Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Policy

What the End of ISIS Means

| Oct. 23, 2017

Five questions to help understand what exactly America's latest Middle Eastern war has, and hasn’t, accomplished.

Unless you're someone who thinks beheading people is an appropriate way to advance a repressive political cause, the imminent demise of the Islamic State is welcome news. But we should be wary of a premature "Mission Accomplished" moment and be judicious in drawing lessons from an outcome that otherwise merits celebration.

Toward that end, here is a preliminary assessment of what the defeat of the Islamic State means, in the form of five questions and some provisional answers.

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For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Walt, Stephen M.“What the End of ISIS Means.” Foreign Policy, October 23, 2017.

The Author

Stephen Walt

Stephen M. Walt

  • Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs; Faculty Chair, International Security Program
  • Member of the Board, Belfer Center
  • Faculty Affiliate, Future of Diplomacy Project
  • Faculty Affiliate, Middle East Initiative
Expertise:
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