Napoleoni: Modern Jihad

Modern Jihad: Tracing the dollars behind the Terror Network

Loretta Napoleoni, Pluto Press, ISBN 0 7453 2117 8

Modern Jihad is a serious and thoughtful and properly researched examination of the funding of terrorism. The title does not represent the totality of the book: this is not a Muslim-bashing work and it examines the funding of terrorism, including state funded terrorism, in a wide range of situations.

Napoleoni is an economist and novelist. She has researched and written about terrorist networks over a period of years, producing risk reports for government, NGO and commercial organisations. In the work, she examines the economics of terrorism. Her results are enlightening: whilst many assert that much terrorism is both a result and cause of poverty she proves it; whilst many assert that efforts to fund terrorism can have positive economic effects, she proves it; whilst many assert that terrorists run organised crime activities to fund their activities, she proves it.

And in each case, she demonstrates both sides of the equation. And in addition demonstrates that terrorist networks have control or influence over significant parts of the economy in many parts of the world.

The background to the book is, inevitably, 11 September 2001 and there are presumptions such as that Arafat is a consummate money launderer and financier of terrorism. But such imbalances are muted compared to the rantings of many commentators.

The book expands into an examination of many of the mechanisms of laundering, including goods smuggled, with the knowledge and support of large international manufacturers, into countries such as Pakistan.

The book deals with a range of mechanisms by which terrorists raise and move funds, demonstrating for the first time the extent to which networks form a part of the larger economy. It’s a bit racy in style but very readable.

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