The Devolution of Jihadism: From Al Qaeda to Wider Movement

In the almost nine years that the United States has engaged in a concerted counterterrorism effort against the jihadist movement, jihadists have adapted to the pressure. While the al Qaeda core has been contained, regional groups have embraced the ideology and now use the al Qaeda brand to attract support. This decentralization is a sign that jihadism has been weakened as a strategic force.