MYSTERY OF THE “HOMEGROWN” ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS

Vasileska, Larisa (2019) MYSTERY OF THE “HOMEGROWN” ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS. INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOK FACULTY OF SECURITY 2019/2, 2019/2 (2019/2). pp. 35-44. ISSN 1857-6508

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Abstract

ABSTRACT
The image of terrorist attacks that we ones knew has changed dramatically in recent
years. Attacks by groups with defined chains of command have become rarer, and attacks done
by autonomous cells and individuals have increased. In this paper, we will investigate these
looming trends by focusing on the individual processes associated with the jihadi radicalization
of Westerners. Today’s emerging threat is a distinct and more demanding security challenge.
Research in this area has shown that most of the perpetrators were citizens and residents born,
raised, and educated within the countries they attack and the groups they form or join are usually
independently organized, autonomous, self-generated, and their targets are usually noncombatant fellow citizens. This progression has prompted a search for a new vocabulary. The
new label that seems to have been decided on is homegrown Islamic extremists or “lone wolves”
Islamic extremists.
With the in-depth analysis presented in this article, we aim to define and analyze the
main features and patterns and capture similarities between different cases of homegrown
terrorists. Recent studies have shown that “homegrown” terrorists tend to create their own
ideologies, combined with their personal frustrations and abhorrence, connected to political or
religious beliefs. We will analyze different cases over the time of homegrown terrorists and
find the connection between them and try to find the answer to the question: Who becomes a
homegrown terrorist and why? Probably the most difficult part in detecting them is that they can
be in any size, shape, or ethnicity, and represent any ideology. Research Questions that we will
address are: How does a continually investigated extremist commit an act of a “lone wolf”
homegrown terrorism without the suspicion of authorities, and how can authorities effectively
develop counter-terrorism strategies in order to identify homegrown “lone wolves” prior to an
attack? To what extent does the difference in deadliness depend on the country in which the
terrorists operate? These questions are puzzling because homegrown terrorism could be the
perfect terrorists - difficult to detect and free from decision-making processes.
Keywords: lone wolf terrorism, Islamic extremism, political or religious affiliation of lone
wolf, criminal intent

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Scientific Fields (Frascati) > Social Sciences > Law
Divisions:	Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality
Depositing User:	Prof. d-r Larisa Vasileska
Date Deposited:	09 Feb 2022 11:08
Last Modified:	09 Feb 2022 11:08
URI:	https://eprints.uklo.edu.mk/id/eprint/6743

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