Think You’re Safe From ISIS Radicalization?

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Homeland Security

4 min readJan 28, 2016

Homeland XYZ Channel— Current Issues: ISIS and Radicalization

Radicalization and ISIS Recruitment: What Makes ISIS so Appealing To Foreign Fighters and Why is it so Successful?

Radicalization of youth, especially Muslim youth born in Western countries, by ISIS and other global terrorist insurgency groups such as Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, has become a concern and is on the rise. According to recent 2015 estimates, the number of foreign fighters in Syria is believed to be about 30,000. What is more alarming is that this number has doubled since 2014 when the number of foreign fighters were estimated at about 15,000 coming from 100 different countries. It is further estimated that about one third of these foreign fighters comes from Western Europe and the number of U.S. believed to be about 250.

If these estimates hold true and they are supportable, then we have a serious problem given the rapid and alarming increase in the number of foreign fighters in just one year. To provide a definition of radicalization — especially when the intent is to do harm by violent means — is beyond the scope of this article but also forms the basis of this discussion. What motivates an individual or group of individuals to leave their home country, travel thousands of miles to a foreign country to engage in what they perceive and consider being a “just” war?

Based on a review of the literature and numerous studies on the topic no universal or commonly agreed or accepted definition of radicalization exists. Numerous radicalization theories, theoretical frameworks, and explanations exist for why individuals or groups of individuals become radicalized and why some cases turn to terrorism and violence. It must be admitted and accepted that the traditional reasons for why youth join ISIS such as economic marginalization and deprivation, poverty, political and social isolation only goes so far to explain ISIS’ appeal. A more recent theory and explanation has been advance that has intrigue is the notion of a caliphate with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declaring himself caliph.

ISIS has declare itself a state which according to its leader will be strictly governed by Islamic law; they have engaged in controlling land and amassing territory, and have a large international group of fighters coming from different cultural experiences and backgrounds with some even leaving their comfortable lifestyles in the West to join a caliphate. Furthermore, ISIS has all the external elements and signs of a state such as a capital, a national anthem, a national flag, a fairly sized army, a police force, and an intelligence apparatus to name but a few.

Regardless of how we view this notion of ISIS as a caliphate from a western standpoint — the threat and concern is real. To some westerners, ISIS as a caliphate may be the most ridiculous notion and is merely brushed of as a romantic ideal. However, ISIS is a serious actor and sees itself as a state, with its own advisory council, schools and social institutions; generates revenue from oil, the sale of antiquities and other means, and has found a transnational appeal especially among European and western youth that cannot be ignored and should not go unnoticed.

It could further be observed that these international or foreign fighters see their role in the caliphate as giving them meaning, purpose, and relevance with historic consequences and impact, regardless if that observation is wrong and misguided. It is clear that ISIS offers them something intangible that is absent in their “western world” coupled with an emotional and psychological appeal that is undeniable and effective if you believe and take serious the current estimates of 30,000 foreign fighters in Syria listed above. The question is: What are western governments doing to prevent this type of influence and recruitment of our youth by ISIS?

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Think You’re Safe From ISIS Radicalization?

Written by Homeland XYZ