Introduction

If the rise of Islamic State can overthrow powerful states in a matter of weeks, what kind of a secure future can the world expect?

Background

After more than a decade of the war on terror, security specialists thought that Islamist paramilitary movements were in decline; the threat from ISIS in Syria and Iraq, Boko Haram in Nigeria, al-Qaida in Yemen, the chaos in Libya and the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan have all shown that to be wishful thinking.

Current Situation

Once again the West is at war in the Middle East.