Details
Authors: Byman, Daniel & Shapiro, Jeremy
Date of Publication: 2014
Publication: Foreign Policy at BROOKINGS, POLICY PAPER Number 34, November 2014
Purpose of the study
Key questions
Presents a standard schematic model of foreign fighter radicalization – to explain how and why some foreign fighters become dangerous terrorists, drawing on the Afghanistan experience in the 1980s to illustrate the arguments.
It discusses why many seasoned observers believe the Syria conflict is likely to be particularly dangerous.
It examines why terrorism in Europe and the United States was less than expected from previous jihads such as Iraq, again drawing implications and lessons specific to Syria, as well as examining factors unique to the Syrian conflict itself.
Authors also identify policy implications and recommendations.
Design of the study
Approach
The authors relied heavily on interviews with experts and government officials in Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States
Where
Focuses on the foreign fighter threat to the West.
Topic
The report seeks to understand the foreign fighter threat to the West, both the real dangers it presents and mitigating factors.
Key Findings
Using this framework, our policy recommendations focus on trying to identify opportunities to encourage potentially dangerous individuals to take more peaceful paths and to help determine which individuals deserve arrest, visa denial, preventive detention, or other forms of disruption.
Key Recommendations
Steps include increasing community engagement efforts to dissuade potential fighters from going to Syria or Iraq; working more with Turkey to disrupt transit routes; improving de-radicalization programs to “turn” returning fighters into intelligence sources or make them less likely to engage in violence; and avoiding blanket prosecution efforts. Most important, security services must be properly resourced and organized to handle the potential danger.
Reviewer Notes
This is the first report that I have seen that provides a model to understand FF radicalization – in terms of how and why they mobilize to violence.