Even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Region faced numerous obstacles to building a stable and prosperous future.  The region, which encompasses the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia, has been plagued by economic and political uncertainty amidst dramatic shifts in the global power structure.  With the pandemic now exacerbating the volatility in this already fragile region, the U.S.'s strategic objectives are rife for re-examination.

While it is still early to fully understand how the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic will impact U.S. policy, this book provides a timely analysis of relevant dynamics such as popular radicalization, digital information ecosystems, networks of influence, and new capabilities to recognize and prepare for other such black swan events in the region.

甚至在COVID-19大流行病爆发之前，中部地区在建立一个稳定和繁荣的未来方面就面临着许多障碍。 该地区包括中东、非洲之角、中亚和南亚，在全球权力结构的急剧变化中，一直受到经济和政治不确定性的困扰。 随着大流行病现在加剧了这个已经脆弱的地区的动荡，美国的战略目标充满了重新审视。

一系列复杂的因素，如既有治理体系的削弱、数字技术的进步使极端主义个人和团体胆大妄为、阿富汗和叙利亚的人道主义危机以及与中国和俄罗斯的大国竞争加剧，都为暴力极端主义组织（VEO）的成长创造了肥沃的环境。 这类组织利用脆弱、受委屈和受创伤的人群来助长激进化、招募和动乱，从而进一步破坏稳定以及和平与繁荣的潜力。

虽然全面了解目前对COVID-19大流行病的反应将如何影响美国的政策还为时过早，但本书及时分析了相关动态，如大众激进化、数字信息生态系统、影响网络，以及认识和准备应对该地区其他此类黑天鹅事件的新能力。