Dr. Tawfik Hamid, MD14
Potomac Institute for Policy Studies
Introduction

No single, magical solution exists for defeating Islamism (i.e., an interpretation of Islam that permits
the use of violence to achieve political or religious objectives), nor Islamist terror. Neither military
power nor education can overcome it. Instead, a combination of tactics can achieve a lasting victory
against global terrorism. This paper explains factors that contribute to Islamism; this understanding
is a necessary step toward developing an effective integration of strategies and tactics to counter
Islamism.

Numerous scientific methods and analytic techniques are available to aid in the fight against Islamist
terrorism. Clear, consistent definitions for terms such as moderate or radical Islam will contribute to
the process. Analysis based on unbiased, measurable data is necessary to counter the bias, emotion,
and political correctness that may cloud our own thinking. For as Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War,
“If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles" (Sun
Tzu, 500 BCE).

Islamist Terrorist Cycle

The proliferation of violent Islam in Islamic societies has typically followed the same pattern. From
close observation of Islamic communities in the Muslim and Western worlds, I believe the
development of jihadists follows the pattern depicted in Figure 1 below. The process begins with the
propagation of Salafi jihadist ideology within a community. Increasing numbers of women begin to
wear the hijab, which is both a symptom of Salafi proliferation and a catalyst for Islamism (see, e.g.,
Mahmood, 2005). In turn, the proliferation of militant Salafism and the hijab contribute to the idea
of passive terrorism, which occurs when moderate segments of the population decline to speak
against or actively resist terrorism.

Islamists suppress critical thinking and desensitize the population to violence, which can lead some
people to become passive terrorists. They disseminate anti-American and anti-Western propaganda
to incite hatred and increase support for their cause. A very small fraction of passive terrorists
develop into active terrorists. However, while they do not conduct terrorist attacks, passive terrorists
fail to denounce active terrorists. Because they agree with the strict implementation of Sharia law and
reject secular rule, the growth of passive terrorism can be seen as a threat to free societies.
Countering the growth of passive terrorism will reduce the supply of people willing to become active
terrorists and ultimately lead to fewer terrorist attacks.