Overview

This book focuses on the involvement of some Kenyans in al-Shabaab, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda based in Somalia, despite their country’s relative stability compared to Somalia. It discusses the origin of the Kenyan state and how colonization created social stratification that benefited elites closer to the center, while excluding marginalized groups at the periphery. The argument is that this pattern still prevails, despite attempts to enhance equality, such as the adoption of a new constitution in 2010 promoting the devolution of power and resources. The persistence of this condition, it is argued, is what initially handed al-Qaeda and later al-Shabaab opportunities for mobilization, enabled by its creative politicization of religion. The heavy-handed tactics employed by security forces under the auspices of the ‘War on Terror’ further catalyzed this process, resulting in more Kenyan individuals joining the group. Using an historical and political process approach, the book shows how the interplay of structural conditions and al-Shabaab’s mobilization strategy linked with individuals’ motivations for joining the group. Based on individuals’ own narratives about their participation, the latter is empirically demonstrated to be non-linear, incorporating motivations beyond rational ones, contrary to the overemphasis on ideology in the literature on participation in groups similar to al-Shabaab. This book will of much interest to students of political violence, African politics, Islamic studies and International Relations.

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9781032391458

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Reviews

'Some of the best work on terrorism is not the product of government or think tank initiatives with big budgets but comes from independent researchers writing their Ph.D. thesis on a shoestring budget. Dr Noor Zitzmann's dissertation is a fine example of this. Her bottom-up empirical study, based on courageous field work, challenges many of the standard explanations about the radicalisation of young people who join a foreign jihad – in this case, Kenyan Muslims who joined al-Shabaab in Somalia.' Alex P. Schmid, Distinguished Fellow, International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, The Hague 'This book is a compelling exploration of the intricate nexus between exclusionary political processes, religious identities, and violent mobilization in East Africa. The result is a fresh perspective on the dynamics of extremist groups like Al-Shabaab and their ability to exploit Kenya’s stratified polity. Through meticulous research and analysis, this book sheds light on the multifaceted factors that lead individuals to join violent groups, weaving together the intricate connections between Al-Qaeda's transnational network, religious narratives, and the repressive practices experienced by certain communities in Kenya. By examining how local, regional, and international dimensions of Al-Shabaab's militancy converge in Kenya, Noor provides a comprehensive understanding of the group's strategies and the broader implications for the region's security. This nuanced and empirically-grounded research stands as a valuable contribution to the study of radicalization and political violence.' Mohamed Hafez, University of California, US

Author Information

Hawa Noor is an independent researcher, currently affiliated with the University of Bremen’s Institute for Intercultural and International Studies.

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