What draws youth to political violence?

Excalibur gets answers from Noam Chomsky and other professionals regarding sociological and religious theories behind extremism

---

Mohamud Mohamed, a York student with a seemingly promising future, left to join ISIS.

Although we can’t know for certain the circumstances Mohamed found himself in, we can try to create a profile as to what makes young men turn to political violence.

Terrorism involves spectacular and often unexpected killings in order to destabilize the social order and promote a greater cause.(1)

But what would drive these youths, why do they turn to political violence?

Is it religion? The Qur’an? Do they hate Western freedom? Do they just want to die?

Noam Chomsky, when asked by Excalibur about the role Islam plays in political violence says, “It [Islam] plays a role, but there are [other] reasons. Tribal cultures, the extreme Islamophobia in the West, and the many direct attacks on the Muslim world. It’s [political violence] by no means unique to Islam.”

The evidence from experts like Scott Atran (a French and American anthropologist), Robert Pape (an American political scientist), and Marc Sageman (former CIA Operations Officer) backs him up.continue reading...

1-Here I am using professor Atran's definition from his book Talking To The Enemy. Although other definitions exist.  [11/22/2014]