The Real Motivations of the ISIS Foreign Fighters

Mgr. Ruben Grigoryan, BA

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The research paper discusses the phenomenon of foreign fighters recruited by the Islamic State, particularly the European young Muslims, who have decided to join the terrorist organization. The number of the European jihadists in Syria and Iraq and the timeline of the terrorist acts in Europe organized and implemented by the returnees attest to the fact that the security of the European states and societies is under a tremendous threat. Thus, to ascertain which strategies and approaches can be the most productive and appropriate for combatting the Islamic State and particularly preventing the citizens of European states from getting radicalized and involved in the violent extremism, there is a need to have a deeper and thorough understanding of the modus operandi of ISIS and notably the phenomenon of the European fighters. The assessment and analysis of the crucial motivating factors of the Westerners will contribute to the process of combatting the IS and averting the horrible consequences of its activities.

Keywords

ISIS, Foreign Fighters, Jihad, Terrorism, Radicalization.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 19. 12. 2016

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 26. 1. 2017
• Supervisor: PhDr. Pavel Pšeja, Ph.D.
• Reader: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
Political Science / European Politics (Eng.)