This paper examines the so-called Islamic State’s (IS) strategy for survival and growth, the challenges facing the group, and how these two factors can inform international efforts to combat IS. The author contends that some of the key factors in understanding the Islamic State include that 1) the group faces significant internal challenges, including grievances about its brutality and unpredictable ruling behavior, limited governance capabilities, and tensions within its fighting force; 2) that the military strategy of IS has evolved over time, shifting from an emphasis on offensive to more defensive operations; and 3) that the group is benefiting from the continuation of the Syrian conflict and the exclusionary policies against Sunni Muslims in Iraq. She then outlines the way these factors can inform how regional actors and the West can more effectively fight against IS.