Author(s): Nicolas Henin

Middle East

A fascinating account of the rise of radical, ideologically driven terrorism around the world and how the world can begin to address it.

When you keep repeating that the worst is about to happen, it finally does. The threat of terrorism has caught up with us. By invading Iraq in 2003 and not intervening in Syria since 2011, the West has helped fuel radicalization. And we continue to fuel it, by making diplomatic compromises with dictators, by refusing to heed the suffering of populations. In failing to counter the spread of radical ideology, the West has contributed to its growing power and allure around the world. What responsibility does society have in preventing the creation of new jihadists? How are they molded? How have we played the Islamic State's game and spread its propaganda, allowing it to invade our neighborhoods and enlist more and more recruits ready to fight for a distorted fantasy of Islam?
     Nicolas Hénin presents the case against the West, showing how its mistakes and inaction have contributed to our current political and human rights disaster. He also advances possible strategies to repair that which can still be repaired.