Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2011

Master Narratives of Islamist Extremism

Palgrave Macmillan

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (15 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. Introduction

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 1-9
  3. What is a Master Narrative?

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 11-26
  4. The Pharaoh

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 27-36
  5. The Jahiliyyah

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 37-48
  6. The Battle of Badr

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 49-56
  7. The Hypocrites

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 57-66
  8. The Battle of Khaybar

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 67-80
  9. The Battle of Karbala

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 81-93
  10. The Mahdi

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 95-108
  11. The Infidel Invaders

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 109-124
  12. Shaytan’s Handiwork

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 125-135
  13. 1924

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 137-148
  14. The Nakba

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 149-164
  15. Seventy-Two Virgins

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 165-177
  16. Master Narratives and Strategic Communication

    • Jeffry R. Halverson, H. L. Goodall Jr., Steven R. Corman
    Pages 179-205
  17. Back Matter

    Pages 207-243

About this book

This volume introduces the concept of Islamist extremist 'master narratives' and offers a method for identifying and analyzing them. Drawing on rhetorical and narrative theories, the chapters examine thirteen master narratives and explain how extremists use them to solidify their base, recruit new members, and motivate actions.

Reviews

"Rigorous, engaging, and immediately applicable - using the concept of a master narrative, the authors provide concrete answers to one of today s most pressing questions: What makes al-Qaeda s message so compelling? This book is a must read for anyone - students, practitioners and analysts - who wants to better understand al-Qaeda's messaging strategies and identify effective ways to counter al-Qaeda's resonance." - Jarret Brachman, PhD, author, Global Jihadism: Theory and Practice, and Managing Director, Cronus Global

"Extraordinary in breadth, rich in historical depth and far-reaching in its implications, an authoritative text on the ideological master-narratives of extremists has finally arrived. This outstanding book offers essential reading for all those involved in crafting strategic policy aimed at combating extremist narratives." - John Horgan, Director, International Center for the Study of Terrorism, Penn State University

About the authors

Jeffry R. Halverson is an Islamic studies scholar and historian of religions, specializing in the Middle East and North Africa. He currently serves as assistant research professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University, USA. He is also the author of Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010) and Searching for a King (Potomac, 2012).

Steven R. Corman is the Director of the Center for Strategic Communication and a Professor of Communication at the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University, USA. He is also the co-author of Weapons of Mass Persuasion (Peter Lang, 2008).

H.L. Goodall Jr. was a Professor of Communication and a pioneer of narrative ethnography at Arizona State University, USA.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access