Motivating Factors in Al-Shabaab Recruitment in Minneapolis, Minnesota
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Lorrie Flores
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Mbaye, Heather
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Walden University
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2016
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
151
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
Committee members: Benet, William; Kelsey, Gary
NOTES PERTAINING TO PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC.
Text of Note
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-369-39388-0
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Discipline of degree
Public Policy and Administration
Body granting the degree
Walden University
Text preceding or following the note
2016
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Over the past 5 years, a number of U.S. citizens residing in Minneapolis have been reported to have been recruited and radicalized by Al-Shabaab, organization that has played a role in major international terrorist attacks. This, in turn, creates a significant concern related to national security in the United States. Using Hirsch's social bond theory and Merton's theory of relative depravation, the purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the factors that motivate radicalization of young males aged 18 to 25 in Minneapolis. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 6 Somali American adults between the ages of 18 to 25 years old and 6 Somali American community leaders. Data were coded using Posteriori word coding and analyzed using a thematic analysis procedure. Findings indicated participants perceive that social inequality among American Somali participants contributes to motivation to radicalize. Similarly, the level of attachment and commitment to family and other social units the participants experienced played a role in the decision to radicalize or not. To deter this phenomenon, recommendations to the United States government include developing empowerment programs to provide educational and employment opportunities to American Somali communities. Both groups suggested in using media to help effect positive social change through unbiased news reporting, which does not aggravate the sense of social injustice against Muslims. By creating programs or educational campaigns against terrorism, the media can be used to educate young Somali Americans.
TOPICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
Public policy
UNCONTROLLED SUBJECT TERMS
Subject Term
Social sciences;Minnesota;Somali americans;Terrorism recruitment