Abstract
Although terrorism is not linked to Islam as such, it remains to be explained why today, the call to Holy War and the perpetration of spectacular acts of violence are so appealing to some young people from the marginalized sectors of large cities. To understand what drives them to commit 'terrorist attacks', it is necessary to take into account the socio-cultural and political context in which they are living their youth. One can suspect that they have never felt fully accepted in a dominant society that segregates them and does not recognize the traditional values of their parents, nor their religion. Hence the tendency to transgressions and delinquency in adolescence as a way of claiming an existence of their own. This opens the way for them to prison where mistreatment and humiliation await them. In these circumstances, radical Islam becomes for them a salvation table that offers them an opportunity to become heroes and finally have a moment of prominence, to be someone, even if it means dying in the act.
Translated title of the contribution | They call them terrorists. Some young like many others |
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Original language | Spanish (Ecuador) |
Pages (from-to) | 149-168 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Universitas |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 30 Dec 2016 |
Keywords
- Adolescence
- Juvenile delinquency
- Marginality
- Narcissism
- Suicide attack
- Terrorism
- Violent act
CACES Knowledge Areas
- 413A Social and Cultural Studies