ISIS Summary

Introduction This paper seeks to explain the rise of ISIS and the international response to their rise to power. The paper will begin with a short summary of the situation, followed by definitions of the key concepts, assumptions, and arguments of liberalism in relation to our case. This paper will then examine how each of this elements of liberalism helps to explain why ISIS has risen to significant power, and why the world powers have reacted the way that they have. Lastly, the paper will conclude with a summative statement about how liberalism, as a theoretical perspective, explains ISIS and their rise in power.
ISIS: Background and Facts on the Case
ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), was formed in 1999 and is currently lead by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The stated goal of ISIS is to form an “Islamic Caliphate”, a unified region of Muslim states under a single theocratic rule. ISIS began as a splinter group from al-Qaeda in Iraq, but has only gained significant standing on the world stage after their emergence from the Syrian Civil War, which began March of 2011. In June 2014, ISIS crossed into Syria and conquered the city of Mosul. Having been previously occupied by US forces, ISIS was able to seize millions of dollars of military assets left behind. With this equipment they were able to take most significant areas of western Iraq. Currently, ISIS also controls the Iraqi city of Ramadi which is dangerously close to the Iraqi capital Baghdad. In …show more content…
In addition, given how a strong possibility exists that ISIS could topple the Iraqi government, it is important to understand them as they may seek to become a sovereign nation. If ISIS did indeed take control of Baghdad, or even Iraq as a whole, the entire world economy would be in