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Who Goes, Why, and With What Effects: The Problem of Foreign Fighters from Europe

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  • Lasse Lindekilde
  • Preben Bertelsen
  • Michael Stohl

Abstract

This article explores the phenomenon of Islamist foreign fighters, more specifically the movement of European Muslims to participate in the insurgencies in Syria and Iraq connected to the Islamic State/Daesh as well as the anti-Assad forces in Syria and the implications for European state stability. Drawing on personal psychology, social psychology, and social movement theory the article offers an integrated theoretical framework to analyze the radicalization of Islamist foreign fighters. Building on Danish data of Islamist foreign fighters, the article provides a first test of the analytical usefulness of this framework. The article further considers what distinguishes the Islamists that go from those that under similar circumstances stay behind, and whether this is a differences of kind or a difference of degree. Finally, we discuss the question of how much of a threat foreign fighter returnees pose to European states.

Suggested Citation

  • Lasse Lindekilde & Preben Bertelsen & Michael Stohl, 2016. "Who Goes, Why, and With What Effects: The Problem of Foreign Fighters from Europe," Small Wars and Insurgencies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(5), pages 858-877, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:fswixx:v:27:y:2016:i:5:p:858-877
    DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2016.1208285
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    Cited by:

    1. Lorraine Mazerolle & Adrian Cherney & Elizabeth Eggins & Lorelei Hine & Angela Higginson, 2021. "Multiagency programs with police as a partner for reducing radicalisation to violence," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), June.
    2. Michelle Sydes & Lorelei Hine & Angela Higginson & Laura Dugan & Lorraine Mazerolle, 2022. "PROTOCOL: Criminal justice interventions for preventing terrorism and radicalisation: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), September.
    3. Lorraine Mazerolle & Adrian Cherney & Elizabeth Eggins & Angela Higginson & Lorelei Hine & Emma Belton, 2020. "PROTOCOL: Multiagency programmes with police as a partner for reducing radicalisation to violence," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), September.
    4. Kathrine Elmose Jørgensen, 2022. "“IS Drew This Dream Picture—Like Floating on a Pink Cloud”: Danish Returnees’ Entry into and Exit from Salafi-Jihadism through Nurtured and Fractured Fantasies," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Michelle Sydes & Lorelei Hine & Angela Higginson & James McEwan & Laura Dugan & Lorraine Mazerolle, 2023. "Criminal justice interventions for preventing radicalisation, violent extremism and terrorism: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(4), December.

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