What should social scientists know about Islamist networks (that is, what research is still needed)?
1. Given the critical role of new technology, especially the internet, more research on cyberspace networks and connectivity is needed to explain the dynamics of transnational mobilization. This could include studies that address the creation and dynamics of international Islamist public spheres, the mobilization of dissent through cyberspace, contests over sacred authority through the internet, and framing processes in globalized communities. 2. What is the relationship between informal networks and formal institutions? While research has demonstrated the importance of informal networks for Islamic movement mobilization, far less is understood about the relationship between social ties and formal organizations (an exception is Janine Clark, Islamist Women in Yemen: Informal Nodes of Activism, in Islamic Activism: A Social Movement Theory Approach). From my own perspective, it seems as though formal institutions merely serve as convenient conduits for networking (where they are legally
