JIHADIST AND ETHNO-NATIONALIST TERRORISM AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM | SITUATION State ‘Islamic State’ wants to be a state in the literal sense of the word. This ultimate strategic objective still exists, even though its first attempt to establish a state was crushed after about three and a half years, at the end of 2017. Armed group In organisational terms, ‘Islamic State’ should also be viewed as an armed group. The open armed struggle has long contributed to its sense of identity and cohesion. With the break-up of its state-like structures, the military units which previously operated openly have been destroyed or driven underground. Terrorist actor ‘Islamic State’ has never abandoned its policy of systematically spreading fear and terror: terrorism remains its primary method. With the destruction of the caliphate, the relative importance of this aspect is growing, as in the early days of the organisation. The terrorist activities of ‘Islamic State’ and of the supporters and sympathisers inspired by it take place almost all around the globe. ‘Islamic State’ now also claims responsibility for attacks which it did not carry out itself. Regional power ‘Islamic State’ consists essentially of a strategic leadership comprising a small number of men, together with various provinces and affiliated terrorist groups and cells in Syria and Iraq, Africa and Asia. The destruction of the caliphate in the Levant, where its provinces in Syria and Iraq had temporarily formed a contiguous structure, has done nothing to change this fundamental arrangement. However, ‘Islamic State’'s influence as a regional power declined significantly in the second half of 2017. Nonetheless, its affiliates outside its core territory continue to operate independently of developments in Syria and Iraq. As a result, ‘Islamic State’ still exerts influence in numerous conflict areas worldwide. Inspiration Through its clever use of the information sphere, ‘Islamic State’, together with its local supporters and sympathisers, manages to inspire people all over the world to take action. This includes carrying out terrorist attacks, disseminating propaganda or providing support through donations. However, toward the end of 2017 there was a significant decline in the quality and quantity of its multilingual propaganda products. ‘Islamic State’ has lost much of its former appeal. Utopia The placeless and timeless utopia of an Islamic world state, the caliphate, in which Muslims can live according to Islamic law, is not a new idea. However, ‘Islamic State’ succeeded in giving this utopia a new form. Despite major international opposition, it was able to attract mass support and to establish and finance a rudimentary state structure, which it also managed to defend and administer for a certain period of time. Furthermore, outside Syria and Iraq, numerous jihadist organisations pledged allegiance to ‘Islamic State’, thereby extending its influence and power. Unlike al-Qaeda, ‘Islamic State’ went at least some way toward making the utopia reality. SIT UAT ION R E PORT 2 0 1 8 | FIS 35