“What Made Me Change”: Transformative Experiences in the Jihadist Radicalization Process
Disentangling the roots of radicalization leading to violence is a worldwidechallenge. Unfortunately, empirical data are scarce. Through fieldwork con-ducting interviews with Muslim persons deprived of liberty (PDL) in Spanishprisons, this research examines transformative experiences that may havein...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión aceptada para publicación |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad de Burgos (UBU) |
| Repositorio: | Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos (RIUBU) |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/9914 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10259/9914 |
| Access Level: | acceso embargado |
| Palabra clave: | Jihadism Prison Radicalization Turning point Narrative analysis Psicología Sociología Psychology Sociology |
| Sumario: | Disentangling the roots of radicalization leading to violence is a worldwidechallenge. Unfortunately, empirical data are scarce. Through fieldwork con-ducting interviews with Muslim persons deprived of liberty (PDL) in Spanishprisons, this research examines transformative experiences that may haveinfluenced radicalization leading to violence from the 3N model and the life-course perspective lenses. PDL because of jihadist terrorism (n = 30), com-mon criminals who carry out proselytizing work (n = 22), and non-radicals(control group, n = 64) were asked about the turning point in their lives. Theirresponses were coded into exclusive thematic categories following an induc-tive-deductive mixed approach. Jihadists and proselytizers identified experi-ences linking their personal identity to religion—ideological ties—asa transformative point that provided them purpose and sparked the desirefor leaving their criminal lifestyle behind. Also, proselytizers referred tofamily-related experiences—familial ties—as a turning point which alsoprompted them to criminal desistance, whereas this was not mentioned byjihadists. All groups had in common the experience of incarceration asa major turning point and a moderate level of self-reported religiosity.Overall, these findings contribute to the understanding and prevention ofjihadist radicalization. |
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