There has been a substantial increase in interest and reporting of radical Islamist acts of terrorism since 9/11. This paper aims to provide background and insight into the contemporary phenomenon of transnational neo-fundamentalist extremism - specifically that of jihadist non-state actors in pursuit of a global Caliphate or ummah (Muslim community) - as opposed to regional and nationalistic radical Islamist groups engaged in irredentist disputes, as epitomised by Hizballah in Lebanon. Due to the breadth and depth of this modern threat, observations and conclusions drawn within this paper should prove to be of enduring relevance to a wide variety of policy-makers engaged in foreign, domestic, social, and economic issues.
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