In the study of recently formed jihadist groups in Syria, there has been little emphasis on their ideology and declared beliefs. Nor has there been an attempt to analyze them or assess them within the social and historical conditions in which such groups have operated and interacted. Rather, the majority of the analysis has been directed at various narratives—almost like detective stories—about the emergence and workings of these groups. This has greatly delayed the emergence of studies of the internal nature of these organizations, and as such our knowledge of them has become superficial and restricted. Prominence has been given to that which is considered absurd or perverted according to the ideology and particular political outlook of the analyst in question.
If we were to study the declared beliefs of Syria’s jihadist groups, we would soon be struck by the fact that the main jihadist groups have not, in fact, revealed a clearly defined ideology. They are content with a highly professional media rhetoric, which has focused on their unrivaled military capability in their fight against the Syrian Army, while deliberately and consistently obscuring the political and social aims of their fight. Indeed, they are content to murmur vaguely about two organically linked principles: nusra and ghurba.