The evolution of Islamist terrorism in the 20th century

Abstract

This chapter describes various forms of terrorism in the Islamic world through nearly half a century, accounting for the rise and sometimes decline of several prominent terrorist groups during this period, and explains how this historical evolution impacts our understanding of the Islamist terrorist threat today. It discusses the important contribution that Sayyid Qutb and the Muslim Brotherhood made in the evolution of Islamist terrorism. It details the historical prominence of Palestinian terrorist groups—including the Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hamas—and the evolution of Hezbollah and the role it played in popularizing suicide bombings. The chapter provides a brief history of terrorism in Algeria and Egypt and explains the importance of Afghanistan to Islamist terrorism.