Introduction

Political violence and instability in the Middle East has become not only a topic of great interest but also arguably the most important political issue in the world today. Violence takes many forms, ranging from terrorism to guerrilla warfare and state-to-state conflicts displaying regular forces. The most basic cause of violence is the lack of agreement on the regional order, boundaries, and the type of government and society in place. Violence is used to challenge these arrangements, justified by passionately held ideologies and alternative visions.