Online Recruitment into Extremist and Terrorist Organizations

• Main Authors: Irina B. Gaivoronskaya, Tatyana F. Fomina, Botagoz A. Amanzholova
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Moscow State University of Psychology and Education 2020-12-01
• Series: Психология и право
• Subjects: extremism; terrorism; terrorist; recruitment; religion; pseudo-religion; tools for influencing; manipulation; international terrorist organizations; schemes of involvement; suggestion mechanism; social networks; the problem of fighting against international terrorist organizations; security forces; national security
• Online Access: https://psyjournals.ru/psyandlaw/2020/n4/Gaivoronskaya_Fomina_Amanzholova.shtml

This article addresses extremism and terrorism as forms of violent actions, intense recruitment of individuals into the rank-and-file membership of organized formations and using those individuals as direct perpetrators of unlawful acts, as well as most common psychological traps for engaging into international terrorist organizations. It has been noted that extremism and terrorism have become a serious challenge for the modern world, increasingly threatening the security of many countries. A mechanism is outlined for drawing individuals into international terrorist organizations using social networks. The article describes in detail that most vulnerable to suggestions are teenagers, young people who haven't found their place in life and who have psychological problems, young girls who haven't been successful in their personal lives and of those who use the internet for games. Additionally, the article raises the issue of fighting against the modern-day terrorism which makes use of various tools to bring into play the recruits and make them perform terrorist acts. Strategies of fighting against terrorists are described.