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From Isolation to Radicalization: Anti-Muslim Hostility and Support for ISIS in the West

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  • MITTS, TAMAR

Abstract

What explains online radicalization and support for ISIS in the West? Over the past few years, thousands of individuals have radicalized by consuming extremist content online, many of whom eventually traveled overseas to join the Islamic State. This study examines whether anti-Muslim hostility might drive pro-ISIS radicalization in Western Europe. Using new geo-referenced data on the online behavior of thousands of Islamic State sympathizers in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium, I study whether the intensity of anti-Muslim hostility at the local level is linked to pro-ISIS radicalization on Twitter. The results show that local-level measures of anti-Muslim animosity correlate significantly and substantively with indicators of online radicalization, including posting tweets sympathizing with ISIS, describing life in ISIS-controlled territories, and discussing foreign fighters. High-frequency data surrounding events that stir support for ISIS—terrorist attacks, propaganda releases, and anti-Muslim protests—show the same pattern.

Suggested Citation

  • Mitts, Tamar, 2019. "From Isolation to Radicalization: Anti-Muslim Hostility and Support for ISIS in the West," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 113(1), pages 173-194, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:113:y:2019:i:01:p:173-194_00
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    1. Zhang, Han, 2021. "How Using Machine Learning Classification as a Variable in Regression Leads to Attenuation Bias and What to Do About It," SocArXiv 453jk, Center for Open Science.
    2. Amarasinghe, Ashani, 2022. "Diverting domestic turmoil," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    3. Walk, Erin & Garimella, Kiran & Christia, Fotini, 2023. "Displacement and return in the internet Era: Social media for monitoring migration decisions in Northern Syria," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Xia, Shouzhi, 2024. "Knowing more, worrying less? Internet use eases public concern about immigrant cultural threat," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Do,Quy-Toan & Gomez Parra,Nicolas & Rijkers,Bob, 2021. "Transnational Terrorism and the Internet," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9885, The World Bank.
    6. Walk,Erin Elizabeth & Garimella,Kiran & Christia,Fotini, 2022. "Displacement and Return in the Internet Era : How Social Media Captures Migration Decisionsin Northern Syria," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10024, The World Bank.
    7. Maura R. Cremin & Bogdan G. Popescu, 2022. "Sticks and Stones? Connecting Insurgent Propaganda with Violent Outcomes," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 66(3), pages 504-528, April.
    8. Simon Varaine & Raul Magni-Berton & Ismaël Benslimane & Paolo Crosetto, 2024. "Egoism and Altruism in Intergroup Conflict," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 68(2-3), pages 348-380, March.
    9. Do, Quy-Toan & Gomez-Parra, Nicolas & Rijkers, Bob, 2023. "Transnational terrorism and the internet," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    10. Christensen, Love & Enlund, Jakob, 2021. "Echoes of Violent Conflict: The Effect of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict on Hate Crimes in the U.S," Working Papers in Economics 805, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    11. Claire L Adida & Adeline Lo & Melina R Platas, 2019. "Americans preferred Syrian refugees who are female, English-speaking, and Christian on the eve of Donald Trump’s election," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, October.
    12. Thomas Zeitzoff & Grace Gold, 2024. "Cyber and contentious politics: Evidence from the US radical environmental movement," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 61(1), pages 134-149, January.
    13. Endrich, Marek, 2020. "The good tourist, the bad refugee and the ugly German: Xenophobic activities and tourism," VfS Annual Conference 2020 (Virtual Conference): Gender Economics 224604, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    14. Xinming Du, 2023. "Symptom or Culprit? Social Media, Air Pollution, and Violence," CESifo Working Paper Series 10296, CESifo.
    15. Vicente, Pedro C. & Vilela, Inês, 2022. "Preventing Islamic radicalization: Experimental evidence on anti-social behavior," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 474-485.
    16. Karell, Daniel & Freedman, Michael Raphael, 2019. "Rhetorics of Radicalism," SocArXiv yfzsh, Center for Open Science.
    17. Michael Wolfowicz & Badi Hasisi & David Weisburd, 2022. "What are the effects of different elements of media on radicalization outcomes? A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(2), June.
    18. Kubinec, Robert & Owen, John, 2018. "When Groups Fall Apart: Identifying Transnational Polarization with Twitter from the Arab Uprisings," SocArXiv wykmj, Center for Open Science.

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