Social network analysis of German foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq
Abstract
Why do Westerners become foreign fighters in civil conflicts? We
explore this question through original data collection on German
foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq, and test three sets of hypotheses
that revolve around socioeconomic integration, online radicalization,
and social network mobilization. We conduct link analysis to map the
network of German foreign fighters prior to their mobilization, and
marshal evidence to assess the validity of competing explanations.
We find only modest support for the integration deficit hypothesis,
and meager support for the social media radicalization theory.
Instead, the preponderance of evidence suggests that interpersonal
ties largely drive the German foreign fighter phenomenon.
Recruitment featured clustered mobilization and bloc recruitment
within interconnected radical milieus, leading us to conclude that
peer-to-peer networks are the most important mobilization factor for
German foreign fighters.
Description
The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2016.1272456
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Social Network Analysis of German Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq
Reynolds. Sean C.; Hafez, Mohammed M. (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2017);Why do Westerners become foreign fighters in civil conflicts? We explore this question through original data collection on German foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq, and test three sets of hypotheses that revolve around ... -
Western foreign fighters in Syria: an empirical analysis of recruitment and mobilization mechanisms
Dragon, Justin D. (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2015-06);Syria has become a beacon for foreign fighters. Estimates in 2015 indicate that over 20,000 men and women have gone there to fight for various insurgent groups. This conflict is unique due to the unprecedented number of ... -
German foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq
Reynolds, Sean C. (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2016-03);This thesis examines why approximately 700 German foreign fighters traveled to Syria and Iraq between early 2012 and late 2015. It presents the author’s original research on 99 German foreign fighter profiles, examining ...