1. Charisma in Modern Islamic Revolutionary Movements: The Case of Ahmad Shah Massoud
- Author:
- Casey Johnson
- Publication Date:
- 09-2008
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- al Nakhlah
- Institution:
- The Fletcher School, Tufts University
- Abstract:
- Security Studies is inundated with scholarship devoted to highlighting the ways in which technology (particularly the internet) is defining terrorist organizations, militias, revolutionary movements, and criminal networks. Still, much as technology has altered our perspective of daily life, there is a danger of becoming too narrowly focused on technology as a means of explaining emerging and evolving revolutionary movements. And not enough focus on the charismatic leaders that continue to motivate, define, and drive revolutionary movements It is far from certainthat the Internet has deposed the charismatic leader of his or her central role in rallying, organizing, and spurring revolutionary movements. Indeed, for every virtual cell and skillfully produced martyrdom video, there is a Moqtada al Sadr or a Sheik Hassan Nassrallah.