Publication Date
Fall 2024
Abstract
This study examines the motives of Jordanians who join Jihadi Salafist groups. Particularly, the researcher focuses on social and economic factors that could motivate Jordanians to join these groups. Drawing from interviews with experts, a review of the 2018 Sociology of Extremism and Terrorism in Jordan study, and historical analysis, the researcher identifies three primary motivators: government failure, identity crises, and economic challenges. Key findings highlight that the failure of Arab states to provide adequate governance and public services to their people caused mistrust and a feeling of discrimination among the Arab people. Identity issues, a deep sense of isolation, and a lack of identity possibly caused by ethnic discrimination and economic stress are believed to be strong motivators. At the same time, economic hardship could be another motivator; there is disagreement among the experts about that possibility. The paper critiques Western counterterrorism approaches that emphasize militarized solutions, arguing that these strategies exacerbate the root causes by destabilizing regions further and fueling recruitment. Instead, the study calls for policies addressing governance, economic opportunity, and community integration as sustainable solutions to curbing the influence of Jihadi Salafist movements.
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Tocci, Vincent, "Good Kid M.A.A.D City A Study Analyzing the Root Motivation for Why Jordanians Join Jihadi Salafist Groups" (2024). Jordan: Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East. 1.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/jor2/1