Master Narratives of Islamist Extremism

Jeffry Halverson, H.L. Goodall, Jr., & Steven R. Corman

This book is about the ideological functions of master narratives that exist in Muslim societies and culture and how these narratives are exploited and employed specifically by Islamist extremists. We provide a detailed analysis of the historical origins, components, and manifestations of more than a dozen master narratives employed by extremists in their ideological rhetoric, propaganda videos, and public statements. The material presented in this book is based on the premise that narratives are powerful resources for defining cultures and framing actions, and it is particularly important to understand how they operate if we hope to understand and counter them. In other words, narratives are essential to understanding Islamist extremism in the “war of ideas.”

For additional information, please see the website created especially for the book.  It includes examples, updated resources, and useful links.  It is at: http://masternarratives.comops.org/