ABSTRACT
Terrorism presents a tier one national security threat. The threat of the Islamic State reached a new high after the fall of the physical Caliphate. Although IS lost territorial control following the death of its leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, in October 2019, IS is entering a new phase to spread its influence and operations worldwide. Just like how its mother group al Qaeda went global after it was dislodged from Afghanistan following September 11, 2001 attacks on US soil, IS is expanding globally. IS is investing significantly in building structures in both the physical and cyber space. Most governments and partners are underprepared and unprepared to fight the threat.
This chapter explores the reasons why terrorist groups develop and thrive. A wave of radicalisation is driving hate and terrorism. Working with governments where terrorist groups such as IS have seeded a presence, the international coalition will need to contain, isolate, and eliminate these groups at the core and periphery. Similarly, governments will need to broaden their strategies, especially building partnerships with civil society to reach out to Muslim communities to prevent community and custodial radicalisation. Tackling the new phase of threat will require a mindset shift in government thinking. Managing the emerging wave of exclusivism, extremism, and terrorism will require multi-dimensional, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional, and multi-national responses.
