ISIS is a terrorist organization that commits atrocities. However, unique to ISIS, these acts of terror are just a single component of ISIS’s methodology to instilling fear. What is more terrifying than the acts of terror ISIS executes, is their capability to recruit any person. For all you know, that person might be your neighbor. You would expect the western world to be unified in its resentment towards ISIS, but this has proven to not be the case. ISIS has successfully recruited scores of westerners.
The growing appeal westerners have to join ISIS can be attributed to ISIS’s unrivaled effort to socialize with individuals who feel disenfranchised with the society they live in. Now, more than ever before, western civilizations must make a greater effort to comfort these individuals who feel isolated and have a feeling not belonging. Westerners should consider what factors inhibit their satisfaction with western society and then should make an effort to remedy such issues. Moreover, westerners should encourage their societal involvement. A refocused effort is a better solution to comforting individuals seeking a sense of belonging especially in comparison to joining a terrorist extremist group.
In 2012, a staggering 0.1 percent of the world’s population was enjoying 81 percent of the world’s wealth. That is approximately 7,000,000 people owning 81 percent of the world’s wealth versus the remaining 6,993,000,000 people who combined owned a mere 19 percent of the remaining wealth. What a blessing for those lucky seven million people! It is so nice to know these people who make up a mere 0.1 percent of the world’s total population are gaily enjoying their lives! In the meantime, the rest of the world struggles to survive every day. They persevere through moments of utter darkness. But hey, after all, we all have the same opportunities and we are all treated the same. Any person who devotes their concentration to education has the same chance to be a happy prospering individual just like the body of persons who occupy the world’s top 0.1 percent of wealth. It does not make a difference if you have a bed to sleep in, food to eat, a protected home, or even medication for disease. Please, you do not even need a school to teach you. All that you need to be successful is the will to educate your mind. You see, what makes those individuals in the top 0.1 percent of the world’s wealth so successful, is their exceptional work ethic and intelligence. Every person in this world is created equally and has the same opportunities.
Is this what those lucky seven million people tell themselves before they go to bed every night?
It is no wonder why so many people are disenfranchised with the system of elitism which operates in the world today. The likelihood of an individual to feel dissatisfied with the institutionalized inequality of opportunity is not unlikely. Certainly their feeling of inequality stems past the wealth inequality. Individuals might also feel dissatisfied with society because of racism, sexism, or any other type of discrimination. Yet, the question remains, why is ISIS even considered an avenue of escape or revenge? Why are people joining such an extremist group in the midst of feeling marginalized?
According to academics and intelligence experts, this phenomenon of westerners joining ISIS is occurring exponentially more often. What started as a few hundred persons joining ISIS has increased to as many as 3,000 persons. Richard Barrett of the Soufan Group, an intelligence organization, offers an explanation for aligning with ISIS, “These and others who share their faith commonly express their motivation as a religious obligation to protect fellow Muslims from attack.”
It is hard to declare a single reason as the general reason people are aligning with ISIS because of the one size fits all fallacy. Based on a few case studies however, some underlying psychology can be observed. Individuals might be feeling that western civilizations are exercising oppressive rule on a minority. The people joining ISIS might want to unionize with what they consider the underdog in effort to retaliate against their own elitist and discriminatory society. They might consider joining ISIS an opportunity to avenge their own frustration and distaste with the western world. Perhaps less aggressive than the former explanation; individuals might be seeking out socialization, and feel a strong sense of belonging with the affiliated representatives of ISIS – the recruiters.
To see the recruiting methodology imposed on an American girl watch this video.
The tactics of ISIS can be compared to a similar extremist group; Al Queda. Al Queda literally has a manual which offers precise methodology to recruiting individuals. In their manual; “A Course in the Art of Recruiting” they instruct to target people who feel isolated. These people who feel isolated are likely the ones who feel discriminated or unequal in comparison to other persons in their society. They know they are the most vulnerable, and likely to align with their group. The recruiters are to communicate with these individuals as much as possible in order to make them feel as if they are family. The Al Queda manual was recovered in 2009 in Iraq. Essentially the recruiters eventually create a niche in the lives of these people who feel disenfranchised, and frame ISIS as the underdog being oppressed by western civilization. They convince these isolated individuals to journey to Syria to join their group by making their socialization more valued than the social ties in the individual’s immediate community.
Western societies must intensify their efforts to comfort these persons that feel isolated. They must resolve the inequality and discrimination their societies exert on certain persons. Governments must provide effective counseling and psychological help for these isolated individuals, this might help to instill a feeling of belonging and self-value. Western civilizations must diminish their economic inequality.
Our western civilizations must encourage Muslims to establish a presence in society, and we must embrace these efforts they make to do so. If the western world is to truly represent a civilization embracing diversity and equal opportunity, then we must recognize the importance of incorporating all religions into our society. It is rather pathetic that 40 percent of Americans are scared to vote for a Muslim candidate according to a Gallup poll.
Western worlds must comfort those people who grieve. There should be an effort to eradicate the reasons such feelings of disenfranchisement are developing. ISIS is a formidable opponent because they are able to recruit citizens of the western world. The western world must combat this threat, and it starts at the home-front.
References:
“A Jihadist’s Course in the Art of Recruitment | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.” N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
Bennhold, Katrin. “Jihad and Girl Power: How ISIS Lured 3 London Girls.” The New York Times 17 Aug. 2015. NYTimes.com. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
Callimachi, Rukmini. “ISIS and the Lonely Young American.” The New York Times 27 June 2015. NYTimes.com. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
“Distribution of Wealth.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 15 Nov. 2015. Wikipedia. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
“Gallup Poll Reveals Americans’ Willingness (or Lack Thereof) to Vote for Candidates of Differing Race, Religion – Urban Christian News.” N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
McCoy, Terrence. “How ISIS and Other Jihadists Persuaded Thousands of Westerners to Fight Their War of Extremism.” The Washington Post 17 June 2014. washingtonpost.com. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
danthesmartman 
It is increasingly alarming the rate to which Westerners are joining ISIS, like you mention. And I imagine the attacks in Paris will encourage others to join their forces even further. This is exactly what ISIS wants, to create this “us v. them “mentality among marginalized Muslim groups in the Western world. Unfortunately, as terrorist attacks increase, I fear this marginalization toward Western muslims through discrimination will only increase, thus perpetuating the cycle of ISIS’ recruitment. It is tough to say how we can end that cycle, as societal and cultural shifts cannot happen through legislation alone. Many Westerner’s emotional response is to fear anyone linked to ISIS in any way, and followers of Islam meet that criteria. It is important that we work toward separating the link between ISIS and the Islam faith.
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I agree! As a society (particularly one that is so privileged), it is important to make sure that we use our resources to help benefit people who don’t have the same opportunities as us. I think it is important to recognize our role in this process. Yes, we need Muslims to feel safe in our societies, but that can only happen if we help them to create a safe space. We must be cognizant of differences and provides spaces for those differences to flourish.
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