jihadist Radicalization’.

28 Byman, ‘Terrorism after the Revolutions’.

29 Steinberg, ‘Jihadism in Africa’.

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34 Eakin, ‘Why Tunisia’.

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36 Romdhani, ‘North Africa: Beyond Jihadist Radicalization’.

37 Steinberg, ‘Jihadism in Africa’.

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50 Kirkpatrick, ‘Militant Group in Egypt Vows Loyalty to Isis’.

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55 Gardner and Marx, ‘Employment and Unemployment among Bedouin’.

56 Barnett, ‘Sinai Jihadists Threaten to Kill Anyone Found Aiding Egypt’s Security Forces’.

57 Kingsley, ‘Egypt Faces New Threat in Al-Qaida-Linked Group Ansar Beyt Al-Maqdis’.

58 Joscelyn, ‘Al-Qaeda’s Expansion in Egypt’.

59 Kirkpatrick, ‘Militant Group in Egypt Vows Loyalty to Isis’.

60 Ross, ‘Isil International Expansion’.

61 Silent, ‘Islamic State Offers Millions to Those Who Pledge Allegiance’.

62 MSR, ‘Isis Declares Sinai as the New Destination for Young Fighters’.

63 Orton, ‘What Role Do the Palestinians Play in the Jihad in Syria and Iraq?’.

64 Barnett, ‘Confronting the Costs of War’.

65 Stanford, ‘The Islamic State – Sinai Province’.

66 Al-Shahid, ‘Tunisian Parliament Anti-Terrorism Law’.

67 Pargeter, ‘Localism and Radicalization in North Africa’.

68 Baxley, ‘Shifting Loyalties: Libya’s Dynamic Tribalism’.

69 Blair et al., ‘Poverty and Support for Militant Politics’.

70 Romdhani, ‘North Africa: Beyond Jihadist Radicalization’.

71 Smith, ‘Excursions Halted after Sinai Bombing’.

72 Dobbs, ‘Tunisia’s Recent Terrorist Attacks’.

73 Sageman, ‘Understanding Terror Networks’.

74 Petré, ‘How Ansar Al-Sharia Grew in Post-Revolutionary Tunisia’.