Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. The politics of pan-Islamism; 2. The classical jihadists; 3. Recruitment to the early jihad fronts; 4. Opportunities for global jihad; 5. Al-Qaida and Saudi Arabia; 6. Recruitment to al-Qaida; 7. Post-9/11 Saudi Arabia; 8. The Mujahidin on the Arabian Peninsula; 9. Recruitment to the QAP; 10. The failure of the jihad in Arabia; Conclusion.

Promotional Information

The first ever history of Saudi jihadism, published in 2010, offering a powerful explanation for the rise of Islamist militancy in Saudi Arabia.

About the Author

Thomas Hegghammer is a Senior Fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). He has contributed chapters to several edited books and his articles have appeared in journals such as International Affairs, The International Journal of Middle East Studies, The British Journal of Middle East Studies, The Middle East Journal, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, and The Times Literary Supplement.

Reviews

'The definitive work on Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, this book makes an exceptional contribution to studies of Saudi Arabia, political Islam, and comparative political violence.' David Commins, Dickinson College

'Thomas Hegghammer presents the first substantiated study of the jihadist movement in Saudi Arabia. He brilliantly analyses a wealth of hitherto unexamined material and adds both depth and subtlety to our understanding of Islamic politics in the Kingdom. In doing so, he perceptively highlights the importance of pan-Islamism as a mobilising and radicalising factor. This informed and conceptually suggestive study deserves a very wide reading.' James Piscatori, The Australian National University

'… draws on an impressive collection of biographies and written sources from al-Qaeda websites. … This dense book is not an easy read for novices, but it is a welcome contribution to understanding the Saudi paradox and the enigma of the QAP.' The Times Higher Education Supplement

'Jihad in Saudi Arabia fills a gap in the existing literature on violent Islamism and specifically the history of Muslim activism inside the kingdom. … this book is one of the best and most comprehensive studies of Islamist activism yet written and is a must-read …' The Muslim World Book Review