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Mohammed Mahmoud Hafez

Professor
National Security Affairs

Phone: (831) 233-0272

Overview

Mohammed M. Hafez earned his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2000. He is now an Associate Professor and Chairman in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Previously, he served as a counterterrorism consultant to the U.S. government and Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

A specialist in Islamic movements and political violence, his books include Why Muslims Rebel: Repression and Resistance in the Islamic World (2003); Manufacturing Human Bombs: The Making of Palestinian Suicide Bombers (2006); and Suicide Bombers in Iraq: The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom (2007).

Dr. Hafez is also the author of numerous book chapters and journal articles on Islamic movements, political radicalization, foreign fighters and jihadist ideologies. He regularly briefs government and military analysts on issues related to terrorism, war of ideas, and countering radicalization. Dr. Hafez has made several appearances on NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, NPR, C-SPAN, and other national and international media outlets.
NPS Experience
  • 2013 - current: Department Chair
  • 2008 - 2013: Associate Professor
Other Experience
  • 2002 - 2008 Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Missouri - Kansas City, MO
  • 1996 - 1997 Director of Speech and Debate, Polytechnic School, Pasadena, CA
  • 1996 - 1997 Program Assistant, Pacific Council on International Policy, Los Angeles, CA
  • 1995 - 1996 Research Assistant, University of Southern California (USC) Center for International Studies, Los Angeles, CA
Research Interests
Islamic social movements in the Arab world
Radicalization theories and their applicability to the study of Islamist movements
Growth and spread of suicide terrorism around the world
Foreign Fighters and Homegrown Extremism
Innovation in terrorist strategies and tactics
Jihadism in the contemporary Muslim world
Ideological divides within Islamist movements
Teaching Interests
Politics of the Middle East
Politics and Security in North Africa
Islamic Fundamentalism
Radicalization and Political Extremism
Suicide Terrorism
Arab-Israeli Conflict

Awards

  • 2006 - Research Grant, Study of Terrorism & Responses to Terrorism (START) Consortium, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
  • 2003 - Solicited Grant, United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Washington, DC
  • 1998 - Dissertation Fellowship, The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, New York, NY
  • 1998 - United States Information Agency (USIA) Fellowship, American Center of Oriental Research, Amman, Jordan

Boards, Memberships, & Certifications

Professional Memberships
  • Member, Editorial Board, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism
  • Member, International Editorial Board, Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict

Scholarly Work

Publications
  • Book Chapters
  • Hafez, M. M, (2021). Jihadi Salafism.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2018). Apologia for Suicide: Martyrdom in Contemporary Jihadist Discourse. Oxford University Press.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2014). The Origins of Sectarian Terrorism in Iraq. Columbia University Press.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2013). Illegitimate Governance: The Roots of Muslim Radicalization in the MENA. Routledge.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2012). Martyrs Without Borders: The Puzzle of Transnational Suicide Bombers. Ashgate Publishing.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2011). Debating Takfir and Muslim-on-Muslim Violence. Routledge.
  • Hafez, M. M., & Andre-Walther, M, (2011). Hamas between Pragmatism and Radicalism. Routledge.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2006). Dying to be Martyrs: The Symbolic Dimension of Suicide Terrorism. Routledge.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2006). Political Repression and Violent Rebellion in the Muslim World. Praeger Security International.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2006). Moral agents, Immoral violence: Mechanisms of moral disengagement in Palestinian suicide terrorism.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2005). A Tragedy of Errors: Thwarted Democratization and Islamist Violence in Algeria. Northeast University Press.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2004). From Marginalization to Massacres: Explaining GIA Violence in Algeria. Indiana University Press.
  • Hafez, M. M., & Wiktorowicz, Q, (2004). Violence as contention in the Egyptian Islamic movement. Indiana University Press.
  • Book Reviews
  • Hafez, M. M, (2017). Mohammed M. Hafez, review of Marc Sageman, Turning to Political Violence: The Emergence of Terrorism.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2016). Deterring Rational Fanatics.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2016). Political Islam in the Age of Democratization.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2015). Martyrdom in Modern Islam: Piety, Power, and Politics. By Meir Hatina. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. 276p. $95.00. Cambridge University Press.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2015). Martyrdom in Modern Islam: Piety, Power, and Politics.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2013). Katerina Dalacoura, Islamist Terrorism and Democracy in the Middle East: Katerina Dalacoura (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2011). Taylor & Francis.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2011). Jihad in Saudi Arabia: Violence and Pan-Islamism since 1979. By Thomas Hegghammer.(Cambridge University Press, 2010.) Cambridge Univ Press.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2011). Militant Islam: A Sociology of Characteristics, Causes and ConsequencesBy Stephen Vertigans. Oxford University Press.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2011). Jihad in Saudi Arabia: Violence and Pan-Islamism since 1979.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2010). Walking Away from Terrorism: Accounts of Disengagement from Radical and Extremist Movements. By John Horgan. New York: Routledge, 2009. 188p. $36.95. Cambridge Univ Press.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2010). Walking Away from Terrorism: Accounts of Disengagement from Radical and Extremist Movements.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2008). Looking backward and forward at the global war on terrorism. Taylor & Francis.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2008). The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace by Ali A. Allawi. Wiley Online Library.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2008). US policy toward Israel: the role of political culture in defining the’special relationship’. BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 9600 GARSINGTON RD, OXFORD OX4 2DQ, OXON, ENGLAND.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2008). The occupation of Iraq: Winning the war, losing the peace.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2001). ANDREA NÜSSE, Muslim Palestine: The Ideology of Hamas (Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1998). Pp. 203. $22.00 paper. Cambridge Univ Press.
  • Hafez, M. M, (1998). Yagil Levy, Trial and Error: Israel’s Route from War to De-escalation (New York: State University of New York Press, 1997, 288 pp., 18.95 USD. pbk.) SAGE Publications.
  • Hafez, M. M, (1998). The PLO and Israel: From armed conflict to political solution, 1964-1994. MILLENNIUM PUBLISHING GROUP LONDON SCHOOL ECONOMICS HOUGHTON ST, LONDON, ENGLAND WC2A 2AE.
  • Hafez, M. M, (1997). Magnus Ranstorp, Hizb’allah in Lebanon: The Politics of The Western Hostage Crisis (Basingstoke: Macmillan Press, 1997, 257 pp. 15.99 pbk.) SAGE Publications.
  • Hafez, M. M, (1997). The Algerian crisis: Policy options for the west. MILLENNIUM PUBLISHING GROUP LONDON SCHOOL ECONOMICS HOUGHTON ST, LONDON, ENGLAND WC2A 2AE.
  • Books
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). Suicide bombers in Iraq: The strategy and ideology of martyrdom. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2006). Manufacturing human bombs: The making of Palestinian suicide bombers. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2003). Why Muslims rebel: Repression and resistance in the Islamic world. Lynne Rienner Publishers.
  • Editorials
  • Hafez, M. M, (2017). The Curse of Cain: Why Fratricidal Jihadis Fail to Learn from their Mistakes.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2016). The Ties that Bind: How Terrorists Exploit Family Bonds.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2008). CTC Sentinel. Volume 1, Issue 4, March 2008. Jihad After Iraq: Lessons from the Arab Afghans Phenomenon.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). Al-Qaida Losing Ground in Iraq.
  • Journal Articles
  • Gade, E., Hafez, M. M., & Gabbay, M, Fratricide in rebel movements: A network analysis of Syrian militant infighting. Journal of Peace Research.
  • Gade, E., Gabbay, M., Hafez, M. M., & Kelly, Z, Networks of Cooperation: Rebel Alliances in Fragmented Civil Wars. Journal of Conflict Resolution.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2018). Fratricidal Jihadists: Why Islamist Keep Losing their Civil Wars. Middle East Policy, 86-99.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2017). Fratricidal Rebels: Ideological Extremity and Warring Factionalism in Civil Wars. Terrorism and Political Violence, 1-26.
  • Reynolds, S. C., & Hafez, M. M, (2017). Social Network Analysis of German Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq. Terrorism and Political Violence, 1-26.
  • Hafez, M. M., & Mullins, C, (2015). The Radicalization Puzzle: A Theoretical Synthesis of Empirical Approaches to Homegrown Extremism. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 11(38), 958–975.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2011). Takfir and violence against Muslims. FAULT LINES IN GLOBAL JIHAD: ORGANIZATIONAL, STRATEGIC AND IDEOLOGICAL FISSURES, 25-46.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2010). The alchemy of martyrdom: Jihadi salafism and debates over suicide bombings in the Muslim world. Asian Journal of Social Science, 3(38), 364–378.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2009). Jihad after Iraq: lessons from the Arab Afghans. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 2(32), 73–94.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2008). Jihad After Iraq: Lessons from the Arab Afghans Phenomenon. CTC Sentinel, 4(1).
  • Hafez, M. M, (2008). Radicalization in the Persian Gulf: Assessing the potential of Islamist militancy in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, 1(1), 6–24.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). Martyrdom mythology in Iraq: How jihadists frame suicide terrorism in videos and biographies. Terrorism and Political Violence, 1(19), 95–115.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). ARAB FIGHTERS IN IRAQ. SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ: THE STRATEGY AND IDEOOLOGY OF MARTYRDOM, 165-188.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). EUROPEAN MUSLIMS IN IRAQ. SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ: THE STRATEGY AND IDEOOLOGY OF MARTYRDOM, 189-211.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORY AND POLICY. SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ: THE STRATEGY AND IDEOOLOGY OF MARTYRDOM, 213-241.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). MARTYRDOM MYTHOLOGY IN IRAQ. SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ: THE STRATEGY AND IDEOOLOGY OF MARTYRDOM, 141-162.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). NATIONALISTS AND BAATHISTS. SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ: THE STRATEGY AND IDEOOLOGY OF MARTYRDOM, 35-62.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). SUICIDE TERRORISM IN THE IRAQI INSURGENCY. SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ: THE STRATEGY AND IDEOOLOGY OF MARTYRDOM, 89-113.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). THE IDEOLOGY AND THEOLOGY OF MARTYRDOM. SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ: THE STRATEGY AND IDEOOLOGY OF MARTYRDOM, 117-139.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). THE JIHADI SALAFIS. SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ: THE STRATEGY AND IDEOOLOGY OF MARTYRDOM, 63-87.
  • Hafez, M. M., & Hatfield, J. M, (2006). Do Targeted Assassinations Work? A Multivariate Analysis of Israel’s Controversial Tactic during Al-Aqsa Uprising 1. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 4(29), 359–382.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2006). Rationality, culture, and structure in the making of suicide bombers: A preliminary theoretical synthesis and illustrative case study. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 2(29), 165–185.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2006). Suicide terrorism in Iraq: A preliminary assessment of the quantitative data and documentary evidence. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 6(29), 591–619.
  • Hafez, M. M., & Hatfield, J. M, (2006). Do targeted assassinations work? A multivariate analysis of Israel's controversial tactic during Al-Aqsa uprising. STUDIES IN CONFLICT & TERRORISM, 4(29), 359-382.
  • Hafez, M. M, (2000). Armed Islamist movements and political violence in Algeria. The Middle East Journal, 572–591.
  • Magazines/Trade Publications
  • Hafez, M. M, (2020). The Crisis within Jihadism: The Islamic State’s Puritanism vs. al-Qa`ida’s Populism.
  • Editorial Materials
  • Hafez, M. M, (2007). SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ THE STRATEGY AND IDEOLOGY OF MARTYROOM INTRODUCTION.