Rise of an Extremist Islam: Aims and Strategies of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

The aim of this chapter is to offer a background of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), focusing on its origins, meaning, nature and strategies. Through the case study of Ashrawi Qasem Abdullah, a former ISIS fighter, we gain further insight on the operation of the ISIS. After outlining the differences between ISIS and al-Qaeda, this chapter elaborates on how ISIS transforms the world in terms of refugee mobility (displacement effect), changes the women's role within the Muslim world and Turkey’s role in the Middle East and world politics.