Includes bibliographical references and index.

Hamas and the Palestinians as a case study -- The science of armed groups, ethno-nationalism, insurgencies and terrorism -- The origins and structure of Hamas -- Armed resistance, weapons, domestic & foreign relations -- Foundation era: the first intifada, capturing Palestinian sentiment and the hunt for weapons -- Oslo era: the engineer, Israeli "finger-tip" policy, the rise of Netanyahu & Mishal, support for violence and the destruction of Oslo -- 2nd intifada era: intifada, Israeli targeted killing, shifting interests of Hamas and the confluence of events that temporarily suspend Hamas's use of violence -- Election era: the strange road to election victory, failed reconciliation and pathway to civil war -- Governance era part one: "no to dinner, how about lunch?", Gaza, tax, tunnels and Gaza war i -- Governance era part two: building Hamastan, Egyptian and Syrian revolutions, pathway to Gaza War II -- Pathway pathway to reconciliation deux, kidnappings, Gaza War III, turning the keys over to Fatah and the implications of ISIL -- Determinants of Hamas violence and implications for other power-seeking insurgent groups.