A decade after the Arab Spring
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2023-02-17
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en
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The worldwide phenomenon of youngsters leaving their home country to join radical militant Islamic terrorist groups in the Middle East, and the possible root causes, have been studied extensively by researchers, scholars and policymakers. There is no consensus on the (empirical) link between socioeconomic and political conditions and jihadism. An abundant amount of research focuses on the phenomenon in the West but a considerable gap in the literature with focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) exists. Specifically the notable case of Tunisia as the frontrunner in terms of nationality of terrorists, yet it is the only country in MENA that has undergone a successful democratic transition. This thesis examines if there is a statistical link between socioeconomic and political conditions and the rate of Foreign Terrorist Fighters per capita in North Africa by employing a cross-sectional data analysis and a panel data analysis of 5 North African countries from 2012 to 2022. After the empirical analysis, an incontestable conclusive conclusion cannot be made. Although there seem to be some (uncertain) statistical links between socioeconomic and political conditions, the relationship between socioeconomic and political conditions and jihadism proves to be complex and is more likely to be indirect.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen