The American Space at the American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB), in collaboration with the Iraqi Scientific Society for Technology and Innovation (ISSTI), organized a seminar on “The Political and Social Factors and Dynamics Influencing the Emergence of the Modern Terrorist Phenomenon”, where Mr. Ibrahim Al-Abbadi spoke before AUIB students, members of the university’s academic and administrative cadre, and other interested parties, engaging the audience in lively discussion on this contentious, nevertheless central topic in today’s public affairs.
Mr. Al-Abbadi delivered a compelling lecture on the rise, evolution, and complex dynamics of modern terrorism, pointing out, during his discussion with the audience, that different states have different definitions of the term “terrorism”. He offered a rich historical analysis of the subject matter, beginning with the collapse of the Ottoman Caliphate and the ensuing conflict between various religious sociopolitical currents of thought and activism on one hand, and the secular modern state, on the other, focusing on the Muslim Brotherhood and its relationship with the Egyptian state, in this context. Mr. Al-Abbadi’s analysis took the audience on a journey that covered historical milestones such as Taliban’s “Jihad” against the Soviet Union and later attacks against US interests in different parts of the world, which culminated in the attacks on the World Trade Center and today’s “global war on terror.”
AUIB expresses its gratitude to ISSTI for their unwavering commitment to encouraging and empowering its students and faculty. Through initiatives such as this lecture, ISSTI continues to support the next generation of scholars and innovators, providing them with access to world-class academic discourse and fostering critical thinking on pressing global issues.