A Comparative Study of ISIS and Al-Qaeda's Strategy in the Middle East Regional Order

Subject Areas : Political and International Researches Quarterly

Hossein Eslami ¹ , davod kiani ² , Mohammadhosein Elahi manesh ³

1 -
2 - Faculty member
3 - استادیار دانشگاه آزاد قم

Received: 2025-06-09 Accepted : 2025-07-11 Published : 2025-07-11

Keywords: Religious Extremism, Regional Order, Structuralism, ISIS, Al-Qaeda,

Abstract :

Religious extremism has become a security, political, and social challenge in the Middle East. Extremist groups, with a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam, deny the legitimacy of political systems and seek to present an alternative model, and seek to impose their ideology by resorting to violence. The present study aims to analyze the strategies of extremist religious groups, especially ISIS and Al-Qaeda, in confronting the regional order in the Middle East. By examining the roots and motivations of these groups, this study compares the approaches of ISIS and Al-Qaeda in confronting the regional order in order to assess the consequences of these differences on regional security. Using a structuralist theoretical framework, the article shows that the challenge of these groups goes beyond security threats and has identity and normative dimensions, and they seek to redefine identities and values ​​in the Middle East. The research method is qualitative-analytical, and the data were collected from documentary and library sources. The findings show that ISIS has pursued a radical strategy of immediate order change through the establishment of a caliphate, while al-Qaeda has taken a more gradual approach focused on weakening the “distant enemy.” These differences have led to different outcomes. The research argues that the challenge of extremist groups is a reflection of deep divisions in the Middle East, and that effectively countering them requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the various drivers of extremism, including strengthening civil society institutions, promoting education, and creating economic opportunities.

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