The Way of the Strangers

Despite the considerable scholarly work which has gone into understandingthe Islamic State (IS), the depths of the motivations and psychology ofits members and supporters have not been truly plumbed. Graeme Woodchronicles his forays into the minds of adherents of the organization in TheWay of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State and does an impressivejob of laying bare the thought behind the group and its attention-grabbingbrutality. While it is regarded by most of the world as a collection ofpsychopaths, notably by the vast majority of Muslims, who consistently denouncethe group and its claims to religious legitimacy, Wood argues that itdoes have a logic and basis in religious scripture that is by and large internallyconsistent, if morally repugnant, and notes that only by understandingthis logic—and, therefore, the beliefs of its ardent supporters—can therest of the world combat it most effectively. He also provides an interestingwindow into the group’s recruitment process by examining some individualswhom he terms “seducers”, those who encourage others to immigrateto the group’s territory in Iraq and Syria. While this last part may seemsomewhat outdated, it will unfortunately retain importance as IS coalesceselsewhere and perhaps even attempts a resurgence in those two countries;the examination of this possibility falls far outside the scope of this review,but its existence at all sees this aspect of the book retain its importance ...