Daesh, which needs no introduction, currently poses one of the greatest threats to global peace.
Daesh has capitalized on conditions conducive to the the spread of violent extremism, including
the political vacuum created by failed states, the failure of national governments to address
socio-economic grievances, and the increasing alienation of Muslims in the West. An estimated
30,000 citizens from 100 countries have joined Daesh in Syria and Iraq. Libya is increasingly
becoming the new destination for foreign fighters. Yet to date, discussions concerning how best
to deal with Daesh’s violent ideology remain superficial. Increased militarization and the rise
of Islamophobia have spread in the wake of this violent group. The debate needs to move beyond
military options, and instead, adopt nuanced approaches that will better diminish the allure of
Daesh’s violent actions and address the emotional appeal that has been attracting foreign fighters.
In the last few months, we have witnessed a series of deadly Daesh attacks outside its controlled
territory in Syria and Iraq, targeting Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This marks a new turn in its
tactics aimed at diverting attention from its recent battlefield losses and adjusting its military strategies. The first week of July 2016 marked Baghdad’s bloodiest attack since 2003, leaving more than 215 dead. Under pressure and on the defensive, Daesh is intensifying its terrorism campaign by pressuring its followers in the West to carry out attacks in their home countries. To challenge and defeat Daesh’s recruitment propaganda machine, we must adopt nuanced strategies that address the socio-political issues that are critical to the success and operational capabilities of Daesh. At The Carter Center, our mission is to “wage peace” and “build hope.” Our initiative to counter Daesh propaganda wages peace by working with grassroots religious and community leaders to provide them with a more
nuanced understanding of sophisticated Daesh communication strategies, recommendations to delegitimize Daesh narratives, and effective approaches to engage with alienated youth. This interdisciplinary guide is a collection of articles written by leading scholars and practitioners who participated in the Carter Center’s February 2016 Countering Daesh Experts Workshop. These experts were brought together
to identify new approaches to countering Daesh propaganda and to assist governments and
religious/community leaders in deterring violent extremism among their youth.