Table of Contents

List of Images

Abbreviations

Acknowledgments

1 Introduction

2 The Development of Political Jihadism

3 Jawlani’s Path to Political Jihadism

4 From Secrecy to Engagement with Locals

5 Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Historical Baggage

6 External Operations, Guidance, and Inspiration

7 The Terrorism Designation Question

8 Conclusion

Appendix: Legal Criteria for a Terrorism Designation

Appendix:

About the Author

Aaron Y. Zelin is the Richard Borow Fellow at The Washington Institute, a visiting research scholar in the Department of Politics at Brandeis University, and the founder of Jihadology.net. He is author of the book Your Sons Are at Your Service: Tunisia’s Missionaries of Jihad (Columbia University Press), along with the recent Institute study Syria at the Center of Power Competition and Counterterrorism.