On New Year’s Day, a gunman killed 39 people at the Reina nightclub on the banks of the Bosphorus in Istanbul. The attack was later claimed by Isis, although it is unclear if the group’s leadership orchestrated the attack. Since the emergence of the group in the summer of 2014, the nature of global terrorism is said by many to have changed and if we compare recent attacks to those carried out by the IRA before the Good Friday Agreement, it is easy to see why.

The rise of the “lone wolf” and desire to create the largest body count are characteristics of Isis and al-Qaeda – yes, it still exists – yet perhaps the most dramatic shift was to involve capturing and holding territory.

Following years of political, social and economic turmoil in the Middle East, Isis was able to capitalise on this by seizing and holding large swathes of land in what would become the caliphate. Historically, poverty was held to be one of the main drivers of political violence but the support – in myriad forms – that Isis was able to draw upon tells us that we must look at a range of other factors.

In Iraq and Syria, these included political disenfranchisement, social and religious marginalisation, economic alienation, and fear emanating from violence within each state. Isis affiliates – veleyats – can be found across the Islamic world, predominantly located where conditions that can marginalise people are found. Of course, support need not necessarily involve agreeing with the group ideologically, but can include remaining within a territory and working. Convincing a fundamentalist ideologue of the error of their ways is a much trickier task than working to ensure the safety of people across a particular region, which is not without its challenges.

In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Isis' weapons factories In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A mortar round fin manufactured by Isis in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis rocket components discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, Iraq in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortars discovered near Karamlais, Iraq, in November 2016 CAR In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis rocket launch frame in Qaraqosh, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A memo from Isis' COSQC on quality control at a manufacturing facility in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Electrically-operated initiators manufactured by Isis in forces Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortar tubes at a manufacturing facility in Karamlais, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis mortar production facility discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis weapons manufacturing facilities near Mosul in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Stocks of French-manufactured Sorbitol, Latvian potassium nitrate and Lebanese sugar at an Isis weapons factory in Iraq Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A destroyed Isis weapons facility in Qaraqosh, Iraq, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research

While many suspected that al-Qaeda would be defeated after the death of Osama bin Laden, Ayman Al Zawahiri, the group’s new leader, has demonstrated a shrewd tactical mind and distanced his group from Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi’s increasingly savage cabal. Al-Qaeda has seemingly been even more successful in developing links with tribal groups across the Islamic world, perhaps best demonstrated by the group’s successes in Yemen, where Isis has struggled to gain any influence.

Regulating territory has become an important part of the strategies of both groups, serving as a means of demonstrating their capacity and influence. Both Isis and al-Qaeda seek to present an image of strength but also attempt to appeal to people across the world to join in their fight. Within an increasingly networked world, what happens in Syria can shape the actions of an individual in Yorkshire and being seen to help co-sectarian kin sends out a powerful message.

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What remains true is that political dynamics are of paramount importance when understanding acts of terrorism and political violence. As Middle Eastern states continue to buckle under the pressures of the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings, we must realise that to defeat violence and prevent further acts of terrorism, either in the Middle East – where an overwhelming percentage of the world’s terrorist attacks take place – or on the streets of European capitals, we have to ensure that people can meet their basic needs and feel safe in doing so.