Engaging in Salafi-Jihadist Terrorism: A Quest for Self-Redemption

This analysis argues that the redemptive narrative is intertwined with intrinsic motives which are tied to existence as well as identity formation and perception. Through applying Maria Lugones multi-layered notion of selfhood to the narratives of convicted terrorists, this dissertation attempts to demonstrate that the lived experience of foreign fighters is rooted in a profoundly conflicted notion of selfhood. Narratives of radical redemption provide an escape from this existential contradiction, since they intrinsically motivate individuals to give meaning to their actions by allowing them to frame their life-stories in a context of positive transformation. Prefabricated narratives, especially of radical redemption, play into this desire for self-liberation in a most effective way. This analysis postulates that Salafi-Jihadists realize the efficacy of sanctioning violence in the name of religion and have further cultivated the relationship between religion and violence by...Show moreThis analysis argues that the redemptive narrative is intertwined with intrinsic motives which are tied to existence as well as identity formation and perception. Through applying Maria Lugones multi-layered notion of selfhood to the narratives of convicted terrorists, this dissertation attempts to demonstrate that the lived experience of foreign fighters is rooted in a profoundly conflicted notion of selfhood. Narratives of radical redemption provide an escape from this existential contradiction, since they intrinsically motivate individuals to give meaning to their actions by allowing them to frame their life-stories in a context of positive transformation. Prefabricated narratives, especially of radical redemption, play into this desire for self-liberation in a most effective way. This analysis postulates that Salafi-Jihadists realize the efficacy of sanctioning violence in the name of religion and have further cultivated the relationship between religion and violence by propagating a robust narrative of radical redemption for the self as well as the collective Umma in a spiritual and physical way. Therefore, this dissertation additionally highlights the intellectual value of implementing philosophical methodologies in counterterrorism studies and stresses the importance of monitoring potentially threatening narratives through intelligence agencies.Show less

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Engaging in Salafi-Jihadist Terrorism: A Quest for Self-Redemption