Donald Holbrook - The Al-Qaeda Doctrine: The Framing and Evolution of the Leaderships Public Discourse

Contents

T his book presents the culmination of my research into Al-Qaeda leadership statements that began in earnest in autumn 2007, when I was a PhD student at the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) at the University of St. Andrews. Throughout this process, I have been fortunate and privileged enough to enjoy the support and guidance of my supervisors, whose assistance has been vital. I am particularly grateful to Professor Alex P. Schmid and Professor Max Taylor for their help with structuring and formulating this research and conveying the analysis. I would like to thank the CSTPV Director and my colleagues for their helpful feedback and advice. I am indebted to Professor Taylor, Professor John Horgan, and Dr P. M. Curriethe series editors of Bloomsburys New Directions in Terrorism Studies seriesfor their support and advice concerning my proposal and preparation for this volume. I would also like to thank Professor Marco Lombardi and his ITSTIME team for sharing some of the more obscure statements from the Al-Qaeda leadership. I am especially grateful to Charles for his invaluable advice concerning different facets of this research and the theoretical models applied and for his assistance in procuring relevant primary sources. Finally, I wish to dedicate this book to my love Matilde, whose support throughout this process has been indispensable. I could never have completed this book without her.