This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read on the Oxford Academic platform and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations. The Syrian regime unleashed unprecedented violence to suppress large-scale non-violent protests amid the Arab uprisings. Hundreds of armed groups formed throughout the country to defend the protesters and fight back. However, in contrast to other conflicts previously dominated by al-Qaeda and Islamic State, the two largest Syrian Jihadi groups, Ahrar al-Sham and then Jabhat al-Nusra, rejected global jihad and began to cultivate new ties with the population, other armed opposition groups, and even foreign states. This strategic shift is a response to the Jihadi paradox--a realization that while Jihadis excel at leading insurgencies, they fail to achieve political victories. In From Jihad to Politics, Jerome Drevon offers an examination of the Syrian armed opposition, tracing the emergence of Jihadi groups in the conflict, their dominance, and their political transformation. Drawing upon field research and interviews with Syrian insurgents in northwestern Syria and Turkey, Drevon demonstrates how the context of a local conflict can shape armed groups' behavior in unexpected ways. Further, he marshals unique evidence from the Arab world's most intense conflict to explain why the trajectory of the transnational Jihadi movement has altered course in recent years.

An indefatigable researcher of the jihadi phenomenon with deep and nuanced knowledge and solid ground presence, Jerome Drevon focuses on the Syrian conflict to ask fundamental questions and provide compelling answers about the nature, trajectory, and future of jihadi rebellions. A must read for students of conflict. * Stathis N. Kalyvas, Gladstone Professor of Government and fellow of All Souls College at Oxford *
A vital contribution to our understanding of the Syrian insurgency and of militant Islamism. ISIS may have gotten all the attention, but the groups examined in this book probably shaped the Syria war more. * Thomas Hegghammer, Senior Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford *
Jerome Drevon's analysis of Syrian jihadi groups, particularly Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra (now Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), explores their shift from global jihadist ideologies to localized political strategies. Through interviews with former militants, Drevon reveals how these groups adapted to gain local support, form alliances, and engage in governance, moving beyond insurgency. This transformation is especially relevant today as HTS has risen to power in Damascus following the collapse of the Assad regime, highlighting the changing nature of militant Islamism. Drevon's work offers crucial insights into the intersection of militancy and politics, deepening our understanding of the evolving dynamics of the Syrian conflict and global jihadism. * Abdalla Nasef, Tahrir Podcast *
It is packed with rigorous empirical work, yet is written clearly, compactly, and accessibly for anyone interested in learning more about the Syrian civil war or Syrian jihadist groups. For scholars writing on these topics or trying to better understand what the new president of Syria is up to, this book is a must read. * I. Levy, Choice *
The book's greatest strength lies in weaving fine-grained empirical field research with rich theoretical engagement. From Jihad to Politics sets a new standard not only for those studying the Syrian conflict but also for scholars of jihadism and armed conflict more broadly. * Raphael Lefevre, Middle East Journal *

Jerome Drevon is Senior Analyst on Jihad and Modern Conflict at International Crisis Group (ICG) and Research Associate at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID). Drevon received his PhD from Durham University before securing two fellowships at the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester. Drevon has conducted extensive field research in conflict zones, including Syria. He has interviewed hundreds of Jihadi militants and foreign fighters--from their military, political, and religious leaders to their foot soldiers--to gain a deeper understanding of their changing political views in armed conflicts.