Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2025 -

From Jihad to Politics makes two significant contributions. It tells the story of the Syrian civil war from the perspective of jihadist opposition groups, and it offers a new theory of rebel group effectiveness and survival. Based on extensive primary source research, including internal group material and interviews with rebel figures, the book presents perhaps the first comprehensive account of the war from the perspective of jihadist groups other than the Islamic State. Through its theory of "internal" and "external" institutionalization, this book helps explain the development of Ahrar al-Sham and, ultimately, how Jabhat al-Nusra/Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) eclipsed it and became the dominant jihadist group in the Syrian opposition (with immediate implications now as HTS rules Damascus). It is packed with rigorous empirical work, yet is written clearly, compactly, and accessibly for anyone interested in learning more about the Syrian civil war or Syrian jihadist groups. For scholars writing on these topics or trying to better understand what the new president of Syria is up to, this book is a must read.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.