Bernard Rougier

The Sunni Tragedy in the Middle East: Northern Lebanon from al-Qaeda to ISIS - Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics Bernard Rougier

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.; Translated from French. Table of Contents:"Introduction" viiChapter 1 North Lebanon in "Bilad al-Sham" 1Chapter 2 Defending an Imagined Umma: The Path to Terrorism 26Chapter 3 The Anti-Syrian Movement: Rebuilding a Political Scene 58Chapter 4 The Syrian Regime Reacts: Building Up a Jihadi Network 82Chapter 5 Jihad and Resistance in North Lebanon: The History of Fatah al-Islam 124Chapter 6 The Failure to Create a Lasting Support Base for the Syrian Insurrection 171Epilogue 221Conclusion 233"Maps" 239"Glossary" 245"Index" 253Publisher Marketing: Northern Lebanon is a land in turmoil. Long under the sway of the Assad regime in Syria, it is now a magnet for Sunni Muslim jihadists inspired by anti-Western and anti-Shi'a worldviews. "The Sunni Tragedy in the Middle East" describes in harrowing detail the struggle led by an active minority of jihadist militants, some claiming allegiance to ISIS, to seize control of Islam and impose its rule over the region's Sunni Arab population. Bernard Rougier introduces us to men with links to the mujahidin in Afghanistan, the Sunni resistance in Iraq, al-Qaeda, and ISIS. He describes how they aspire to replace North Lebanon's Sunni elites, who have been attacked and discredited by neighboring powers and jihadists alike, and explains how they have successfully positioned themselves as the local Sunni population's most credible defender against powerful external enemies--such as Iran and the Shi'a militia group Hezbollah. He sheds new light on the methods and actions of the jihadists, their internal debates, and their evolving political agenda over the past decade. This riveting book is based on more than a decade of research, more than one hundred in-depth interviews with players at all levels, and Rougier's extraordinary access to original source material. Written by one of the world's leading experts on jihadism, "The Sunni Tragedy in the Middle East" provides timely insight into the social, political, and religious life of this dangerous and strategically critical region of the Middle East.

Contributor Bio:  Rougier, Bernard Bernard Rougier is professor of Arab civilization and society at Sorbonne Paris III University. He is the author of "Everyday Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam among Palestinians in Lebanon".