Includes bibliographical references and index.

"The Syrian regime unleashed extreme violence to suppress large-scale popular protests in the midst of the 2011 Arab uprisings. Hundreds of armed groups formed throughout Syria to defend the protestors and fight back, including Jihadis that quickly dominated the armed opposition, calling for the establishment of an Islamic state and mobilising foreign fighters from around the world. However, in contrast to previous conflicts dominated by al-Qaeda and Islamic State, the two largest Syrian Jihadi groups, Ahrar al-Sham and then Jabhat al-Nusra, embarked on a new course of action. Rejecting global jihad, they began to cultivate new ties with the population, other armed opposition groups, and even foreign states. This strategic shift is these groups' response to the Jihadi paradox-a realisation that while Jihadis excel at leading insurgencies, they fail to achieve political victories. In From Jihad to Politics, Jerome Drevon undertakes extensive field research and interviews with leaders and footsoldiers of the main Syrian Jihadi groups in territories under their control in northwest Syria and in Turkey. This book offers a comprehensive examination of the Syrian armed opposition, tracing the emergence of Jihadi groups in the conflict, their growing dominance, and their political transformation. Drevon's research provides a unique perspective on insurgent groups in armed conflicts based on extensive interviews with Jihadis"-- Provided by publisher.