From a Western correspondent in the Middle East: "(as’ad do not refer to me on your blog please)
there is a lot of competition, but this might be the worst article written about ISIS so far, its just totally not true
excerpt:
A look at both ISIS’s written edicts and its tactics suggest that the group has gotten one important thing right: It has created a clear—and to some, compelling—idea of citizenship and state-building in a region almost completely bereft of either.
ISIS’s support comes from a direct appeal to Sunni Muslims as a religious and political constituency. It has made clear that it expects people under its power to take an active role in establishing a new Islamic state...As repugnant as its tactics are, ISIS offers Sunnis a rare opportunity: a chance, in effect, to be a citizen.
and anybody who quotes shadi hamid is automatically disqualified from serious consideration:
“It’s not the old model where the citizen is passive and plays no role,” said Brookings Institution scholar Shadi Hamid, author of the book “Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East.” “Within certain limits, if you agree to abide by these strict rules, there is an active role for citizens under ISIS.”
what the hell? "To Westerners, ISIS’s combination of participatory, grass-roots governance with total rejection of pluralism and democracy can be puzzling.”
none of this describes ISIS accurately at all, there is nothing grass roots about it, nothing participatory (except you can all go out and watch somebody get whipped or executed)
he grossly overestimates the appeal of ISIS and there is nothing resembling citizenship"
there is a lot of competition, but this might be the worst article written about ISIS so far, its just totally not true
excerpt:
A look at both ISIS’s written edicts and its tactics suggest that the group has gotten one important thing right: It has created a clear—and to some, compelling—idea of citizenship and state-building in a region almost completely bereft of either.
ISIS’s support comes from a direct appeal to Sunni Muslims as a religious and political constituency. It has made clear that it expects people under its power to take an active role in establishing a new Islamic state...As repugnant as its tactics are, ISIS offers Sunnis a rare opportunity: a chance, in effect, to be a citizen.
and anybody who quotes shadi hamid is automatically disqualified from serious consideration:
“It’s not the old model where the citizen is passive and plays no role,” said Brookings Institution scholar Shadi Hamid, author of the book “Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East.” “Within certain limits, if you agree to abide by these strict rules, there is an active role for citizens under ISIS.”
what the hell? "To Westerners, ISIS’s combination of participatory, grass-roots governance with total rejection of pluralism and democracy can be puzzling.”
none of this describes ISIS accurately at all, there is nothing grass roots about it, nothing participatory (except you can all go out and watch somebody get whipped or executed)
he grossly overestimates the appeal of ISIS and there is nothing resembling citizenship"
