Overview

ICCT has been conducting work pertaining to “Foreign Fighters” – or individuals that have for a variety of reasons and with different (ideological) backgrounds joined an armed conflict abroad – since mid-2012. In this regard, ICCT has co-chaired the Radicalisation Awareness Network’s Internal/External Working Group and organised both closed and public events on the topic. ICCT is also conducting capacity building projects in the MENA region and continues to brief a range of international, regional and national authorities as well as the media on the topic. Additionally, the Centre has been exploring a range of issues related to legal, preventative, motivational and rehabilitative aspects of the phenomenon in its publications.

Featured

Research Paper | 1 Apr 2016

The Foreign Fighters Phenomenon in the EU - Profiles, Threats & Policies

In a study commissioned by the Netherlands National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV), ICCT analyses the foreign fighter phenomenon by looking not only the numbers and characteristics of foreign fighters across the EU, but also how the Union and Member States assess the threat of foreign fighters as well as their policy responses regarding security, preventive and legislative measures. The Report also outlines a series of policy options aimed both at the EU and its Member States.

Perspective | 28 Sep 2016 Italy’s Jihadists in Syria: The Case of Maria Giulia Sergio (“Lady Jihad”)
Examining the case study of one Italian woman who travelled to Syria, Dr. Marone sheds light on some of the particularities concerning Italy’s jihadists, including the relevance of foreign recruitment networks operating within the country and the prevalence of individual pathways of radicalisation over group mechanisms.
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Perspective | 26 Sep 2016 The Use and Abuse of Administrative Measures against FTFs in France
In this Perspective, Dr. Boutin argues that, while there can be valid reasons to apply so-called 'administrative measures' to foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) in France and elsewhere, it is essential for policy makers to give further consideration to issues of human rights in the application of such measures.
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Research Paper | 23 Aug 2016 Italy’s Jihadists in the Syrian Civil War
This exploratory ICCT Research Paper examines the current extent of Italy’s foreign fighters in Syria through four case studies.
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Perspective | 20 Jul 2016 The Nice Attack and the Limits of Security Responses
In this Op-Ed, ICCT Research Fellow Bibi van Ginkel compares the profile of the perpetrator of the Nice Attacks to existing research on Foreign Fighters, pointing to the limits of the security-centered approach France has adopted.
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Policy Brief | 17 Jun 2016 Converts and Islamist Terrorism: An Introduction
This Policy Brief provides an overview of what is known about converts’ involvement in homegrown jihadism and the foreign fighter phenomenon, analysing data from various Western countries.
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Research Paper | 1 Apr 2016 The Foreign Fighters Phenomenon in the EU – Profiles, Threats & Policies
In this Report commissioned by the Netherlands National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV), ICCT analyses the numbers and characteristics of foreign fighters, how the EU and Member States assess the threat as well as their policy responses regarding security, preventive and legislative measures.
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Research Paper | 31 Mar 2016 The Islamic State’s Global Propaganda Strategy
This Research Paper aims to analyse in depth the global propaganda strategy of the so-called “Islamic State” by looking at the methods through which this grand strategy is carried out as well as its objectives.
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Policy Brief | 19 Jan 2016 Rehabilitation for Foreign Fighters? Relevance, Challenges and Opportunities for the Criminal Justice Sector
This Policy Brief aims to inform the current debate on integrating rehabilitation into the overall approach to foreign fighters by highlighting the challenges and opportunities within the criminal justice sector response.
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Research Paper | 23 Dec 2015 Foreign (Terrorist) Fighters with IS: A European Perspective
In this Research Paper, ICCT Research Fellow Dr. Alex P. Schmid analyses the widely diverging foreign fighter estimates. Having identified push and pull as well as resilience factors that facilitate or inhibit young Muslims joining ISIS, he argues that stopping them from departing to Syria is not enough; political solutions have to be sought.
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Research Paper | 10 Nov 2015 Jihadist Foreign Fighter Phenomenon in Western Europe: A Low-Probability, High-Impact Threat
In this Research Paper, Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker and Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn explore the threat that returning foreign fighters may pose to Western societies. By analysing four distinct areas where the impact of this phenomenon is most visible, the authors determine the extent of the threat in physical, political and social terms.
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Policy Brief | 27 Oct 2015 Foreign (Terrorist) Fighter Estimates: Conceptual and Data Issues
In this Policy Brief, Dr. Alex P. Schmid discusses various definitions of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) by disaggregating the “foreign”, “terrorist” and “fighters” elements of the UN Security Council definition in resolution 2178 (2014). Subsequently, an attempt is made to bring structure to the widely diverging estimates of the numbers of foreign fighters and their origins.
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Research Paper | 19 Oct 2015 Fickle Foreign Fighters? A Cross-Case Analysis of Seven Muslim Foreign Fighter Mobilisations (1980-2015)
In this Research Paper, Dr. Isabelle Duyvesteyn and Bram Peeters study seven conflicts that in the past 35 years have triggered Muslims worldwide to leave their home country and become a so-called foreign fighter.
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Policy Brief | 27 Jul 2015 Motives and Considerations of Potential Foreign Fighters from the Netherlands
In this Policy Brief, Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker and Peter Grol studied several cases of potential foreign fighters. These observations form the basis of policy suggestions that could contribute to the prevention policy within the framework of the “Comprehensive Action Programme to Combat Jihadism” of the Dutch government.
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Research Paper | 1 Jul 2015 Identifying foreign terrorist fighters: The Role of Public-Private Partnership, Information Sharing and Financial Intelligence
In this Research Paper, Visiting Research Fellow Tom Keatinge asks what barriers exist to greater partnership and information sharing between the security authorities and the financial-services industry in tackling terrorism.
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Research Paper | 4 Jun 2015 Challenging the Narrative of the “Islamic State”
Dr. Alex Schmid identifies a dozen narrative themes of ISIS and discusses them from different angles in an attempt to show vulnerabilities and point the way towards developing convincing counter-arguments.
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Policy Brief | 26 May 2015 Pathways of Foreign Fighters: Policy Options and Their (Un)Intended Consequences
In this Policy Brief, Dr. Alastair Reed, Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn and Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker look at the different pathways foreign fighters could take once they have arrived in Syria or Iraq.
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Policy Brief | 26 May 2015 European Female Jihadists in Syria: Exploring an Under-Researched Topic
The number of young Western women travelling abroad to join the "Islamic State" (IS) continues to increase. However, little is known about these women, including their motivations and roles within organisations such as IS. This Background Note provides preliminary answers and explain what is known so far.
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Perspective | 21 Apr 2015 Responding to Foreign Fighters: A Quick Overview for People with Little Time
In this Commentary Dr. Christophe Paulussen gives a quick snap-shot of the foreign fighters phenomenon, which is a complex and multi-faceted issue.
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Perspective | 22 Jan 2015 Accountability and Transparency in the United States’ Counter-Terrorism Strategy
In this Commentary, Research Fellow Jessica Dorsey responds to the recently released CIA "Torture Report" and discusses the accountability and transparency in the counter-terrorism strategy of the United States.
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Policy Brief | 24 Dec 2014 Addressing the Foreign Terrorist Fighters Phenomenon From a European Union Perspective
A Policy Brief based on the expert meeting at the European Union to discuss the implications of UN Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014) on foreign fighters and to explore responses to the threat foreign fighters pose.
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Report | 7 Nov 2014 UN Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014): Challenges and Opportunities for EU Policy
Meeting Note of an expert meeting to discuss appropriate and effective responses to the threat of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs).
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Perspective | 4 Nov 2014 The New Security Council Resolution 2178 on Foreign Terrorist Fighters: A Missed Opportunity for a Holistic Approach
This Commentary reviews the new UN Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014) on foreign terrorist fighters.
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Policy Brief | 20 Jun 2014 Returning Western Foreign Fighters: The Case of Afghanistan, Bosnia and Somalia
In this Background Note, Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn and Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker investigate three historical cases of foreign fighting: Afghanistan (1980s), Bosnia (1990s) and Somalia (2000s).
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Perspective | 2 Apr 2014 The Return of Europe’s Foreign Fighters
This Commentary argues that the problem of returning foreign fighters to Europe will only increase and policymakers should look towards civil society and local communities for solutions.
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Research Paper | 16 Dec 2013 Dealing with European Foreign Fighters in Syria: Governance Challenges and Legal Implications
The increasing amount of foreign fighters brings the possibility that returnees have radicalised which makes them a potential threat.
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Perspective | 2 Dec 2013 The Syrian Foreign Fighters Problem: A Test Case from The Netherlands
A court in The Netherlands recently convicted two men who wanted to travel to Syria to join the jihad. This Commentary analyses the two judgements and their wider implications.
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Perspective | 10 Apr 2013 Destination Jihad: Why Syria and not Mali
This Commentary analyses the exodus of young European jihadists that are inundating Western intelligence services.
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