ISIS Is Not Dead and May "Never Die": From the "Islamic State" to a Borderless Terrorist Network
As long as the political, social, and economic environments in the Middle East and other regions remain fragile, and as long as the world contains "failed states," ISIS will remain hidden in the shadows—nurturing its ideology, awaiting favorable conditions, and standing ready to thrust itself back into the global spotlight whenever the right opportunity arises. Introduction: Although the "Islamic State" (ISIS), which once occupied massive territories in the Middle East, has collapsed, the group has not vanished along with its geographical borders. Instead, it is adapting from being a "city-seizing army" into a "covert underground network and a global franchise system." Meanwhile, the counter-terrorism operations led by the US and its allies are facing a critical strategic turning point, as shifting global politics and troop drawdowns fundamentally alter the equation of the war on terror. 1. The Mutation of ISIS: From Syria and Iraq to a Glo...