Module 18:
Extremism in the Name of Islam

Module 18 examines extremism carried out in the name of Islam and argues that these movements are not all the same. It begins by defining extremism as rigid, intolerant ideology often tied to coercion and violence, then shows that Islamist extremist groups differ in structure and goals. The module traces several major types, including ideological movements, politico-militant groups, transnational jihadist organizations, regional insurgencies, state-controlling movements, and extreme state-building projects like ISIS.

The module also explains that these groups emerged from a combination of war, political instability, power vacuums, ideological framing, grievance, recruitment networks, and outside support. It then uses major case studies—the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet–Afghan War, the Iraq War, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, the Taliban, and ISIS—to show how different forms of Islamist extremism developed in different contexts. Overall, the module argues that Islamic extremism is not one single phenomenon, but a broad set of movements shaped by both religious claims and real political, military, and social conditions.