Based on extensive field research and exclusive interviews with Islamic State (IS) insiders, Abdel Bari Atwan offers a comprehensive review of the group's organisational structure and leadership, strategies, tactics and diverse methods of recruitment. He traces its origins and shows how the its rapid growth has been facilitated by its masterful command of social media platforms, the 'dark web', Hollywood blockbuster-style videos, and even jihadi computer games, producing a powerful paradox where the ambitions of the Middle Ages have re-emerged in cyber-space. As IS continues to dominate the headlines, he also considers its chances of survival and expansion, and offers insights on potential ways to contain the threat.
