Al-Qaeda, the first transnational terrorist group of the 21st century, embodies the new enigmatic face of terrorism. Since perpetrating the most destructive act of terrorism to date on September 11th 2001, it has dominated discussions over national and international security. Yet, what is the physical and ideological make-up of this group that features so prominently on our security radar? What lies behind the espousal of Islam, anti-Americanism and the resort to violence? Does al-Qaeda, as some commentators have proclaimed, challenge the stability and the political order of the international system? In this concise but comprehensive volume - part of Zed's acclaimed Rebels series - Hellmich provides a penetrating overview of the organization, its members and ideological make-up. Moving beyond this, she maps al-Qaeda's transition from a global network to localized fragments in the broader context of theoretical and conceptual concerns that arise from the post-9/11 debate. An essential guide to one of the most notorious but little-understood organizations of our time.