Current discourse and analysis of Islamic extremism is mainly reactionary and limited to the most current terrorist incident or terrorist du jour. Most analysis fails to understand or recognize certain historic threads that are more important and instructive than examination of any single incident, figure or group. This research focuses on one of the strongest and seemingly indestructible threads of radical Islam---The Society of Muslim Brothers, more commonly known as "The Muslim Brotherhood".

The fabric of modern Islamic extremism has largely been woven with Brotherhood teachings, tactics and personalities. The Brotherhood's ideological and strategic doctrine is responsible for much of the Islamic extremism today from Chechnya to Sudan, Pakistan to Spain and Iraq to the United States. Without the Muslim Brotherhood, there would be no al-Qaeda, Islamic Jihad or HAMAS, to name a few.

This thesis will provide a concise and useful composite of the Brotherhood ideology, objectives and strategies based on teachings of its founder, mentors and senior leaders. In addition, clear lines will be drawn to connect the Muslim Brotherhood and its members to radical Islam as we know it today and the many extremist franchises the Brotherhood has spawned. Above all, this work will show how Brotherhood-based extremism is understandable, predictable and susceptible to counter-strategies.