The systematic jihad, from theory to practice

While official rhetoric generally views jihadism as separate and detached from international relations, this paper argues that comprehending the rise of jihadism requires understanding the world system. It is the international environment, dominated by neo-realist perspectives, that not only allows the rise of jihadist movements against specific rivals but also leads to them being systematically backed and justified by powerful players within the global system. This point will be argued through a comparison of two cases: Afghanistan in the 1980s and Syria today.