The study of Islamic movements has taken on a special relevance since the tragic events of 11 September 2001. More than ever, people inside and outside of academe are inquiring about the origins, motivations, and consequences of Islamic activism around the globe. The three books under review contribute to our understanding of Islamic activism in three countries: Algeria, Palestine/Israel, and Jordan. Camille al-Tawil's Al-Haraka addresses the rise of armed movements in Algeria since 1992 and their justification for violence, especially anti-civilian carnage, in the mid-1990s. Khaled Hroub's Hamas covers the origins, strategic orientation, and ideological evolution of one of the most controversial and militant Islamic movements in the Muslim world. Quintan Wiktorowicz's The Management of Islamic Activism sheds light on a moderate Islamic movement in the Middle East and the mechanisms of social control that foster such quiescent Islamism. These three works speak to the diverse nature of contemporary Islamic movements and the importance of political context in shaping Islamic strategic orientations. Each offers original empirical and theoretical insights that will surely enhance the discussion of Islamic activism in years to come.

In a modest but original contribution to the literature on the Islamist movement in the WestBank and Gaza, Andrea Nüsse explores the ideology of the key player in this movement:Hamas. Nüsse analyzes Hamas's system of thought, particularly how it frames itsstruggle against Israel; the arguments it employs to oppose the peace process; and its use ofQur[ham]anic exegeses to underpin its militant, or jihadist, stance. The author avoidssuch issues as the structure of the organization and the social base of its constituency, which havebeen explored elsewhere. Instead, she relies on primary material to address the goals, strategy,ideological foundations, self-image, and perceived enemies of the movement. In addition to thesethemes, the author presents Hamas's perspective on contemporary historical events anddevelopments, including the Gulf War of 1990–91, the mass deportation of Islamists toSouth Lebanon in 1992, and the Hebron massacre of 1994. The aim throughout the book is toshed light on an under-studied aspect of the movement, leaving it up to the reader to seek outother writings that give a more comprehensive analysis.