Thread by @CrisisGroup

Ahead of the anniversary of 9/11, thousands of readers have downloaded our 2016 report “Exploiting Disorder: al-Qaeda and the Islamic State”.

Building on the work of @CrisisGroup experts, this study still speaks to the evolving threat of jihadism today.🧵
crisisgroup.org/global/exploit…

Local branches of the Islamic State, and al-Qaeda are protagonists in some of today’s deadliest crises.

They often provoke reactions that deepen the conditions they feed off - creating new instability and grievances that again plays into their hands.

In the report, @CrisisGroup looks at several ways to counter the jihadist threat without making things worse.

The bottom line: react in proportion to specific situations, not through blind, sweeping campaigns.👇

1️⃣ Disaggregate not conflate:

Distinguish between movements. Governments should distinguish between violent and other movements with an eye to ending violence, not lump them all together looking for a fight.

2️⃣ Use force judiciously:

Although armed action usually must be part of the response, governments have been too quick to go to war.

A wider political strategy must include reconciliation.

3️⃣ Respect rules:

Too often military actions against militants help them recruit or exposes communities to impossible choices between harsh jihadist rule and indiscriminate operations against them.

Defending the rule of law must be a priority.

4️⃣ Curb targeted killings:

Drone strikes can, in places, hinder groups’ operations and ability to hit Western interests.

But they often kill civilians too, feeding resentment against local governments and the West.

5️⃣ Open lines of communication:

Notwithstanding the difficulties, governments should be more willing to talk, even with radicals.

6⃣ Invest in conflict prevention:

Preventing crises will do more to contain violent extremists than countering violent extremism will do to prevent crises.

Interested to read more about the evolving threat of extremist groups, the threat and policy dilemmas they pose, and ideas on how to respond?

Read all of our work on Jihad in Modern Conflict here 👇
crisisgroup.org/jihad-modern-c…

You can also download this report in Arabic and French!
crisisgroup.org/global/exploit…