Virginia Postrel: The Glamour of Terrorism February 27, 2015 by Miles Kimball “Jihadi terrorism combines two ancient forms of glamour, the martial and the religious, with the modern allure of media celebrity. It promises to fulfill a host of desires: for purity and meaning, union with God, historical significance, attention and fame, a sense of belonging, even (posthumous) riches and beautiful women. The jihadi’s ultimate goal of a restored caliphate exemplifies the glamorous utopia, while the terrorist plot recalls the synchronization of heist movies, with a secret and intricate plan in which every team member is important and the goal is to outwit authorities and commit a crime. It’s not hard to imagine how appealing all this might be to a bored, alienated, and impressionable person.” – Virgina Postrel, The Power of Glamour, pp. 220-221