Originally published in The Indypendent Blog.

As the World Cup presses on, the Verso Books blog features a critique of the games, recognizing the wave of demonstrations and labor actions that have taken place on the streets of Rio.

Media coverage of recent military advances by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is misguided. Many analysts and pundits have focused exclusively on ISIS and its military gains without giving proper attention to the context in which these events emerged. What some observers have failed to point out is that there have been clear, tangible indications over the last year, at least, that Iraq’s restive Sunni provinces would sooner or later erupt in violence. ISIS has taken advantage of the political strife and civil unrest intensifying over the years in these areas.