The tragic 2015 attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunisia, finished by way of Takfiri militants claiming affiliation with ISIS, turned into yet another shocking manifestation of extremist violence rooted in a toxic ideology. This ideology, which attracts the same violent currents that fuel organizations like ISIS, continues to pose a significant threat to global peace and balance today, particularly because it continues to undermine the remarkable progress made by moderate Islamic actions.
Since 2015, the dynamics of the Syrian conflict, the rise and fall of ISIS, and the escalating global security crisis have underscored the ongoing importance of expertise in understanding the roots of this violence. In 2024, the threat posed by means of Takfiri groups and their ideological offshoots has not faded—in reality, it has advanced, spreading a long way beyond the Middle East.
The West continues to incorrectly frame this violence, which destabilizes entire areas and spreads fear and confusion across the world, as a struggle between “moderate” and “extremist” Muslims. This simplistic binary ignores the deeper, systemic issues at play. In order to effectively address the violence, we must confront the larger forces that continue to perpetuate it.
The Erosion of the West’s Illusion of Isolation
One of the most significant changes since the unique Bardo attack is the evolving nature of global security. We have long undermined the idea that Western societies should remain insulated from violence within the rest of the sector. Since 9/11, and specifically after the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, the reach of violent extremist corporations has dramatically expanded. The so-called “surprise and awe” methods of the War on Terror, aimed toward restoring that isolation, have failed.
ISIS-stimulated violence has spread throughout Europe, with assaults in cities such as Paris, Brussels, and Berlin, demonstrating that no region remains immune. This growing hazard has prompted Western governments to re-evaluate their safety strategies, often focusing on army responses rather than addressing the root causes of extremism.
However, pressure alone cannot contain the violence of Takfiri businesses. We should understand it as a component of a broader destabilizing force that persistently disrupts societies and political orders, both in the Middle East and beyond.
The increasing violence from organisations like ISIS in areas of warfare such as Syria, Libya, and Iraq signals not only a military conflict, but also a collapse of national legitimacy and management in these areas. The void created by failed states has facilitated the growth and influence of extremist factions, thereby intensifying the instability that fuels terrorism.
The regional collapse and its global implications
The persistence of Takfiri violence doesn’t necessarily indicate the inherent nature of Islam or the significant influence of ISIS’s ideology. Instead, it illustrates the breakdown of local political structures, particularly in countries where governments have crumbled or become powerless due to armed rebellions.
As nations like Syria, Iraq, and Libya have faltered, extremist corporations have capitalized on the chaos, gaining ground not just in the Middle East but in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. In places such as Nigeria, Boko Haram has expanded its reach, while in Yemen, the Houthi rebels, backed by regional powers, are resisting against the authorities who have been overdiagnosed globally. All these conditions share a common theme: the erosion of national sovereignty, which fosters an environment conducive to extremism.
In the case of Tunisia, the attack at the Bardo Museum was no longer an attack against a Westernized or liberalizing United States, but rather a reflection of the broader local instability. Tunisia, once visible as the Arab Spring’s fulfillment tale, has struggled to hold balance amid the continued chaos in neighboring Libya and the deepening local turmoil.
The assault at the museum, which resulted in the deaths of 23 people, was not an isolated incident, but rather a part of a larger campaign by Takfiri groups aimed at disrupting the emerging hopes of democratic reforms within the Arab world. This is why organizations such as ISIS target countries with a Muslim majority—they aim to suppress any opposition to their violent, anti-Western ideologies.
The role of Western policies in enabling Takfiri violence
It’s crucial to apprehend that Western powers, by way of helping authoritarian regimes inside the Middle East, have exacerbated the very conditions that foster extremism. While the West condemns companies like ISIS, its policies have often supported the regimes that create the conditions for such corporations to thrive.
The West’s historical emphasis on securing stable oil supplies and maintaining geopolitical influence within the region has often overshadowed the promotion of democracy or human rights. In this context, the rise of organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda is no longer solely a reflection of local governance, but rather a consequence of global power dynamics that prioritize strategic interests over the welfare of the region’s citizens.
The Western media also plays a role in perpetuating misrepresentations of the state of affairs. By framing the struggle normally as a conflict between “moderate” Muslims and “extremist” Muslims, the media overlooks the complex political and ancient contexts that give upward push to such violence. These simplistic narratives, often weighted down with cultural assumptions, obscure the need for deeper, extra nuanced discussions about political sovereignty, governance, and nearby balance.
Looking Ahead: The Path to Peace
The ongoing international combat against Takfiri extremism calls for a fundamental shift in technique. Efforts to fight violence need to prioritize the recovery of country legitimacy and sovereignty across the Middle East and North Africa. In this way, we support governments that are attentive to their human needs, while also working to prevent the disintegration of nation-state institutions, which allows extremist agencies to take root.
Reforming political structures within the country—so that governments represent the needs of their people and are not dependent on foreign powers—needs to be a priority. Only by addressing the underlying issues of political legitimacy, countrywide sovereignty, and social justice will the place be able to break free from the cycle of violence and instability that has plagued it for many years.
Ultimately, it’s no longer sufficient to base cognizance entirely on counterterrorism measures. Combating Takfiri violence necessitates a concerted effort to rebuild damaged societies, repair religion using democratic techniques, and ensure that nations can stand independently without relying on outside powers that have historically undermined their sovereignty. Without this comprehensive approach, the global battle against extremism will remain unbalanced, and the cycle of violence will continue to spiral out of control.
Ultimately, the lessons learned from the Bardo Museum attack remain applicable today. In order to effectively counteract the rise of Takfiri extremism, we must move beyond the dichotomy of “moderate” versus “extreme” Muslims, and instead concentrate on rebuilding the political and social foundations to foster genuine peace and stability within the region. Only then will the arena be able to counter the forces that are seeking
