Written in a lively and clear style by one of the leading scholars in modern Middle Eastern history~Clearly traces the origins and history of the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), the ideological factors that made it unique among jihadi groups, the reasons for its successes, and its future~Pays special attention to the Syrian uprising, emphasizing the extent to which it was militarized and sectarianized, and forecasts possible outcomes~Includes an examination of the often-overlooked uprisings in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq