Master of Public Policy candidate at Georgetown University and editor-in-chief of Georgetown Public Policy Review. I do research on politics, terrorism, security, and the Middle East.
This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. ... more This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al-Shabaab's history and funding sources. It theorizes that an organization's capacity to operate in different fields of economic activity drives innovation in funding. Applying a framework for terrorist innovation to al-Shabaab's funding sources, this study finds support for the theory. Development of intelligence and taxation capabilities is especially prevalent in the al-Shabaab context. Holding territory considerably increases organizational ability to raise funds. Increasing reliance on criminality may compromise an organization's ideological character and leave it more vulnerable to inter-group competition.
This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group
Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. ... more This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al-Shabaab’s history and funding sources. It theorizes that an organization’s capacity to operate in different fields of economic activity drives innovation in funding. Applying a framework for terrorist innovation to al-Shabaab’s funding sources, this study finds support for the theory. Development of intelligence and taxation capabilities is especially prevalent in the al- Shabaab context. Holding territory considerably increases organizational ability to raise funds. Increasing reliance on criminality may compromise an organization’s ideological character and leave it more vulnerable to inter-group competition.
ast month, the U.S. military announced the end of its combat mission in Iraq and its transition t... more ast month, the U.S. military announced the end of its combat mission in Iraq and its transition to an “advise, assist, and enable” posture. Yet while questions remain about the Biden administration’s commitment to allies’ security following the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan (https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/trading-places) , for now the United States has not removed any of its 2,500 soldiers stationed in Iraq. In fact, these troops are a key component of Iraqi security going forward, as reflected in military spokesman Yehia Rasool’s December 31 statement that his country still needs coalition forces to help fight the Islamic State (IS), “especially in the air force, air defense, army aviation, and intelligence system fields.”
In the fight against the terrorist group al-Shabaab, the Somali National Army has suffered acute ... more In the fight against the terrorist group al-Shabaab, the Somali National Army has suffered acute personnel, training, funding, and other difficulties that have rendered it ineffective. The U.S.-trained Danab Brigade has proven capable in breaking the ineffectiveness pattern. Drawing on over 20 interviews with Somali officials and service members, this paper analyzes U.S. security force assistance in the case of Somalia. Danab’s sound performance stems from its U.S. training and support, multi-clan ethos, and aggressive tactical style. Danab exemplifies American success in building small, aggressive, mobile partner military forces. The recent U.S. withdrawal from Somalia raises questions about Danab’s continued viability.
Ideology and the Lethality of Terrorist Organizations Open-source data and studies indicate the h... more Ideology and the Lethality of Terrorist Organizations Open-source data and studies indicate the higher lethality rates of jihadist groups versus other types of terrorist organizations. I argue jihadist groups are more lethal than other groups due to their higher ideological intensity, determined by observing how ideology corresponds to a group's goals, internal cohesion, and external affinity. I use data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) and Revolutionary and Militant Organizations dataset (REVMOD) to create two samples of terrorist organizations coded by ideological affiliation. My findings confirm the higher lethality of jihadists in general and of apocalyptic jihadists in particular. Jihadist groups kill more per attack and have higher kill-wound ratios than other groups. Attachment to suicide terrorism largely accounts for higher jihadist lethality.
Ideology and the Lethality of Terrorist Organizations Open-source data and studies indicate the h... more Ideology and the Lethality of Terrorist Organizations Open-source data and studies indicate the higher lethality rates of jihadist groups versus other types of terrorist organizations. I argue jihadist groups are more lethal than other groups due to their higher ideological intensity, determined by observing how ideology corresponds to a group's goals, internal cohesion, and external affinity. I use data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) and Revolutionary and Militant Organizations dataset (REVMOD) to create two samples of terrorist organizations coded by ideological affiliation. My findings confirm the higher lethality of jihadists in general and of apocalyptic jihadists in particular. Jihadist groups kill more per attack and have higher kill-wound ratios than other groups. Attachment to suicide terrorism largely accounts for higher jihadist lethality.
This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. ... more This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al-Shabaab’s history and funding sources. It theorizes that an organization’s capacity to operate in different fields of economic activity drives innovation in funding. Applying a framework for terrorist innovation to al-Shabaab’s funding sources, this study finds support for the theory. Development of intelligence and taxation capabilities is especially prevalent in the al-Shabaab context. Holding territory considerably increases organizational ability to raise funds. Increasing reliance on criminality may compromise an organization’s ideological character and leave it more vulnerable to inter-group competition.
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2021
Expert Ido Levy begins this pioneering study by surveying jihadist warfare from the 1970s to the ... more Expert Ido Levy begins this pioneering study by surveying jihadist warfare from the 1970s to the present. He then incorporates primary sources and interviews with military officers, experts, and journalists to explain how IS used conventional military capabilities to defeat larger, better-equipped state armies and conquer land in Syria, Iraq, Libya, the Philippines, and Nigeria. Anchored by four case studies—Ramadi, Kobane, Mosul, and Baghuz—the volume illuminates potential strategies to prevent a resurgence by IS or similar groups.
This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. ... more This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al-Shabaab's history and funding sources. It theorizes that an organization's capacity to operate in different fields of economic activity drives innovation in funding. Applying a framework for terrorist innovation to al-Shabaab's funding sources, this study finds support for the theory. Development of intelligence and taxation capabilities is especially prevalent in the al-Shabaab context. Holding territory considerably increases organizational ability to raise funds. Increasing reliance on criminality may compromise an organization's ideological character and leave it more vulnerable to inter-group competition.
This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group
Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. ... more This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al-Shabaab’s history and funding sources. It theorizes that an organization’s capacity to operate in different fields of economic activity drives innovation in funding. Applying a framework for terrorist innovation to al-Shabaab’s funding sources, this study finds support for the theory. Development of intelligence and taxation capabilities is especially prevalent in the al- Shabaab context. Holding territory considerably increases organizational ability to raise funds. Increasing reliance on criminality may compromise an organization’s ideological character and leave it more vulnerable to inter-group competition.
ast month, the U.S. military announced the end of its combat mission in Iraq and its transition t... more ast month, the U.S. military announced the end of its combat mission in Iraq and its transition to an “advise, assist, and enable” posture. Yet while questions remain about the Biden administration’s commitment to allies’ security following the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan (https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/trading-places) , for now the United States has not removed any of its 2,500 soldiers stationed in Iraq. In fact, these troops are a key component of Iraqi security going forward, as reflected in military spokesman Yehia Rasool’s December 31 statement that his country still needs coalition forces to help fight the Islamic State (IS), “especially in the air force, air defense, army aviation, and intelligence system fields.”
In the fight against the terrorist group al-Shabaab, the Somali National Army has suffered acute ... more In the fight against the terrorist group al-Shabaab, the Somali National Army has suffered acute personnel, training, funding, and other difficulties that have rendered it ineffective. The U.S.-trained Danab Brigade has proven capable in breaking the ineffectiveness pattern. Drawing on over 20 interviews with Somali officials and service members, this paper analyzes U.S. security force assistance in the case of Somalia. Danab’s sound performance stems from its U.S. training and support, multi-clan ethos, and aggressive tactical style. Danab exemplifies American success in building small, aggressive, mobile partner military forces. The recent U.S. withdrawal from Somalia raises questions about Danab’s continued viability.
Ideology and the Lethality of Terrorist Organizations Open-source data and studies indicate the h... more Ideology and the Lethality of Terrorist Organizations Open-source data and studies indicate the higher lethality rates of jihadist groups versus other types of terrorist organizations. I argue jihadist groups are more lethal than other groups due to their higher ideological intensity, determined by observing how ideology corresponds to a group's goals, internal cohesion, and external affinity. I use data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) and Revolutionary and Militant Organizations dataset (REVMOD) to create two samples of terrorist organizations coded by ideological affiliation. My findings confirm the higher lethality of jihadists in general and of apocalyptic jihadists in particular. Jihadist groups kill more per attack and have higher kill-wound ratios than other groups. Attachment to suicide terrorism largely accounts for higher jihadist lethality.
Ideology and the Lethality of Terrorist Organizations Open-source data and studies indicate the h... more Ideology and the Lethality of Terrorist Organizations Open-source data and studies indicate the higher lethality rates of jihadist groups versus other types of terrorist organizations. I argue jihadist groups are more lethal than other groups due to their higher ideological intensity, determined by observing how ideology corresponds to a group's goals, internal cohesion, and external affinity. I use data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) and Revolutionary and Militant Organizations dataset (REVMOD) to create two samples of terrorist organizations coded by ideological affiliation. My findings confirm the higher lethality of jihadists in general and of apocalyptic jihadists in particular. Jihadist groups kill more per attack and have higher kill-wound ratios than other groups. Attachment to suicide terrorism largely accounts for higher jihadist lethality.
This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. ... more This paper examines the funding sources of the terrorist group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. Using existing research and original interviews, this study outlines al-Shabaab’s history and funding sources. It theorizes that an organization’s capacity to operate in different fields of economic activity drives innovation in funding. Applying a framework for terrorist innovation to al-Shabaab’s funding sources, this study finds support for the theory. Development of intelligence and taxation capabilities is especially prevalent in the al-Shabaab context. Holding territory considerably increases organizational ability to raise funds. Increasing reliance on criminality may compromise an organization’s ideological character and leave it more vulnerable to inter-group competition.
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2021
Expert Ido Levy begins this pioneering study by surveying jihadist warfare from the 1970s to the ... more Expert Ido Levy begins this pioneering study by surveying jihadist warfare from the 1970s to the present. He then incorporates primary sources and interviews with military officers, experts, and journalists to explain how IS used conventional military capabilities to defeat larger, better-equipped state armies and conquer land in Syria, Iraq, Libya, the Philippines, and Nigeria. Anchored by four case studies—Ramadi, Kobane, Mosul, and Baghuz—the volume illuminates potential strategies to prevent a resurgence by IS or similar groups.
Uploads
Papers by Ido Levy
Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. Using existing research and original
interviews, this study outlines al-Shabaab’s history and funding
sources. It theorizes that an organization’s capacity to operate in different
fields of economic activity drives innovation in funding.
Applying a framework for terrorist innovation to al-Shabaab’s funding
sources, this study finds support for the theory. Development of
intelligence and taxation capabilities is especially prevalent in the al-
Shabaab context. Holding territory considerably increases organizational
ability to raise funds. Increasing reliance on criminality may
compromise an organization’s ideological character and leave it
more vulnerable to inter-group competition.
Books by Ido Levy
Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen. Using existing research and original
interviews, this study outlines al-Shabaab’s history and funding
sources. It theorizes that an organization’s capacity to operate in different
fields of economic activity drives innovation in funding.
Applying a framework for terrorist innovation to al-Shabaab’s funding
sources, this study finds support for the theory. Development of
intelligence and taxation capabilities is especially prevalent in the al-
Shabaab context. Holding territory considerably increases organizational
ability to raise funds. Increasing reliance on criminality may
compromise an organization’s ideological character and leave it
more vulnerable to inter-group competition.