Political Extremism - Science topic

RE: "Most of the questions have no answer either because the links of researchgate did not lead them to the forums of relevance or they were just ignored "

Did you try using the "share" feature (bottom right corner) of your questions to direct them to colleagues in your network?

In many cases, it is a co-dependent relationship. The extremists can often provide protection for the drug production and security for the trafficking. The drug organization can provide financing support that is critical for the sustainment of extremists operation.

Frank, I'd suggest writing to two scholars who'd have a good idea both about your specific research (Taliban, recruitment, and children) and literature in French/German - Antonio Giustozzi (King's) and Gilles Dorronsoro (Sorbonne?). For Afghan contacts, you may wish to contact Amhad Shuja (Human Rights Watch), and Amrullah Saleh (the former security Chief). Both have some idea of this issue.

A long-awaited Swisspeace report on Taliban coercion/intimidation was published last year, authored by Susanne Schmeidl. This should offer insights, too.

Monika, Like Islomjon, I am concerned whether your question links converts (in general) to Islam with ISIS 'converts.' ISIS and Islam barely belong in the same breath, since ISIS violates and perverts the most basic tenets, principles, and practices of Islam. Even those Muslims who join ISIS are violating their own "deen" or way of life as laid out in the Qur'an and the Hadith of the Prophet.  I am an American convert to Islam and can tell you that I, like millions of other Muslims, am appalled at what ISIS has been doing in the name of "Islam." I studied the original texts for several years and did not convert for psychological reasons at all--but for the religion itself. If one studies Islam in depth, and does not "cherry pick" elements to emphasize, dislike, or support in the extreme, then, it becomes easier to understand what the sacred texts teach, advise, and suggest. That is the greatest difference between converts to Islam and converts to ISIS. ISIS "cherry picks" phrases here and there with total disregard for the context in which they were taught; not one word from the Hadith supports any of the actions of the so-called "caliph" Al-Baghdadi.

I would love to provide a more "on point" response, if you clarify a bit more what you are looking for in the realm of converts.  The subject is quite broad and there are a multitude of responses.

If anyone links Islam or Muslims to terrorism, then my advice to him/her is to broaden his/her vision beyond the "tool" and to search for the "real" mastermind of global terrorism. One cannot blame a "knife" for killing someone; the "person" ,who used this deadly weapon, is to blame & punish. Few questions may help: Who has an interest in destablizing Europe? Who works hard on preventing a meaningful United Europe ? Who targeted Arabic & Muslim countries with invasions & internal troubles? Who established these terrorist gangs & financed them? Who has done lot of work to defame Islam & to portray a negative image of it by huge media machines and by exploiting some philosophical "oriental" mercenaries ? ... 

Hi Muhammad,

Negotiation with terrorist groups has both cultural and political impacts.

For instance Hessam Vaez-Zadeh in an article evaluated European approaches towards conflict settlement with terrorist groups. He indicated violence, negotiation, and peace accordingly.

However, in the Middle East, terrorism is indicated with a "total war". 

As part of a project for The Center for International Scientific Studies and Collaboration I am evaluating the "Political culture of finding resolution with terrorist acts: A comparative study of EU and ME".

Hence, I can say that Pakistani government negotiation with terrorists in Pakistan, without understanding its cultural and political paradigm, is useless.

Hi, Michelle,

These might be useful:

Saeed, Amir. "Media, racism and Islamophobia: the representation of Islam and Muslims in the media." Sociology Compass 1.2 (2007): 443-462.

Thompson, P. M. Allen's Islamophobia and the British news media: a critical evaluation of Islamophobia as a concept and its application to the written news media in Britain between 2001 and 2008. Diss. University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2013.

Awan, Imran. "Operation ‘Trojan Horse’: Islamophobia or Extremism?." Political Insight 5.2 (2014): 38-39.

Rinella Cere and Barry Richard have also done work in the area of media and islamophobia work. I'm not sure whether the media are also mentioned in the Trojan Report too? At https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/birmingham-schools-education-commissioners-report?

Good luck Anita