STRATEGIC IDEOLOGY OF AL QAEDA

This paper examines the use of ideology as a strategic tool by al Qaeda, arguing that even though the entity may be militarily weakened, it still is ideologically ascendant and is thus capable of leading global Jihadism even in a militarily weakened form. The author examines four ideological imperatives of the entity viz-a-viz military might, narratives, economic Jihad, and territoriality, arguing that merely an augmentation of fire power will not be effective against the organization's ideological prowess.