ABSTRACT
“Militant” does not necessarily mean “violent” but militant movements are often involved in violence in one way or another and this chapter will deal mainly with such movements in recent times. It will also consider the circumstances surrounding their violence. While these movements represent a minority of all Muslims they probably have a disproportionate influence and certainly receive disproportionate media attention. Violence here not only means “terrorism” and “suicide bombing,” but also wars (especially guerrilla wars), pogroms, violent demonstrations, abductions, bombings, and assassinations. All of these may be considered “terrorism” by some people in some situations, since the definition of the term “terrorism” is far from uncontested and “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” I will therefore usually speak of “violence” rather than “terrorism.” I shall also usually use the term “martyrdom operation” rather than “suicide bombing” because I prefer to use insiders’ terms where possible. Only some of the many relevant movements will be presented here, a few in some detail and others more briefly. That the Arab world gets the most space is a function of my knowledge and (I think) the current state of scholarship more than of any lack of importance of other areas.
