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What Explains the Flow of Foreign Fighters to ISIS?

Author

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  • Efraim Benmelech
  • Esteban F. Klor

Abstract

This paper provides the first systematic analysis of the link between economic, political, and social conditions and the global phenomenon of ISIS foreign fighters. We find that poor economic conditions do not drive participation in ISIS. In contrast, the number of ISIS foreign fighters is positively correlated with a country's GDP per capita and Human Development Index (HDI). In fact, many foreign fighters originate from countries with high levels of economic development, low income inequality, and highly developed political institutions. Other factors that explain the number of ISIS foreign fighters are the size of a country's Muslim population and its ethnic homogeneity. Although we cannot directly determine why people join ISIS, our results suggest that the flow of foreign fighters to ISIS is driven not by economic or political conditions but rather by ideology and the difficulty of assimilation into homogeneous Western countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Efraim Benmelech & Esteban F. Klor, 2016. "What Explains the Flow of Foreign Fighters to ISIS?," NBER Working Papers 22190, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:22190
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alan B. Krueger & Jitka Maleckova, 2003. "Education, Poverty and Terrorism: Is There a Causal Connection?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 17(4), pages 119-144, Fall.
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    6. Alberto Abadie, 2006. "Poverty, Political Freedom, and the Roots of Terrorism," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 96(2), pages 50-56, May.
    7. Keefer,Philip & Loayza,Norman (ed.), 2008. "Terrorism, Economic Development, and Political Openness," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521887588.
    8. Eric D. Gould & Esteban F. Klor, 2016. "The Long‐run Effect of 9/11: Terrorism, Backlash, and the Assimilation of Muslim Immigrants in the West," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 126(597), pages 2064-2114, November.
    9. Edward Miguel & Shanker Satyanath & Ernest Sergenti, 2004. "Economic Shocks and Civil Conflict: An Instrumental Variables Approach," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 112(4), pages 725-753, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Zeitzoff, 2017. "How Social Media Is Changing Conflict," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 61(9), pages 1970-1991, October.
    2. Meirav Mishali-Ram & Jonathan Fox, 2022. "Is governmental and societal discrimination against Muslim minorities behind foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq?," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 59(2), pages 122-135, March.
    3. Shantayanan Devarajan & Lili Mottaghi & Quy-Toan Do & Anne Brockmeyer & Clement Joubert & Kartika Bhatia & Mohamed Abdel-Jelil, "undated". "Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, October 2016," World Bank Publications - Reports 25087, The World Bank Group.
    4. Mohamed Abdel Jelil & Kartika Bhatia & Anne Brockmeyer & Quy-Toan Do & CleÌ ment Joubert, 2018. "Unemployment and Violent Extremism: Evidence from Daesh Foreign Recruits," HiCN Working Papers 273, Households in Conflict Network.
    5. Kiendrebeogo,Youssouf & Ianchovichina,Elena & Kiendrebeogo,Youssouf & Ianchovichina,Elena, 2016. "Who supports violent extremism in developing countries ? analysis of attitudes based on value surveys," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7691, The World Bank.
    6. Moamen Gouda & Marcus Marktanner, 2017. "Muslim Youth Unemployment and Expat Jihadism- Bored to Death?," Working Papers 1113, Economic Research Forum, revised 06 2003.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H0 - Public Economics - - General
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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