Islamist Terrorism and Democracy in the Middle East

'In this provocative book, Katerina Dalacoura challenges the fashionable view that the lack of democracy in the Middle East is a significant factor behind Islamist violence - and its corollary, that democratization is the antidote to terrorism. Resisting the notion of some kind of Middle East exceptionalism - the idea that, for religious, cultural or other reasons, the region is uniquely resistant to democratization - the author draws on a wide array of case-studies to test out her thesis.' Roger Hardy, International Affairs Dalacoura's informed discussion of the trajectories of groups like the Armed Islamic Group and Gama'a Islamiyya that led bloody insurrections in Algeria and Egypt, and those like Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and Turkey's Justice and Development Party that contest power non-violently, makes the case for counter-terrorism policies that appreciate the dynamic range of Islamist movements and promote democracy without claiming that political pluralism is the decisive antidote to armed violence that targets civilians. - Joe Stork, Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa division, Human Rights Watch In this challenging book, Katerina Dalacoura situates her analysis of Islamist terrorism within the theoretical discussion of terrorism in general, in opposition to the thesis of `Middle Eastern exceptionalism'...Well researched and admirably argued, her book is a considerable achievement and a most important contribution to the debate; it will be read with profit by all specialists on the region as well as those working in terrorism studies. - Hugh Roberts, Director, North Africa Project, International Crisis Group Drawing on her deep knowledge of Middle East politics, Dalacoura powerfully challenges pat assumptions about a simple link between democratic deficits and the spread of Islamist terrorism and about possible moderating effects of political inclusion. Conceptually-rigorous, empirically-rich, incisive, and searching, this is a major study on a topic of fundamental, continuing importance. - Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Islamist Terrorism and Democracy in the Middle East is well-written, thoroughly researched, and provides interesting details about many of the Islamist movements included, such as details about their internal debates over strategies and tactics. In it, Dalacoura raises serious and thought-provoking questions about policies and theoretical debates of tremendous consequence. - Middle East Journal