Explaining Variation in Western Jihadist' Choice Between Domestic and Foreign Fighting
Should I stay or should I go?
Hegghammer, Thomas. “Should I stay or should I go? Explaining variation in Western Jihadist’ choice between domestic and foreign fighting.” American Political Science Review, 2013.
The continued growth of attacks abroad has had a great impact on the world. In this article
“Should I stay or should I go?” the author attempts to analyze the motivation behind the
variations in conflict theatre choices of western Jihadist’. While some militants attack at home
and other abroad, there have been few questions behind their choice motivation. Hegghammer
describes “domestic fighters” as as a person who perpetrates or tries to perpetrate violence in the
West. He also describes “foreign fighting” as including any military activity, using any tactic,
against any enemy, so long as it occurs outside the west. The term “jihadist” describes
radicalized individuals using Islam as an ideological and/or religious justification for their belief
in the establishment of a global caliphate, or jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and
religious leader known as a caliph.
Throughout the article the author poses many different questions, I am going to focus on what I
feel are the ones he focuses upon the most. Such as why is foreign fighting the more frequent
choice for jihadist’? He has three different explanations for this distribution. (1) It is
easier, (2) They need training, (3)They tend to prefer it. His first hypothesis is that it is easier for
them to operate, because there is so much security in the place they live that they choose to
operate abroad where their actions are less scrutinized. His second hypothesis was that jihadist’
recruits train abroad first to gain more skill and capability. His third hypothesis surrounds his
idea that they prefer foreign fighting to domestic because they feel it has more meaning. Western
Jihadist’ tend to believe fighting in established
Hegghammer, Thomas. “Should I stay or should I go? Explaining variation in Western Jihadist’ choice between domestic and foreign fighting.” American Political Science Review, 2013.
The continued growth of attacks abroad has had a great impact on the world. In this article
“Should I stay or should I go?” the author attempts to analyze the motivation behind the
variations in conflict theatre choices of western Jihadist’. While some militants attack at home
and other abroad, there have been few questions behind their choice motivation. Hegghammer
describes “domestic fighters” as as a person who perpetrates or tries to perpetrate violence in the
West. He also describes “foreign fighting” as including any military activity, using any tactic,
against any enemy, so long as it occurs outside the west. The term “jihadist” describes
radicalized individuals using Islam as an ideological and/or religious justification for their belief
in the establishment of a global caliphate, or jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and
religious leader known as a caliph.
Throughout the article the author poses many different questions, I am going to focus on what I
feel are the ones he focuses upon the most. Such as why is foreign fighting the more frequent
choice for jihadist’? He has three different explanations for this distribution. (1) It is
easier, (2) They need training, (3)They tend to prefer it. His first hypothesis is that it is easier for
them to operate, because there is so much security in the place they live that they choose to
operate abroad where their actions are less scrutinized. His second hypothesis was that jihadist’
recruits train abroad first to gain more skill and capability. His third hypothesis surrounds his
idea that they prefer foreign fighting to domestic because they feel it has more meaning. Western
Jihadist’ tend to believe fighting in established