Why Islamic State targets Britain

To view this email as a web page, go [here.]( [More info]( [new-statesman]( [ns nl v3]( In a traumatic and harrowing week for the country, we reflect on and analyse the Manchester massacre, Britain's worst terrorist atrocity since the 7 July 2005 London bombings. Our contributing writer and terrorist expert Shiraz Maher explains why Islamic State and its sympathisers regard their attacks as acts of "revenge" for Western interventions in Muslim lands and warns that "the long war" in Iraq and Syria has created a lawless space where jihdaism flourishes. The Mancunian cultural commentator Stuart Maconie celebrates the spirit and resilience of the city and recalls how Manchester was reborn after the 1996 IRA bombing. Elsewhere, Anna Leszkiewicz profiles Ariane Grande and pays tribute to the Arianators - the young pop fans targeted in Manchester on 22 May - and the unifying power of pop music. Also this week, Anthony Loyd reports on why Syrian Kurds feel betrayed by the West, the Cambridge historian David Reynolds says Brexit and the general election signal the twilight of the post-war era and Helen Lewis goes inside Suomenlinna Prison in Finland. In our critics section, Rowan Williams writes about Rod Dreher's The Benedict Option, which is being described as the most important religious book of the decade, Will Self is impressed by neurosurgeon Henry Marsh's memoir and Andrew Dickson meets Jack Thorne, the UK's most industrious playwright. All this, plus Armando Iannucci on why the general election has been a "woozy, sleepy affair", Mehdi Hasan on Paul Ryan, the Republican free market ideologue and opportunist, and Chris Deerin explores what the SNP has learned from New Labour. I hope you enjoy the issue and you can subscribe [here](. Enjoy, Jason, [@JasonCowleyNS]( Editor's Picks --------------------------------------------------------------- [Manchester United: Stuart Maconie on the spirit of the city] [Manchester United: Stuart Maconie on the spirit of the city]( Manchester will keep being Manchester - anything else would let the victims down, says the BBC's Radio 6 Music presenter. [Jack Thorne on the darkness that defines his dramas] [Jack Thorne on the darkness that defines his dramas]( The UK's busiest playwright on Harry Potter, his hopes for Labour, and his new production of Woyzeck. [Mehdi Hasan on Paul Ryan, the Republican opportunist] [Mehdi Hasan on Paul Ryan, the Republican opportunist]( The Randian Republican who could rein in Trump isn't a coward - he's much worse. [Ariana and the Arianators] [Ariana and the Arianators]( Anna Leszkiewicz on the fans of Ariana Grande and why their targeting was grimly predictable. [Kate Mossman on the dominatrix of Tinseltown] [Kate Mossman on the dominatrix of Tinseltown]( Over tea, Jenny Nordbak reveals that keeping a straight face was the hardest part of the job. [New Statesman Subscribe Now]( [www.NewStatesman.com]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Oxford Uni]( [Nick Clegg wants to work with Labour after the election] [Nick Clegg wants to work with Labour after the election]( Anoosh Chakelian speaks to the former Deputy Prime Minister about Brexit and the "Boudicca" Theresa May. [Laurie Penny: Of course we could do more to stop terrorism - if we're willing to live in a police state] [Laurie Penny: Of course we could do more to stop terrorism - if we're willing to live in a police state]( The only way to stop this sort of human monster completely is to become like them. [Click here for more information]( We are a leading multidisciplinary management and technical consultancy. Our expertise spans across asset and property management, the increasing the value of assets through targeted investments, regeneration and development; as well as tailored project and interim services. We offer a wide range of property, people, performance and progression services at competitive rates. Our capacity and flexibility allows us to support clients on almost any project for which they need help. Work with us to generate positive change. [Visit our website for more information](. [podcast]( [Facebook]( [Google Plus]( [Twitter]( [Tumblr]( © copyright 2016 New Statesman LTD. John Carpenter House, 7 Carmelite Street, Blackfriars, EC4Y 0AN, United Kingdom. To stop receiving news and offers from the New Statesman, please [click here](.