Understanding Islamist terrorism in Europe: drugs, jihad and the pursuit of martyrdom

This book argues that guilt, shame, and remorse, associated with a history of substance abuse, explain why a minority of Islamist extremists carried out suicide terrorism in Europe between 2001 and 2018. Since 9/11, Islamist terrorism has dominated the European security landscape, but there has been...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Herrington, Lewis (Author)
Format: Electronic Book
Language:English
Published: London New York Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group 2022
In:Year: 2022
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Keywords:
Terrorism > Religious aspects > Islam
Islamic fundamentalism > Psychological aspects
Terrorism > Europe > Case studies
Self-sacrifice > Religious aspects > Islam
Suicide bombers > Psychology
Jihad
Dschihadismus
Militanz
Islam
Djihad
Terrorismus
Suizid
Radikalisierung
Electronic books
POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Freedom & Security / Terrorism
POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Freedom & Security / Intelligence
POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Freedom & Security / International Security
Europa
Related Items:Erscheint auch als: 1749241005
Description
Summary:This book argues that guilt, shame, and remorse, associated with a history of substance abuse, explain why a minority of Islamist extremists carried out suicide terrorism in Europe between 2001 and 2018. Since 9/11, Islamist terrorism has dominated the European security landscape, but there has been little systematic analysis of either the attacks or the men responsible. This book addresses that gap, drawing on terrorist discourse, court transcripts, elite interviews, government reports, and three years of ethnography to provide an exhaustive account of how and why Islamist terrorism has occurred in Europe. Making a detailed analysis of 48 terrorist attacks carried out by 80 suicide terrorists, the book introduces two new theories. The first argues that most of these men first engaged in Islamist extremism as an alternative to substance abuse. The second contends that, following a five-stage process of radicalisation, cognitive dissonance triggered guilt, shame, and remorse over previous misconduct. From this emotional distress, suicide terrorism emerged as a rational choice ahead of either suicide or a return to active addiction. This book argues that the root cause of suicide terrorism in Europe is not so much politics or religion but is more about personal crisis and a search for redemption.
Physical Description:1 Online-Ressource (xi, 189 Seiten) Illustrationen
ISBN:9780429316623
DOI:10.4324/9780429316623