True Believers : A Symbolic Anthropological Study of Islamist Culture

A profoundly unique perspective on Jihadist culture, this book isolates a heretofore unidentified symbolic code made up of Islamic ideologies, customs, traditions, and histories alongside myths, rituals, legends, and shared symbolic forms. Dr. Perlmutter introduces the concept of Symbolic Warfare as a form of information operations based in symbolic methodologies instead of psychological tactics. Rather than a psychological analysis of fanaticism, Dr. Perlmutter conducts a semiotic analysis of the inculcation of a true believer using the ritual manipulation of man’s primal instincts through the oldest and most powerful form of interaction; symbols.

A leading Hamas member stated, "We like to grow them from kindergarten throughcollege.” This book explains exactly how that is accomplished with emphasis onIslamist rites of passage, indoctrination, education, and initiation rituals. Readers areintroduced to the "symbolization" process—a form of repetitive symbolic conditioningsimilar to the indoctrination techniques of cult and totalitarian groups that use words,images, symbols, and rituals to embed ideals that resonate throughout life. This bookidentifies the symbols, language, and images that trigger violence, hatred, fear, andshame that are used to grow an army of true believers.

Seemingly inexplicable violent acts are explained—such as children joyfully participatingin the dismemberment of dead bodies, suicide bombers who are willing to self-detonatefor Islam, fathers killing their daughters, beheadings, mutilation, amputations, gougingout eyes, stoning women, and literally crucifying enemies. It is demonstrated that theprimary motivation of Islamist atrocity is an irrepressible impulse to alleviate shame anda sacred duty to restore honor, serve vengeance, preserve purity, maintain tradition, andsave face.

Perlmutter also introduces readers to "Symbolic Warfare," a form of psychologicaloperations and information warfare that exploits Muslim traditions and taboos to recruitmoderates, indoctrinate soldiers, and wage global war. Knowledge of the rites of purity,traditional customs, what is held sacred, and what is designated taboo provides relevantinsights into the minds and hearts of Islamist True Believers. This book is a valuable aidfor strategic, tactical, and intelligence operations.

Dawn Perlmutter was interviewed by Robert Siegel August 29, 2014 on National Public Radio''s All Things Considered in a segment about beheading as a modern warfare tactic.