Foreign fighters: Motivations for travel to foreign conflicts

Abstract

The phenomenon of foreign fighters predates ISIS. Islamist extremist, far left, far right, and ethno nationalist groups have recruited individuals to fight for their cause overseas. This chapter aims to use empirical evidence to add to the currently understudied body of literature regarding what drives an individual to fight in a foreign conflict. Although this chapter was built on an understanding of the secondary literature, it was primarily informed by a series of interviews carried out with individuals that have personally experienced or intended to engage in foreign fighter travel, from former members of the Provisional IRA through to former members of Jihadist organisations. This chapter suggests that there are three prevailing motivations that drive an individual to want to fight overseas: outrage at what is taking place in the country they wish to travel to, adherence to the ideology of the group they wish to join, and a search for identity and meaning in their personal lives.