Global Faultlines podcast | ISIS explained: How the Islamic State rose, ruled, and evolved

The Islamic State emerged from years of war, political collapse, and sectarian violence in Iraq and Syria. Shaped by the aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the chaos of the Syrian civil war, the group evolved from a local insurgency into the most powerful jihadist organisation of its time. 

By 2014, ISIS controlled major cities, erased borders, and declared a caliphate. It governed territory, raised revenue, and enforced its rule through extreme violence and sophisticated propaganda, attracting fighters from across the world and reshaping global perceptions of terrorism. 

That territorial project collapsed by 2019 under sustained pressure from local forces backed by international air power. But the defeat of the caliphate did not end ISIS. The group adapted, shifting to insurgency, underground networks, and ideological influence beyond the Middle East. 

Today, ISIS remains active in parts of Africa and Asia and continues to inspire attacks far from its former strongholds. Recent incidents labelled “ISIS-inspired” have highlighted the challenge of distinguishing between organisational links and ideological influence. 

In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine how ISIS rose, ruled, and survived, and what its evolution reveals about unresolved conflicts and the enduring consequences of war. 

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S