There is a war being fought, and we are losing it.
Despite the billions of dollars spent since 9/11 trying to defeat terrorist organizations, the so-called Islamic State, Al Qaeda, and other groups remain a terrifying geopolitical threat. In some ways the threat has grown worse: The 9/11 hijackers came from far away; the danger today can come from anywherefrom the other side of the world to across the street. Unable to stem recruitment, we seem doomed to a worsening struggle with a constantly evolving enemy that remains several steps ahead of us. Unfortunately, current policies seem almost guaranteed not to reduce extremist violence but instead to make it easier for terrorists to spread their hateful ideas, recruit new members, and carry out attacks.
We actually possess the means right now to inoculate communities against extremist ideologies. In How We Win, Farah Pandith presents a revolutionary new analysis of global extremism as well as powerful but seldom-used strategies for vanquishing it. Drawing on her visits to eighty countries, the hundreds of interviews and focus groups she's conducted around the world, and her high-level experience in the Bush and Obama administrations, Pandith argues for a paradigm shift in our approach to combat extremism, one that mobilizes the expertise and resources of diplomats, corporate leaders, mental health experts, social scientists, entrepreneurs, local communities, and, most of all, global youth themselves.
There is a war being fought, and we can win it. This is how.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Farah Pandith is a world-leading expert and pioneer on countering violent extremism (CVE). She served as a political appointee in the George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama administrations at the National Security Council, U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of State. Most recently she was the first-ever Special Representative to Muslim Communities (2009-2014). Her book is How We Win: How Cutting-Edge Entrepreneurs, Political Visionaries, Enlightened Business Leaders and Social Media Mavens Can Defeat the Extremist Threat, and can be reserved now. Prior to re-entering government in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Ms. Pandith was Vice President of International Business at ML Strategies, LLC. She is a frequent media commentator and public speaker and advises government, business and civil society on CVE. She is a senior fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and Head of Strategy at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Ms. Pandith served on the Homeland Security Advisory Council from 2015-2017 where she chaired the CVE task force.
REVIEWS
Drawing on her decades of experience, Pandith unweaves the tangled web of extremism and demonstrates how government officials, tech CEOs, and concerned citizens alike can do their part to defeat it.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright
A leader in countering violent extremism, Farah Pandith's voice is needed now more than ever. Her book How We Win is filled with inspiring stories and proactive solutions on how to defeat extremist ideologies. It is essential reading for all of us.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Farah Pandith draws on her wide-ranging experience as a diplomat and communicator to lay out a comprehensive strategy against violent extremism. A timely book for government and civil society leaders.
Michael Chertoff, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and Cofounder and Executive Chairman of the Chertoff Group
The private sector has a vital role to play in stopping violent extremism. Farah Pandith's revelatory How We Win is the playbook we've been waiting for. Read it and join in. Farah has much to tell us. The world will benefit from her insights.
Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus, Ogilvy & Mather
Farah has written a vitally important book on an incredibly important topic that for too long has received short shrift. Every policy maker involved in national security and foreign affairs needs to focus on how we still face a generational ideological challenge.
Michael Leiter, former Director of the U.S. National Counter-terrorism Center
