Sociopolitical radicalism: the making of martyrs, an assessment of past and current methods of recruitment and socialization applied by radical Islamic terror groups

John L. McNassar

Recruitment operations are among the most critical activities that any terror group must conduct in order to continue advancing its cause. This thesis is an assessment of current trends in recruitment operations conducted by radical Islamist terror groups, which are determined to establish a single, worldwide community of Muslims strictly governed by 7th Century Islamic law. Drawing extensively on open sources of data, this thesis highlights key cultural and historical factors that have given rise to the globalized brand of radical Islamic terrorism that faces the world community today. Presented in a manner that can be applied across disciplines, this thesis provides terrorism researchers with a number of tools for better understanding terror group recruitment operations - beginning by selecting a working definition of terrorism that is relevant to the needs and interests of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike. This thesis provides a critical review of traditional theoretical approaches for analyzing causes of actors' participation in terror activities. Placing an emphasis on the value of a multicausal theoretical approach, this thesis discusses the structures, strengths, vulnerabilities, and behaviors of terror organizations as scale-free networks. Third, this thesis places contemporary radical Islam within cultural and historical contexts of Islam, martyrdom, jihad, and political violence, and establishes the ideological framework of modern-day Islamism. Data collected through ethnographic fieldwork in London, England highlights the conflict between mainstream and radical strains of Islam, fundamental aspects of Wahhabism, and the effects of the July 2005 London bombings on the British Muslim population. Finally, this thesis provides readers with a number of case studies of individuals within terror organizations ranging from suicide bombers to the ideologue who gave birth to modern radical Islamist interpretations of Salafi Islam. In its concluding section, this thesis addresses current trends in recruitment operations; provides an assessment of likely future security threats; offers practitioners considerations for countering terror organizations; highlights critical areas of study for anthropologists and other researchers, policymakers, and practitioners; and emphasizes the problems that face mainstream Muslims and non-Muslims in a world targeted by an Islamist strain of terrorism that is fueled by the blood of its martyrs and victims.

Sociopolitical radicalism: the making of martyrs, an assessment of past and current methods of recruitment and socialization applied by radical Islamic terror groups

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