Books

‘Haenni and Drevon have done the impossible: They stuck with the Syrian tragedy long after others had shifted their attention, focused on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham at a time when it was not yet fashionable, and enjoyed deep familiarity with Syria’s new leaders as everyone else had to play catch up. The result is a gem, a superb, edifying and eye-opening account of the evolution of the jihadist movement and a definitive response to those who wonder whether Sharaa’s conversion and HTS’s deradicalization are genuine or counterfeit. If any policymaker ever questions the utility of field work, you now have your answer: Just give them a copy of Transformed by the People. They won’t regret it.’ — Robert Malley, Yale University, former Middle East advisor to Presidents Clinton, Obama, and Biden; former CEO of the International Crisis Group; and author, with Hussein Agha, of the forthcoming Tomorrow is Yesterday: Life, Death, and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel-Palestine

‘The authors have marshalled a tremendous amount of unique field research to develop a coherent, controversial, and ultimately convincing account of the pragmatic evolution of HTS.’  — March Lynch, Professor of Political Science and Director of Middle East Studies, George Washington University, and author of America’s Middle East: The Ruination of a Region

‘Transformed by the People looks beyond the hysterics of the War on Terror and takes a serious historical view of the forces at play. Being the first westerners to reach out and connect with Hayat Tahrir al Sham and its leadership, Haenni and Drevon—in ground breaking fieldwork—reveal the deeper processes behind al Sharaa’s moderation. This work will stand as an essential guide for any future analysts that aim at real explanation over simple polemics.’ — Martin Smith, PBS Frontline correspondent, interviewed Abu Mohammad al-Jolani for his documentary, ‘The Jihadist’

‘Haenni and Drevon have written a timely and original book that helps illuminate a critical issue: how and why the new leaders of Syria transformed from jihadists into pragmatists.’ — Peter Bergen, author of The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden

‘Those curious about Syria, its recent history, and its new transitional government will find all the necessary information and food for thought in this book. The history and transformation of HTS are presented meticulously, insightfully, and analytically. Black and white are passé; it is the shades of grey that strengthen our understanding of this enigmatic and fascinating movement and its leaders. For those who need or want to engage with the new Syria politically, this book is essential.’ — Monika Schmutz Kirgöz, Middle East specialist and Assistant State Secretary, MENA Division, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland

‘Rather than labelling HTS in the received terms of analysis as being “liberal”, “secular”, or even “realist”, the authors argue that it represents a new and uncharted political experiment which moves beyond such categories but has not yet established its own.’ — Faisal Devji, Beit Professor of Global and Imperial History, University of Oxford

"An extraordinary book that dissects a complex phenomenon in a provocative and original manner. It does not dwell on paradoxes but shows concretely how a jihadist leader can evolve into a responsible national politician without denying himself. It is a rare example analysis of political sociology based on in-depth fieldwork that manages to avoid value judgments and ideological polemics."  —  Olivier Roy, Professor at the European University Institute, and author of The Crisis of Culture: Identity Politics and the Empire of Norms

"Transformed by the People is a vital resource for understanding the remarkable journey of this formerly terrorist organisation into a major, and quite possibly stabilising, force not just in Syria but the entire Middle East." —  Ambassador James F. Jeffrey, former US Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS

"Jerome Drevon's Institutionalizing Violence is a remarkable piece of scholarship. It advances our theoretical understanding of Salafi groups' radicalization and de-radicalization, and the centrality of institutionalization to groups' strategic choices. Its empirical chapters, focused on Egyptian Salafi-Jihadi groups, are fascinating, the result of exceptional access to important figures in these organizations. Drevon also has a unique ability to breathtakingly tell their story. This book is a must read for students of social movements, terrorism studies, and the Jihadi movement." — Barak Mendelsohn, Haverford University

"If we want to find new and more constructive ways of managing the threat stemming from jihadist militancy, we need to understand how jihadist organizations function. In this excellent book, Jérôme Drevon draws on unique material gathered through extensive in-country research in Egypt, and convincingly shows how different types of jihadist organizational patterns influence the groups' trajectories, including the chances for conflict termination and political accommodation. A must-read for anyone interested in jihadist militancy and the sociology of violence more broadly." — Isak Svensson, Uppsala University

"Richly researched, considered, and incisive, Institutionalizing Violence is a work that not only deserves wide readership, but is one with which all serious researchers of jihadist movements must contend. Jerome Drevon's excellent scholarship and exceptional access to historical figures in Egypt's most influential jihadist groups combine here in a new study that provides unique insight into strategic decision making within militant organizations. For these reasons, this book is essential reading." — Leah Farrall, former senior counterterrorism analyst with the Australian Federal Police

"In his remarkable book, Drevon (Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland) advances a well-grounded theoretical understanding of the radicalization and de-radicalization of Salafi groups and the centrality of institutionalization to the groups' strategic choices. Drevon's excellent book draws on unique materials gathered through extensive, in-country research in Egypt, which convincingly shows how different types of jihadist organizational patterns influence the trajectories of the groups, including their chances for conflict termination and political accommodation. This richly researched project is excellent scholarship because of the exceptional access Drevon had to historical figures in Egypt's most influential jihadist groups, which provides unique insight into strategic decision-making within militant organizations." — Choice

"Institutionalizing Violence. Strategies of Jihad in Egypt is one of the very few works capable of constructing a theoretical framework that thoroughly analyzes the peculiarities of two specific jihadist groups and, at the same time, can be relevant outside Egypt for the study of other instances of political violence and jihadist movements’ dynamics." — European Eye on Radicalization

"Drevon offers a comprehensive examination of the origins of Salafi jihadism in Egypt, through a thorough and rigorous approach that is grounded in extensive field research. His analysis is both insightful and thought-provoking, making it a valuable addition to the field of Islamism studies and political science more broadly" -- Khalil al-Anani — Perspectives on Politics

"This is a highly detailed and authoritative account of the Sunni Egyptian al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya and Islamic Jihad – two leading jihadist terrorist groups that were active in Egypt beginning in the 1970s. This book is recommended as an important comparativecase study on the two jihadi organisations and the factors driving the divergent paths that such organisations pursue to pursue their political and socio-religious objectives." — Perspectives on Terrorism