by Bill O’Grady

The March edition of Atlantic Magazine published an article about Islamic State (IS) that examined its theology and ideology.  This article along with a paper from the Brookings Institute on the ideology of IS form the basis of our report this week.

In this report, we will examine the intellectual foundations of IS, showing how it evolved from two different sources of thought.  We will follow this with an analysis of the concept of the Caliphate and the critical importance it has in Islamic theology.  A Caliphate is a form of Islamic government which, in some Islamic conceptions, is a universal government for all people.  An examination of the eschatology of IS will also be included.  The consequences of IS’s ideology will be discussed.  As always, we will conclude with potential market ramifications.

View the full report