Factors That Facilitate The Identification And Recruitment Of Vulnerable People Into Terrorist Activities And Organizations Essay

This paper will seek to understand what really motivates terrorists to commit the acts that make them so infamous. We are assuming that the chief motivating factor behind the decisions of terrorist organizations is the political outcome of their acts balanced against the risk and collateral damage inflicted to achieve this end. We will also weigh in the appeal of terrorism on potential recruits in weak states and determine how the motivations of the group become the motivation of the individual and how this benefits the decentralized organization of terrorist organizations like al Qaeda.

The research assessment on various study reports identified the distinct phases of radicalization process, which include, pre-radicalization, self-identification, indoctrination, and ‘Jihadization’ (Silber, M. D., & Bhatt, A., 2001). According to the research study, passing through the entire process sequence, makes an individual likely to get involved in implementation or planning of terrorist act. The researcher noted that Al-Qaeda has provided motivation for homegrown

“Stairs narrow toward the top. It becomes harder to turn back with each step” (Kershaw, 2010). As said before, there is not a “cookie cutter” definition of what creates a terrorist. One thing is very evident, the radicalization process of an individual is complex, diverse, and is often comprised of idiosyncratic characteristics.

Nearly all of the extremists have relied on an “intermediary”- like an extremist cleric or a terrorist recruiter- to facilitate and catalyze their radicalization. For instance, Al-awlaki mentored Hasan (Nov 5, 2009); Al-shabaab (Nov 23, 2009) agents appear to have recruited Minnesota Somalis; and one of the five northern Virginia men (Dec 9, 2009) exchanged emails with an alleged Taliban recruiter.

In the article “Profile of a Terrorist” by Cindy Combs, the author maps out and discusses the different causes of terrorism committed by people. Understanding and determining what drives people to terrorism is no easy task. Why do people choose to commit acts of terrorism? Why do people choose to become rebellious and wreak havoc on so many innocent civilians? Combs discusses the different types of terrorists as suggested by Frederick Hacker who was a Vienna-born psychiatrist and psychoanalyst and expert on aggression and terrorism.

Antoon (2008), Pedahzur et al. (2003), the findings of these studies support conclusion that: ‘‘social and cultural structure, together with the individual’s subjective point of view, both play a major role in the Jihadist violence.’’ At this point the social and cultural beliefs and values within the community that children learn and start to believe in facilitate the job of Jihadist organization in recruiting those individual to implement Jihadist

Although there is no one single fingerprint that defines the psychological makeup of a terrorist, there are several broad characteristics that indicate a person’s vulnerability toward radicalization. Terrorists willing to carrying out a suicide operation, as a subset of the larger radicalized group, are certainly no exception. Indeed, dedication to the point of self-extermination requires a deeper degree of radicalization than to merely fight for one’s chosen cause.

The recruiting of an American jihad radical begins by focusing on a certain person with either a socio, economic or political dissatisfaction that is typically shared with a personal problem of some sort. Just as most young people are searching for the answer to life, successful recruitment occurs because of ignorance or minimum exposure to mainstream religions. “Most of the terrorists have some occupational skills. Three-fourths are either professional (physicians, lawyers, architects, engineers, or teachers) or semi-professionals (businessmen, craftsmen, or computer specialists). They are solidly anchored in family responsibilities. Three-fourths are married and the majorities have children” (Sageman). It seems that the ties to terrorism

Since the darkest day, September 11, 2001, the citizens of The United States of America are on alert and are weary of acts of terrorism. One can turn on the television and can easily find an act of terrorism. Most recent acts are the Boston bombings or the bombings in Volgograd, and most recently the two bombings in Sochi. What drives someone to complete the devastating acts of terrorism? How can on predict, based off of antisocial behaviors, who is more likely to become a terrorist? Regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or racial background, experts agree terrorists share one common link: their childhood. One tends to be more susceptible to becoming a terrorist because of a traumatic event in their childhood to cause antisocial behavior.

Group interactions have significant influences on individual attitudes, commitment and belief towards certain actions. In a seminal paper by Mark Sageman, the influence of social dynamics on the radicalization process was highlighted. He noted the social elements that may influence Middle Eastern Muslims who study abroad in Europe. The main issue was the fact that these individuals felt homesick and alienated in their host countries. Due to the social alienation, these individuals sought companionship at the local mosque and form small cliques with peers. The social cliques are mostly focused on keeping the dietary restrictions of Islam but the social interactions taking place push the individuals closer to the radicalized state. The networks of relatives and friends have been highlighted as significant in the radicalization

This excerpt from Silke’s Becoming a Terrorist aims to determine what causes someone to become a terrorist. Silke argues that simply labeling terrorists as mentally unbalanced or psychotic prevents us from achieving a fuller understanding of the phenomenon. As it turns out, there is no one factor that determines whether a person will become a terrorist. Instead, it is a combination of any number of factors from economic circumstance to vengeance and these factors vary widely depending on the culture, social context, terror group, and individual involved.

Future research will have to investigate the pathways inherent to incomplete transformation and transformative reversals of radicalization . The process of self-radicalization has been closely observed, but the examination of deradicalization and social reintegration is lacking in research. Social reintegration is a valuable component of a comprehensive effort to neutralize the terrorism threat for the long term. Eventually, with the incorporation of the research defining the process of radicalization and how an individual can be deradicalized and rehabilitated, there will be a strong foundation established to prevent youths falling prey of online terrorism propaganda.

Although women can appear to be unlikely suspects in terrorist attacks, women are increasingly participating with terrorist organizations that promote hate, violence, and destruction. In the last 10 years alone, there have been several women associated with terrorist groups, such as ISIS, trying to ensure the groups’ mission statement is carried through. Women are not only leaving their home and their country, but they are also giving up their freedoms to join terrorist organizations. This paper will focus on various ways women become involved in terrorist groups and their role within the groups. The treatment of women within the group will examined as well as their reasons for staying within a group that belittles the female race. Furthermore,

To first understand what the complexity of the psychology of terrorist group recruitment is, the complication of 'what is terrorism' must first be understood for a full understanding of the phenomenon. There are many different definitions of terrorism and for the importance of simplicity the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) terrorism definition will be analyzed. According to the FBI, terrorism is defined by 18 U.S.C. And categorized as domestic and international terrorism. Domestic terrorism is defined as, “activities with the following three characteristics: (1) Involve acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law; (2) Appear intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination. or kidnapping; and (3) Occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S.” (FBI, 2014). Whereas, International terrorism is defined as, “activities with the following three characteristics: (1) Involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law; (2) Appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by

In addressing the behavioral and psychological factors, I will identify what vulnerable people are and how they are influenced into recruitment of terrorist organizations. The comparisons provided will be associated to radical Islam and referenced with Mubin Shaikh own experience, as he was radicalized, then recruited for, and then de-radicalized from Radical Islam throughout. On completion of the reasons of how and why individuals join terrorist organizations, I will provide examples of programs of disengagement that are used for de-radicalizing imprisoned or individuals wanting to leave terrorist organizations. Nevertheless, the discussion will then turn to possible deterrents or methods to counter terrorist recruitment efforts.