Transnational organization
Encyclopedia
Transnational organization is a term used in scholarly literature. It refers to international organization
s (usually, international nongovernmental organization
s) that "transcend" the idea of a nation-state
. By ignoring differences between nations, it operates on a truly global level.
The distinctions between international and transnational
organization is not universal and has been criticized by some scholars (ex. Colás, 2002).
Transnational relations are defined as “contacts, coalitions, and interactions across state boundaries that are not controlled by the central foreign policy organs of governments.” Examples of transnational entities are “multinational business enterprises and revolutionary movements; trade unions and scientific networks; international air transport cartels and communications activities in outer space.” Transnational social movements are “the broad tendencies that often manifest themselves in particular International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs).” Examples of transnational social movements include human rights, women’s, peace, labor, green, or student movements manifested in Amnesty International
, the Peace Brigades International
, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
, etc.
To further define “transnational:” “An organization is "transnational" rather than "national" if it carries on significant centrally-directed operations in the territory of two or more nation-states. Similarly, an organization will be called "international" rather than "national" only if the control of the organization is explicitly shared among representatives of two or more nationalities. And an organization is "multinational" rather than "national" only if people from two or more nationalities participate significantly in its operation.” “Transnational organizations are designed to facilitate the pursuit of a single interest within many national units.”
, like electricity, seeks to be an all pervasive and revolutionary force.” Two years after the Comintern’s founding in 1919 Lenin changed its policy from a focus on armed communist resistance movements to active preparation.
are taken from a document written by Mohammed Akhram, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood
board of directors, and approved by the Muslim Brotherhood’s Shura Council and Organizational Conference in 1987. The document was captured in 2004 with the archives of the Muslim Brotherhood by the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
“The general strategic goal of the Group in America which was approved by the Shura Council and the Organizational Conference for the year [1987] is "Enablement of Islam in North America, meaning: establishing an effective and a stable Islamic Movement led by the Muslim Brotherhood which adopts Muslims' causes domestically and globally, and which works to expand the observant Muslim base, aims at unifying and directing Muslims' efforts, presents Islam as a civilization alternative, and supports the global Islamic State wherever it is."
“The process of settlement is a "Civilization-Jihadist Process" with all the word means. The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and "sabotaging" its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions.”
, which translates as “deceit or dissimulation.” Taqiyya is further explained in the Arabic text, Al-Taqiyya fi Al-Islam, “Taqiyya is of fundamental importance to Islam. Practically every Islamic sect agrees to it and practices it. We can go so far as to say that the practice of taqiyya is mainstream in Islam... Taqiyya is very prevalent in Islamic politics, especially in the modern era.” Public speeches of Yousuf al-Qaradawi, spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, offer examples of taqiyya in practice. On June 11, 2010 Qaradawi wrote in the Saudi Gazette, assumedly for a Muslim audience, “The call for secularism among Muslims is atheism and a rejection of Islam. Its acceptance as a basis for rule in place of shariah is downright apostasy.” Five months earlier during an interview with Egyptian newspaper Al-Sharouk, he called for “real democracy” as the “solution.” This overt contradiction serves as an exemplar of the use of deceit by the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Holy Land Foundation trial in 2008 revealed the Muslim Brotherhood or one of its front groups controls every major Muslim organization in the United States The Brotherhood also controls a secret military organization charged with armed fighting and operations referred to as the “Special Chapter.” The Muslim Brotherhood ensures the supremacy of its shariah agenda in the United States by funding and supporting entities that tow the party line and undermining and marginalizing groups that do not, such as the Islamic Supreme Council of America, which warned about Muslim Brotherhood operations. “The Brotherhood’s strong-arm tactics are made all the more effective by the Ikhwan’s ability to demonstrate that its doctrine is in line with Islamic law and backed by the threat of declaring the deviating Muslim an “apostate,” undercutting the authority and any opportunities for the leadership among Muslims of those working against the Muslim Brotherhood.”
A detailed description of some groups follows, with front organizations established since 1987 added.
Brotherhood’s Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR
Watched by the FBI since its inception in 1994, CAIR is the public relations arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. There is a “massive amount of evidence that CAIR is a Hamas entity operating in the United States” (p. 85) “CAIR is Hamas.”
Islamic Society of North America
Populated by alumni of the MSA, it is the largest Muslim Brotherhood front group in North America and holds authority over many of the smaller groups. During the HLF trial it was discovered the ISNA directly supports terrorist group Hamas.
Originally presenting itself as a religious group and hiding Islam’s revolutionary nature, the MSA is a recruitment tool of the Muslim Brotherhood and for violent jihadist operations. “In recent years, MSA members have become ever-more-aggressive in their demands for accommodations and silencing all who oppose them.” MSA leaders have made statements supporting jihad Hamas, and Hezbollah, condemning the United States, calling for the killing of Jews, and in one case, participating in violent jihad outside of the United States (MSA president Omar Hammami of Alabama.)
North American Islamic Trust
Founded by the Saudis as a not-for-profit entity and referred to as “the bank,” it “controls approximately 80% of the titles/deeds to the mosques, Islamic organizations, and Islamic schools” in the United States and provides funding for the Muslim Brotherhood and its front groups in the United States and Canada.
Muslim American Society
The overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood charged with lobbying on behalf of the Brotherhood’s aims and influencing elections in the Ikhwan’s favor.
Political activist group focused on local and national elections.
ISNA Fiqh Committee
Ensures compliance with Shariah in the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and its front groups. (p. 88) The Team B report names it a “ready-made infrastructure for insinuating shariah into America as a parallel legal code”
Aggressive propaganda arm of the Muslim Brotherhood formed to ensure disinformation and information dominance. For example, the IPAC protested the use of the words jihad, ummah, caliphate, shariah, and other in the 9/11 Commission Report in relation to terrorist doctrine. The IPAC publishes the propaganda newsletter The Minaret.
Created in Philadelphia, PA to maintain consistency in Muslim Brotherhood operations, then moved to headquarters in Hearndon, VA, outside of Washington, DC
International organization
An intergovernmental organization, sometimes rendered as an international governmental organization and both abbreviated as IGO, is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states , or of other intergovernmental organizations...
s (usually, international nongovernmental organization
International nongovernmental organization
The World Bank defines a non-governmental organization as "private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development"...
s) that "transcend" the idea of a nation-state
Nation-state
The nation state is a state that self-identifies as deriving its political legitimacy from serving as a sovereign entity for a nation as a sovereign territorial unit. The state is a political and geopolitical entity; the nation is a cultural and/or ethnic entity...
. By ignoring differences between nations, it operates on a truly global level.
The distinctions between international and transnational
Transnational
Transnational may mean:* International* Multinational* Transnationality* Transnational Organization* Transnational governance* Transnational marriage* Transnational organized crime* Transnational crime* Transnational feminism...
organization is not universal and has been criticized by some scholars (ex. Colás, 2002).
Transnational relations are defined as “contacts, coalitions, and interactions across state boundaries that are not controlled by the central foreign policy organs of governments.” Examples of transnational entities are “multinational business enterprises and revolutionary movements; trade unions and scientific networks; international air transport cartels and communications activities in outer space.” Transnational social movements are “the broad tendencies that often manifest themselves in particular International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs).” Examples of transnational social movements include human rights, women’s, peace, labor, green, or student movements manifested in Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, the Peace Brigades International
Peace Brigades International
Peace Brigades International is an NGO, founded in 1981, which "protects human rights and promotes nonviolent transformation of conflicts". It primarily does this by sending volunteers to accompany human rights defenders whose lives are at risk in areas of conflict and to provide training in...
, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was an international trade union. It came into being on 7 December 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions , and was dissolved on 31 October 2006 when it merged with the World Confederation of Labour to form the...
, etc.
To further define “transnational:” “An organization is "transnational" rather than "national" if it carries on significant centrally-directed operations in the territory of two or more nation-states. Similarly, an organization will be called "international" rather than "national" only if the control of the organization is explicitly shared among representatives of two or more nationalities. And an organization is "multinational" rather than "national" only if people from two or more nationalities participate significantly in its operation.” “Transnational organizations are designed to facilitate the pursuit of a single interest within many national units.”
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Former director of the CIA Allen Dulles noted in a speech delivered April 8, 1959, “The aims of the Communist International with its headquarters in Moscow are not nationalistic; their objectives are not limited. They firmly believe, and eloquently preach, that communism is the system which will eventually rule the world and each move they make is directed to this end. CommunismCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, like electricity, seeks to be an all pervasive and revolutionary force.” Two years after the Comintern’s founding in 1919 Lenin changed its policy from a focus on armed communist resistance movements to active preparation.
Muslim Brotherhood
The following strategic and operational goals of the Muslim BrotherhoodMuslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
are taken from a document written by Mohammed Akhram, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
board of directors, and approved by the Muslim Brotherhood’s Shura Council and Organizational Conference in 1987. The document was captured in 2004 with the archives of the Muslim Brotherhood by the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
“The general strategic goal of the Group in America which was approved by the Shura Council and the Organizational Conference for the year [1987] is "Enablement of Islam in North America, meaning: establishing an effective and a stable Islamic Movement led by the Muslim Brotherhood which adopts Muslims' causes domestically and globally, and which works to expand the observant Muslim base, aims at unifying and directing Muslims' efforts, presents Islam as a civilization alternative, and supports the global Islamic State wherever it is."
“The process of settlement is a "Civilization-Jihadist Process" with all the word means. The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and "sabotaging" its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions.”
Stealth Jihad
Coined by Robert Spencer, Team B report defines it as “pre-violent” jihad The Team B report details, “complementary subversion campaigns posed by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood – groups that fully share the objectives of the violent jihadists but believe that, for the moment at least, more stealthy, “pre-violent” means of jihad are likely to prove more effective in achieving those goals.”Functions of Transnational Organizations
Transnational movements have a variety of functions. “A distinctive characteristic of the transnational organization is its broader-than-national perspective with respect to the pursuit of highly specialized objectives through a central optimizing strategy across national boundaries.”Outreach and Information Warfare
The CPSU used techniques of psychological warfare through infiltration of groups within the foreign country they planned to subvert Communist infiltrators would hide their ideology while shaping the groups to adopt policies friendly to communist and CPSU aims.The Use of Deceit
Under the International Directorate, the Soviets housed a robust structure for deception operations. The purpose of these operations was multifold and included:- To influence both world and America public opinion against U.S. military, economic, and political programs which are perceived as threatening Soviet objectives.
- To create a favorable environment for the execution of Soviet foreign policy.
- To undermine the political resolve of the United States and other Western states to protect their interests from Soviet encroachments.
Outreach and Information Warfare
For the Muslim Brotherhood, “stealth” or civilization jihad is accomplished through “Information Warfare, manifested in American society as political warfare, psychological warfare, influence operations and subversion of (American) foundational institutions.” The Muslim Brotherhood and its front groups take advantage of violent islamic terrorism to call for greater “outreach,” thus ingratiating the groups with American society and government.The Use of Deceit
The Muslim Brotherhood systematically engages in deception in its dealings in the United States. The basis of this deception is in Islam itself. Sahih Bukhari writes, “The Prophet said, ‘If I take an oath and later find something else better than that, then I do what is better and expiate my oath.’” What follows from this acceptance of breaking one’s word is the concept of taqiyyaTaqiyya
Taqiyya , meaning religious dissimulation, is a practice emphasized in Shi'a Islam whereby adherents may conceal their religion when they are under threat, persecution, or compulsion...
, which translates as “deceit or dissimulation.” Taqiyya is further explained in the Arabic text, Al-Taqiyya fi Al-Islam, “Taqiyya is of fundamental importance to Islam. Practically every Islamic sect agrees to it and practices it. We can go so far as to say that the practice of taqiyya is mainstream in Islam... Taqiyya is very prevalent in Islamic politics, especially in the modern era.” Public speeches of Yousuf al-Qaradawi, spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, offer examples of taqiyya in practice. On June 11, 2010 Qaradawi wrote in the Saudi Gazette, assumedly for a Muslim audience, “The call for secularism among Muslims is atheism and a rejection of Islam. Its acceptance as a basis for rule in place of shariah is downright apostasy.” Five months earlier during an interview with Egyptian newspaper Al-Sharouk, he called for “real democracy” as the “solution.” This overt contradiction serves as an exemplar of the use of deceit by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Architecture of Transnational Organizations
Transnational social movements “are best understood as parts of ‘social movements’ – a concept and practice that correctly identifies such characteristics as their capacity to rapidly mobilize, a vision of an alternative and preferable existence and the use of unorthodox strategies for attracting public support and confronting established institutions.” “Transnational organizations may be controlled by national governments, national non-governmental groups, or international govern- mental or non-governmental bodies.” Within a transnational organization, authority may be distributed in a variety of ways. In the most general terms, such an organization may be highly centralized or decentralized, and it may be organized in terms of geographical or functional subdivisions or some combination of both. Ultimate control, however, has to rest with a central headquarters, and the autonomy of the parts cannot extend to the point where they may, on their own volition, secede from the organization. “Transnational organizations usually draw their personnel from the societies in which they operate. There are major advantages to employing local personnel in local operations. Normally, however, there is also a clearly dominant nationality in the organization.”Communist Party of the Soviet Union Organizational Architecture
The goal of global domination was attempted by the CPSU through various means and departments which controlled front organizations worldwide. The CPSU Politbureau was the top decision-making body controlled by Moscow. Under the Politbureau was the Secretariat responsible for central party administration. Underneath that, the International Department (ID) was responsible for maintaining contact with and control over foreign communists. The IDs areas of responsibility included foreign communist parties, international communist fronts, friendship societies, and clandestine radio. The ID was charged with “Initiating and coordinating the dissemination of effective propaganda and manipulating sensitive or unstable political situations... establishment of formal and informal channels by which CPSU representatives can regularly meet with sympathetic political leaders, recruit local government officials, conduct propaganda and “disinformation” campaigns, and instruct local surrogates on Soviet policies”The Muslim Brotherhood Organizational Architecture
The Muslim Brotherhood is active in globally in at least 80 countries with the following organizational structure:- The Supreme Guide: based in Cairo, Egypt; the leader of the International Muslim Brotherhood.
- General Masul (leader) or guide.
- Organizational Conference: planning entity.
- Shura Council: legal entity.
The Holy Land Foundation trial in 2008 revealed the Muslim Brotherhood or one of its front groups controls every major Muslim organization in the United States The Brotherhood also controls a secret military organization charged with armed fighting and operations referred to as the “Special Chapter.” The Muslim Brotherhood ensures the supremacy of its shariah agenda in the United States by funding and supporting entities that tow the party line and undermining and marginalizing groups that do not, such as the Islamic Supreme Council of America, which warned about Muslim Brotherhood operations. “The Brotherhood’s strong-arm tactics are made all the more effective by the Ikhwan’s ability to demonstrate that its doctrine is in line with Islamic law and backed by the threat of declaring the deviating Muslim an “apostate,” undercutting the authority and any opportunities for the leadership among Muslims of those working against the Muslim Brotherhood.”
Muslim Brotherhood Front Groups
The following list of Muslim Brotherhood front groups is taken from the 1987 Explanatory Memorandum discussed above under the title “a list of our organizations and the organizations of our friends.”A detailed description of some groups follows, with front organizations established since 1987 added.
- Islamic Society of North AmericaIslamic Society of North AmericaThe Islamic Society of North America , based in Plainfield, Indiana, USA, is a Muslim umbrella group. It has been described in the media as the largest Muslim organization in North America.-History:...
(ISNA) - Muslim Student Association (MSA)
- The Muslim Communities Association (MCA)
- The Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS)
- The Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers (AMSE)
- Islamic Medical Association (IMA)
- Islamic Teaching Center (ITC)
- North American Islamic TrustNorth American Islamic TrustThe North American Islamic Trust is a Saudi-backed organization based in Plainfield, Indiana, that owns Islamic properties and promotes waqf in North America...
(NAIT) - Foundation for International Development (FID)
- Islamic Housing Cooperative (IHC)
- Islamic Centers Division (ICD)
- American Trust Publications (ATP)
- Audio-Visual Center (AVC)
- Islamic Book Service (IBS)
- Muslim Businessmen Association (MBA)
- Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA)
- ISNA Fiqh CommitteeFiqh Council of North AmericaThe Fiqh Council of North America is an association of Muslims who interpret Islamic law on the North American continent.Its 18 members issue religious rulings, resolve disputes, and answer questions relating to the Islamic faith...
(IFC) - ISNA Political Awareness Committee (IPAC)
- Islamic Education Department (IED)
- Muslim Arab Youth Association (MAYA)
- Malasian (sic) Islamic Study Group (MISG)
- Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP)
- United Association for Studies and Research (UASR)
- Occupied Land Fund (OLF)- name later changed to Holy Land Foundation for Relief and DevelopmentHoly Land Foundation for Relief and DevelopmentThe Holy Land Foundation was the largest Islamic charity in the United States. Headquartered in Richardson, Texas, it was originally known as Occupied Land Fund....
(HLF) - Mercy International Association (MIA)
- Islamic Circle of North AmericaIslamic Circle of North AmericaIslamic Circle of North America , formally chartered in 1971 but active since 1968, is an Islamic North American grassroots umbrella organization....
(ICNA) - Baitul Mal Inc (BMI)
- International Institute for Islamic Thought (IIIT)
- Islamic Information Center (IIC)
Brotherhood’s Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIRCAIR- Fictional :* Cair Andros, a fictional island in Tolkien's fiction* Cair Paravel, a castle from C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia- Acronyms :* Council on American-Islamic Relations, American Muslim civil rights advocacy organization...
)
Watched by the FBI since its inception in 1994, CAIR is the public relations arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. There is a “massive amount of evidence that CAIR is a Hamas entity operating in the United States” (p. 85) “CAIR is Hamas.”
Islamic Society of North AmericaIslamic Society of North AmericaThe Islamic Society of North America , based in Plainfield, Indiana, USA, is a Muslim umbrella group. It has been described in the media as the largest Muslim organization in North America.-History:...
(ISNA)
Populated by alumni of the MSA, it is the largest Muslim Brotherhood front group in North America and holds authority over many of the smaller groups. During the HLF trial it was discovered the ISNA directly supports terrorist group Hamas.
Muslim Student Association
Originally presenting itself as a religious group and hiding Islam’s revolutionary nature, the MSA is a recruitment tool of the Muslim Brotherhood and for violent jihadist operations. “In recent years, MSA members have become ever-more-aggressive in their demands for accommodations and silencing all who oppose them.” MSA leaders have made statements supporting jihad Hamas, and Hezbollah, condemning the United States, calling for the killing of Jews, and in one case, participating in violent jihad outside of the United States (MSA president Omar Hammami of Alabama.)
North American Islamic TrustNorth American Islamic TrustThe North American Islamic Trust is a Saudi-backed organization based in Plainfield, Indiana, that owns Islamic properties and promotes waqf in North America...
(NAIT)
Founded by the Saudis as a not-for-profit entity and referred to as “the bank,” it “controls approximately 80% of the titles/deeds to the mosques, Islamic organizations, and Islamic schools” in the United States and provides funding for the Muslim Brotherhood and its front groups in the United States and Canada.
Muslim American SocietyMuslim American SocietyThe Muslim American Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 that describes itself as an Islamic revival and reform movement....
The overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood charged with lobbying on behalf of the Brotherhood’s aims and influencing elections in the Ikhwan’s favor.
American Muslim Task Force
Political activist group focused on local and national elections.
ISNA Fiqh CommitteeFiqh Council of North AmericaThe Fiqh Council of North America is an association of Muslims who interpret Islamic law on the North American continent.Its 18 members issue religious rulings, resolve disputes, and answer questions relating to the Islamic faith...
(IFC)
Ensures compliance with Shariah in the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and its front groups. (p. 88) The Team B report names it a “ready-made infrastructure for insinuating shariah into America as a parallel legal code”
ISNA Political Awareness Committee (IFC)
Aggressive propaganda arm of the Muslim Brotherhood formed to ensure disinformation and information dominance. For example, the IPAC protested the use of the words jihad, ummah, caliphate, shariah, and other in the 9/11 Commission Report in relation to terrorist doctrine. The IPAC publishes the propaganda newsletter The Minaret.
International Institute for Islamic Thought (IIIT)
Created in Philadelphia, PA to maintain consistency in Muslim Brotherhood operations, then moved to headquarters in Hearndon, VA, outside of Washington, DC