The recruitment of ISIS terrorists may have begun as an extremist
crusade in Iraq, but it has quickly become a global phenomenon that is
taking hold of people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and belief
systems. The iconic image of a terrorist as an old, angry,
middle-eastern man is long gone. It has since been replaced by young men
and women of all races and religious upbringings, in tactical gear and
ski masks, carrying heavy artillery. From the outside looking into the
Islamic State, most people see these men and women as nothing more than
evil terrorists with a psychotic penchant for violence. Internally, they
perceive themselves as freedom fighters or mujahedeen, who violate the
laws of men to protect their community according to the will of Allah.
Ultimately, neither of these perceptions are based in reality.
While some experts claim that terrorist recruitment is completely
random, criminologist Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco has identified clear
patterns which can be used to explain how regular people are being
conscripted into terrorism. Using interviews with convicted terrorists,
in-depth research and analysis of Jihadi propaganda, and case-specific
details, Dr. Mehlman-Orozco provides nuanced theories into the methods
of terrorist recruitment―methods which can be used to identify persons
at high risk of being targeted.
The Jihadi Next Door provides unprecedented information that can be
used to actually combat terrorism. By laying bare the tactics used by
ISIS to deceive and exploit new recruits and exposing the veneer these
extremists operate under, Dr. Mehlman-Orozco hopes to empower readers
with the knowledge needed to prevent future recruitment and thereby
preventing acts of terrorism.
