Articles of the month: July 2021

Articles of the month Hits: 271
Articles of the month: July 2021
The most interesting and important papers on the crisis anthropology and the adjacent areas in July 2021

Abstract

n this paper, we analyze the relationship between ISIS propaganda content and ISIS-inspired attacks by those outside of the group’s control. We examine the content of ISIS’ English language magazines, as well as speeches by two of its top leaders. We find that statements made about enemy countries in most contexts are not associated with a higher likelihood of violence in those countries. However, when a country is mentioned in ISIS propaganda in the context of its participation in the air campaign, this corresponds to an increased likelihood that the country will experience a violent attack. This suggests that propaganda highlighting key military adversaries may play a role in directing attackers that are outside the control of the organization’s hierarchy to the group’s preferred targets.

Abstract

Boko Haram is well known for its use of women as suicide bombers. While prior research has examined why this phenomenon is occurring, as well as what makes Boko Haram a unique terror group, the present study examines how their female bombers are infiltrating targets, what types of targets are being successfully infiltrated, and whether the bomber’s gender has an impact on the infiltration tactic and the success of the bombing mission. Utilizing the open-sourced data provided by the Global Terrorism Database (GTD), a complementary qualitative dataset was compiled that included 102 female suicide bombing incidents from 2014 to 2017. Results of content analysis indicate that there was a variety of infiltration tactics used by the female bombers that progressively evolved as specific tactics’ effectiveness waned, and that gender impacted the missions allowing for the female bombers to effectively infiltrate soft targets with high casualties, increasing the group’s overall utilization of females in operative roles.

Abstract

Despite great interest in the importance of “narrative” to the global jihadi movement, research on actual examples of jihadi storytelling has been very limited to date. In this paper, I discuss the phenomenon of jihadi storytelling, specifically in digital contexts, focusing on the case study of one storyteller in particular: “Najm al-Din Azad”, a Saudi jihadist who tweeted and blogged a collection of “Tales of the Heroism of the Mujahidin” while participating in the Syrian civil war.

Abstract

Within studies critically examining terrorist behaviour, the examination of mental health has largely focused on the relationship with the movement towards terrorist involvement. The impact of engagement in terrorism upon mental health has rarely been studied. However, recent research has shown that there is an association between terrorist engagement and the occurrence of mental health problems across the spectrum of terrorist involvement. This work therefore expands on previous research, and disaggregates three discrete stages of terrorist involvement; pre-engagement, engagement, and disengagement, to critically examine the role of psychological resilience on mental health. To determine whether psychological resilience protects against the negative psychological repercussions of terrorist involvement, we undertake cluster analyses. Results indicate that there is a subset of actors who demonstrate psychological resilience, and appear to maintain their mental health despite their experiences during involvement in terrorism.

Abstract

Background

The risk factors for radicalization and terrorism represent a key research issue. While numerous data on the sociological, political, and criminological profiles of radicalized people and terrorists are available, knowledge about psychiatric disorders among these populations remains scarce and contradictory.

Method

We conducted a systematic review of the literature regarding psychiatric disorders among both radicalized and terrorist populations.

Results

We screened 2,856 records and included a total of 25 articles to generate a complete overview. The vast majority of studies were of poor methodological quality. We assessed three population groups: people at risk of radicalization, radicalized populations, and terrorist populations. The results showed important variations in the prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders depending on the study population and methodology. People at risk of radicalization have been reported to have depressive disorders, but contradictory findings exist. Psychiatric disorders range from 6% to 41% in the radicalized population and from 3.4% to 48.5% among terrorists. Among terrorists, psychiatric disorders are more frequent for lone-actor terrorists than for those in groups.

Conclusion

We were not able to identify a significant association between radicalization, terrorism, and psychiatric disorders in our systematic review. However, some research suggests high rates of psychiatric disorders in subgroups of radicalized people and lone-actor terrorists. Further studies using standardized psychiatric assessment methods are urgently needed.

Keywords:

Terrorism
Forensic psychiatry
Mental disorders
Violence
Radicalization

Abstract

The article explores the narratives of three Christian-born British converts to Islam who volunteer with City Center Da‘wah, a proselytizing group affiliated with the Salafi Mosque of Birmingham, one of the largest and most influential Salafi mosques in Europe. Drawing on interviews as well as field observations, it examines why the three became Muslim, chose the Salafi version of Islam, and engage in bringing others to Islam. The analysis supports studies that challenge the assumption according to which a major life crisis is an essential trigger for conversion. It highlights the crucial role chance played in the converts’ initial encounters with Islam and with Salafiyya, while pointing to the diverse psychological and social functions the embrace and practice of their new beliefs has served in their lives.