Leaderless Jihad

Abstract

Acts of terrorism are committed the world over, driven by religious, political, social, and personal motives. But what causes someone to become a terrorist? Are there profiles that fit them? What can be done to counter terrorism? These and other questions are addressed by Marc Sageman in his book, although it focuses only on what he calls “Global Islamic terrorism.” In his “Preface,” Sageman presents the problem of global terrorism and lays out the topics that each chapter will analyze. In the “Introduction,” he profiles the terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the son of Muslim Pakistani parents who had emigrated to England. We learn of his childhood and how he grew up, his personality traits, education, and activities. His story is told through his parents, his childhood friends, fellow prisoners, and people whom he had kidnapped. These stories portray an ambivalent figure, one who is highly intelligent, polite, and popular on the one hand, yet violent, cold-blooded, and cruel on the other ...