SOME REMARKS ON THE IDEOLOGICAL CORE AND POLITICAL PILLARS OF THE SO-CALLED ISLAMIC STATE

The article focuses on the ideological pillars of the ISIS or the so-called Islamic State and
aims to explain the ideological core of the ISIS by examining the roots and pillars of this
extreme terrorist Jihadists, Wahhabist and Salafist organization. The article seeks and
explores the roots in Jihadism, radical form of Salafism and partially radical Arab nationalism,
but it also looks partially at the “legacy” of Saddam Hussein’s regime (1979–2003) in Iraq
(many former high ranked officers of Saddam’s military, BAATH party and also several
intelligence officers were actively involved in ISIS) and the Arab post-colonial and post-cold
war world
 

Full text (pdf)

1. Abdelsalam, E. (2015). The Arab Spring: Its Origins, Evolution and Consequences... four years on. “Intellectual Discourse”, Vol. 23(1).
2. Aboul-Eneim, Y. (2013). Al Ikhwan al Muslimism: The Muslim brotherhood. “MilitaryReview”, Vol 3.
3. Afsaruddin, A. Jihad. (sine anno) [In:] Encyclopaedia Britannica [Access: 16.2.2021]. Access on the internet: https://www.britannica.com/topic/jihad
4. Al-Tamimi, A. (2017). The Myth of ISIS’s Strategic Brilliance. “The Atlantic”, 20 July 2017[Access: 22.2.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/07/isis-defeat-plan/534330/
5. Apdayk, R. Dzh. (1999). Saddam Khuseyn: politicheskaya biografiya. Rostov-na-Donu: Feniks.
6. Bahrani, Z. (2008). Rituals of War. The Body of Violence in Mesopotamia. New York: Zone Books.
7. Berton, D. (2006). Musul'manskoye predaniye: vvedeniye v khadisovedeniye. Moskva-Sankt-Peterburg: Dilya.
8. Bunzel, C. (2015). From Paper State to Caliphate: The Ideology of the Islamic State. “The Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World. Analysis Paper No. 19, March 2015 [Access: 22.2.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.brookings.edu/
   wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-ideology-of-the-Islamic-State.pdf
9. Burke, J. (2015). The New Threat from Islamic Militancy. The Bodley Head, London.
10. Cheterian. V. (2019). ISIS genocide against the Yazidis and mass violence in the Middle East. “British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Vol. 46.
11. Cohen-Almagor, R. (2018). US-Saudi Arabia Relations: Business as Usual? “Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist”, Vol. 6(10), October [Access: 22.2.2020]. Access on the internet: https://diplomatist.com/globalcenterstage/article20181029.html
12. Cole, I., Parker, N. (2015). How Saddam’s men help Islamic State rule. “Reuters”, 11 December 2015 [Access: 1.2.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/mideast-crisis-iraq-islamicstate/
13. da Riva, R. (2008). The Neo-Babylonian Royal Inscriptions. An Introduction. Guides to the Mesopotamian Textual Record. Vol. 4. Münster: Ugarit-Verlag.
14. da Riva, R. (2013). Nebuchadnezzar II’s Prism (EK 7834): A New Edition. “Zeitschrift für
    Assyriologie”, Vol 103(2).
15. Daesh propaganda, before and after its collapse. Countering violent extremism (2019). NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, Riga [Access: 22.2.2020]. Access on the internet: https://stratcomcoe.org/download/file/fid/80922
16. Danahar, P. (2014). The Middle East. The World after the Arab Spring. London–New Delhi–New York–Sydney: Bloomsbury.
17. Davidson, L. (1998). Islamic Fundamentalism. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.
18. Emerson, M. O., Hartman, D. (2006). The Rise of Religious Fundamentalism. “Annual Review of Sociology”. Vol. 32 (2006).
19. Esman, A. R. (2015). ISIS Rapes Women toward Allah. “The Investigation Project on
    Terrorists”. 23 October 2015 [Access: 22.2.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.
    investigativeproject.org/5013/isis-rapes-women-toward-allah
20. Fadel, M. (2019). Ideas, Ideology, and the Roots of the Islamic State. “Critical Review.
    A Journal of Politics and Society”, Vol. 31(1).
21. Fawcett, L. (2005). International relations of the Middle East. Oxford-New York: Oxford
    University Press.
22. Frahm, E. (1997). Einleitung in Sanherib-Inschriften. Selbstverlag des Instituts für Orientalistik der Universität Wien. Horn: F. Berger & Söhne G.m.b.H.
23. Fraser, T. G., Mango, A., McNamara, R. (2017). Making the Modern Middle East. London:
    Gingko.
24. Hassan, H. (2015). The secret world of Isis training camps – ruled by sacred texts and the sword.
25. “The Guardian”, 25 January 2015 [Access: 1.12.2020]. Access on the internet:
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/25/inside-isis-training-camps
26. Hermann, R. (2007). Saladin und Nebukadnezar als Vorbild. “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, 2 January 2007 [Access: 7.10.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/saddam-hussein-saladin-und-nebukadnezar-als-vorbild-1385362.html
27. Hirsi Ali, A. (2011). The Quran Is Our Law; Jihad Is Our Way. “The Wall Street Journal,
    Opinion”, 11 February 2011 [Access: 27.10.2020]. Access on the internet:
    https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704132204576136590964621006
28. Holy Qur’an (1993). Translated by M. H. Shakir. Qum, Islamic Republic of Iran: Ansariyan
    Publications P.O.B. 37185/187.
29. Hübsch, H. (2001). Fanatische Krieger im Namen Allahs: die Wurzeln des islamischen Terrors. Die Deutsche Bibliothek. München: Heinrich Hugendubel Verlag.
30. Hundal, S. (2015). ISIL’s terrorism is not a reaction to Western foreign policy. “Quartz”,
    November 18 [Access: 20.2.2021]. Access on the internet: https://qz.com/553733/isilsterrorism-is-not-a-reaction-to-western-foreign-policy/
31. Ianes, E. (2019). ISIS has been waiting for this very moment as Trump-fueled chaos in Syria helps it regroup. “Business Insider”, 15 October 2019, [Access: 22.10.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.businessinsider.com/isis-could-regroup-amid-trump-fueled-chaos-insyria-2019-10
32. Inside the ISIS propaganda machine (2019). “CBS News”, 25 November 2019 [Access:
    6.10.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rOVBTqN9XI
33. ISIS Releases Propaganda Video: Flames of War (2014). “The Rubin Report”, 17 September
    2014 [Access: 6.10.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.youtube.com/
    watch?v=jAoH0Xr5a8c
34. Jillani, A. (1991). Inside the ISIS propaganda machine. Nasser, Saddam and Pan-Arabism. – “Pakistan Horizon” No. 2, Vol. 44.
35. Jones, S. G., Dobbins, J., Byman, D., Chivvis, C. S., Connable, B., Martini, J., Robinson, E., Chandler, N. (2017). Rolling Back the Islamic State. RAND report [Access: 20.2.2021]. Access on the internet: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1912.html.
36. Karsh, E. (2010). Iraani-Iraagi sõda 1980–1988, Tallinn: Koolibri.
37. Kepel, G. (2002). Jihad. The Trail of Political Islam. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts.
38. Kepel, G. (2006). Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam. London: I. B. Tauris.
39. Khanna, T. (2015). Islamic State militant rapes 12-year-old girl, uses Quran to justify it.
    “Zeenews”, 14 August 2015 [Access: 17.05.2020]. Access on the internet:
    https://zeenews.india.com/news/world/islamic-state-militant-rapes-12-year-old-girl-usesquran-to-justify-it1647059.html
40. Kracauer, S. (1953). The Challenge of Qualitative Content Analysis. “The Public Opinion
    Quarterly”, Vol. 16, No. 4.
41. Kuckartz, U. (2014). Qualitative Text Analysis: A Guide to Methods. Practice & Using Software. London: Sage Publications.
42. Livesey, B. (2005). The Salafist Movements. “Frontline” [Access: 11.05.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html
43. Lynch, M. (2016). The New Arab Wars. Uprisings and Anarchy in the Middle East, Public
    Affairs, New York.
44. Mansbach, R. (2006). Calvinism as a Precedent for Islamic Radicalism. “The Brown Journal of World Affairs”, Winter/Spring 2006, 12 (2).
45. Martin, R. C., Barzegar, A. (eds.) (2010). Islamism, Contested Perspectives on Political Islam. Stanford University Press. Stanford, California.
46. Massoud, M. F. (2018). How an Islamic State Rejected Islamic Law. “The American Journal of Comparative Law”, Vol. 66, Issue 3, September 2018.
47. McCants, W. (2015). The Believer: How an Introvert with a Passion for Religion and Soccer Became Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Leader of the Islamic State, Brookings Institution, September 1, 2015 [Access: 6.110.2020]. Access on the internet:http://csweb.
    brookings.edu/conten/research/essays/2015/thebeliever.htm
48. McDonnell, T. M. (2010). The West's Colonization of Muslim Land and the Rise of Islamic
    Fundamentalism in The United States, International Law, and the Struggle Against
    Terrorism, [Access: 6.10.2020]. Access on the internet: http://digitalcommons.pace.edu/
    lawfaculty/833/
49. Milne, S. (2015). Now the truth emerges: how the US fuelled the rise of Isis in Syria and Iraq. “The Guardian“, June 3 [Access: 20.2.2021]. Access on the internet: https://www.
    theguardian. com/commentisfree/2015/jun/03/us-isis-syria-iraq.
50. Milton, D. (2018). Pulling Back the Curtain: An Inside Look at the Islamic State’s Media
    Organization. West Point, NY: Combating Terrorism Center.
51. Mölder, H. (2019). The Islamic State, Clash of Civilizations and Their Impact on the
    Development of Contemporary International Relations. [In:] Sazonov, V., Mölder, H.,
    Espak, P. (eds.). Cultural Crossroads in the Middle East: The Historical, Cultural and
    Political Legacy of Intercultural Dialogue and Conflict from the Ancient Near East to the
    Present Day. Tartu: University of Tartu Press.
52. Mölder, H. (2021). The Islamic State, Clash of Civilizations and Their Impact on the
    Development of Contemporary International Relations. [In:] Sazonov, V., Mölder, H.,
    Espak, P., Saumets, A. (eds.). Cultural Crossroads in the Middle East The Historical,
    Cultural and Political Legacy of Intercultural Dialogue and Conflict from the Ancient Near
    East to the Present Day. Second revised and expanded edition. Studia Orientalia Tartuensia,
    Series Nova VIII Tartu: University of Tartu Press.
53. Mölder, H., Sazonov, V. (2016). Sõjateoloogia ilmingud Lähis-Idas Da'ishi näitel: kas
    religioosne liikumine või poliitilis-sõjaline organisatsioon? “Sõjateadlane” 2016/3.
    Mölder, H., Sazonov, V. (2019). The Development of Intercultural Dialogue in the Middle East:
    Contemporary Ideological-Religious Conflicts and their Historical Roots [In:] Sazonov, V.,
54. Mölder, H., Espak, P. (eds.) Cultural Crossroads in the Middle East: Historical, Cultural
    and Political Legacy of Intercultural Dialogue and Conflict from Ancient Near East to
    Present Days. Studia Orientalia Tartuensia, Series Nova VIII, Tartu: University of Tartu
    Press.
55. Mölder, H., Sazonov, V. (2021). The Development of Intercultural Dialogue in the Middle East: Contemporary Ideological-Religious Conflicts and their Historical Roots [In:] Sazonov, V., Mölder, H., Espak, P. (eds.) Cultural Crossroads in the Middle East: Historical, Cultural and Political Legacy of Intercultural Dialogue and Conflict from Ancient Near East to Present Days. Second revised and expanded edition. Studia Orientalia Tartuensia, Series Nova VIII, Tartu: University of Tartu Press.
56. Mushtaq, A. Q., Afzal, M. 2017. Arab Spring: Its Causes and Consequences. “Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society”, Vol. 30(1).
57. Natali, D. (2015). The Islamic State’s Baathist roots. “Al-Monitor”, 24 April 2015 [Access:
    21.12.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/fa/originals/
    2015/04/baathists-behind-the-islamic-state.html
58. New, D. S. (2002). Holy War. The Rise of Militant Christian, Jewish and Islamic Fundamentalism. Jefferson, North Caroline; London: McFarland & Company.
59. Patrikarakos, D. (2016). Apocalypse or Bust: The Battle for Dabiq. “Radio Free Europe”, 9 October 2019 [Access: 21.12.2020]. Access on the internet: https://www.rferl.org/
    a/tracking-islamic-state-dabiq-battle-apocalypticism/28040703.htm
60. Peters, R. (2005). Jihad in classical and modern Islam. A Reader. Updated Edition with a Section on Jihad in 21st century, Markus Wiener Publishers, Princeton.
61. Peterson, Ü. (2005). Džihaadi kontseptsiooni kujunemine Koraanis. Master thesis, University of Tartu.
62. Peterson, Ü. (2016). Süüria kodusõjani viinud sündmustest islami-maailmas ja eriti Süürias. “Akadeemia”, 12.
63. Pink, J. (2010). Tradition and Ideology in Contemporary Sunnite Qur’ānic Exegesis: Qur’ānic Commentaries from the Arab World, Turkey and Indonesia and their Interpretation of Q 5:51. “Die Welt des Islams, Vol 50(1).
64. Rashid, A. (2002). Jihad. The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia. A World Policy Institute Book, Yale University Press, New Haven&London.
65. Reuters, Ch. 2015. Secret Files Reveal the Structure of Islamic State. „Spiegel Online”, April 18 [Access: 2.3.2021]. Access on the internet https://www.spiegel.de/international/
    world/islamic-state-files-show-structure-of-islamist-terror-group-a-1029274.html
66. Roy, O. (2008). The Politics of Chaos in the Middle East. New York: Columbia University Press.
67. Rózsa, N. et al. (2012). The Arab Spring Its Impact on the Region and on the Middle East
    Conference. Middle East Conference. “Academic Peace Orchestra Middle East (APOME). Policy Brief for The Middle East Conference on a WMD/DVs Free Zone” No 9/10, August [Access: 2.3.2021]. Access on the internet: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/09609.pdf
68. Rubin, B. M. (ed.) (2009). Guide to Islamist Movements. New York, London: M.E. Sharpe, Amonk.
69. Sazonov, V. (2012). Vanad rivaalid. „Postimees”, 6 February 2012 [Access: 21.12.2020].
    Access on the internet: https://arvamus.postimees.ee/729494/vladimir-sazonov-vanadrivaalid
70. Sazonov, V. (2014a). Nebukadnetsarit järgides: Saddam Hussein ja muistsed Lähis-Ida
    despoodid. – “Idakiri. Eesti Akadeemilise Orientaalseltsi aastaraamat”.
    Sazonov, V. (2014b). Outbreaks of Islamism in Iraq – the Rebirth of the Caliphate?
    “Diplomaatia“, 22 September 2014 [Access: 21.11.2019]. Access on the internet:
    https://icds.ee/outbreaks-of-islamism-in-iraqthe-rebirth-of-the-caliphate.
71. Sazonov, V., Ploom, I. (2019). Insights Into the Ideological Core and Political Pillars of ISIS. “Sõjateadlane” 13.
72. Selengut, C. (2003). Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence. Walnut Creek, CA:
    AltaMira Press.
73. Sly, L. (2015). How Saddam Hussein's former military officers and spies are controlling Isis. “The Independent”, 5 April 2015 [Access: 21.12.2020]. Access on the internet:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/how-saddam-husseins-formermilitary-officers-and-spies-are-controlling-isis-10156610.html
74. Spencer, W. J. (2007). The Middle East. Global Studies. Dubuque: A Division of the McGrawHill Companies.
75. Stern, J., Berger, J. M. (2016). ISIS. Terrori riik. Imeline Ajalugu, Imeline Teadus, AS Äripäev, Tallinn.
76. The ideology of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.Wikipedia, [Access: 21.12.2020].
    Access on the internet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology_of_the_Islamic_State_
    of_Iraq_and_the_Levant#cite_note-42
77. Todenhöfer, J. (2016). Ten Days in the Islamic State. My Journey into the Heart of Terror.
    Vancouver/Berkeley: Greystone Books.