Introduction

The special issue of Small Wars and Insurgencies examines the phenomenon of jihadist insurgencies. It explores the strategic, political, and ideological significance of some of these movements operating in the Middle East and North and West Africa. The jihadist ideology that drives 'jihadist insurgent' movements is a heavily contested one. As a concept 'jihad' has its foundations in the Quran and a long history in the Arab world and Islamic societies generally. This history has provided a series of sacred concepts, personages, lessons, and images that amounts to nothing less than a providential history that contemporary jihadist ideologists draw on to justify current political agendas. Jihadist insurgent movements seem rather more ideologically zealous compared to the earlier secular national liberation models. Jihadist insurgencies are characterised by a struggle over claims of political legitimacy. The primary objective is the overthrow of more secularly inclined states and the imposition of Islamic law in all elements of human society.