Special Issue SGA Journal: Jihadists in Syria and Iraq: Recalibrating Concepts, Threat Radar, and Reintegration Policies

08 September 2017

Edited by Michael Kowalski

As the caliphate in Syria and Iraq is declining or may be even falling apart altogether, a thorough analysis of the future threat and the development of reasonable policy responses based on meaningful theoretical concepts is urgently needed. In this issue of the Journal of Security and Global Affairs a fairly unique mix of perspectives is offered to get a better understanding of this pressing issue. Especially the combination of insights from both academic and governmental specialists can empower reflections on how to address future challenges in this field.

The contributions to this special issue of the Journal of Security and Global Affairs help to reconsider our conceptual assumptions, to recalibrate our threat radar and to rethink our take on dealing with juvenile extremists. I hope that the composition of this special issue inspires both academics and practitioners in their reflections on and dealings with the challenges ahead of us.

Articles:

De Bont, R., Weggemans, D., Peters, R. and Bakker, E. (2017) Life at ISIS: The Roles of Western Men, Women and Children 3-17

Wittendorp, S. (2017) Displacing the National Security-Narrative: on the (de-)securitization of the Governmental and Legal response to ‘Foreign Fighters’ 18-29

Van Miert, H. (2017) The Right Target in Sight? Returnees and the Current Jihadist Threat 30-41

Van der Heide, L and Geenen, J. (2017) Children of the Calipate: Young IS Returnees and the Reintegration Challenge 42-59

Please click here to read the special issue of the SGA Journal.

Organisation

Security and Global Affairs

Security and Global Affairs, published in open access by the Institute of Security and Global Affairs at Leiden University, is a refereed publication and manuscripts go through a blind review process. The focus of SGA is on a wide array of security topics and issues, providing a platform for the analysis of key issues within security and global affairs. In doing so, SGA aims to generate new ideas and improve the management of safety and security. These include, but are not limited to, items pertaining to the terrorism and counterterrorism, cybersecurity and cybercrime, political violence, innovative practices, policy development and implementation, evaluative research and the (global) players engaged in these enterprises. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, SGA seeks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and good practice. SGA publishes original articles that utilize a broad range of methodologies and international perspectives when examining pressing issues in safety and security across the globe.