The Jihadist Movement’s Leadership Deficit

(Tricia Bacon, Elizabeth Grimm – Lawfare) At first glance, things could not be better right now for the Sunni jihadist movement. The Afghan Taliban and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have seized power and are now the governments in Afghanistan and Syria. Jihadist groups have made unprecedented gains in Africa and pose existential threats to multiple governments in the region. The conflict in Gaza and the Israeli government’s reported plans to relocate Palestinians to other countries tapped into the most galvanizing cause in the movement. This instability coupled with the geographic reach of the movement should be potent. Yet the jihadist movement—meaning the individuals, factions, and organizations that use violence in pursuit of resurrecting the caliphate—has failed to capitalize on these circumstances. The movement has failed to seize this opportunity because it is experiencing a prolonged deficit of leaders who can inspire and direct it. – The Jihadist Movement’s Leadership Deficit | Lawfare