Abstract
Jihadism in Finland has followed a developmental trajectory, which differs somewhat from most Western European countries. Before the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011, Finland was one of the least exposed countries to the phenomenon in Europe. Contrarily, in the 2010s the country’s jihadi milieu has experienced a significant shift from consisting primarily of small, ethnically homogenous first-generation Muslim immigrant networks with a low capacity for outreach and activism to the current situation where larger and looser, multi-ethnic, and homegrown networks have emerged and demonstrated a significantly better capacity for activism, leading to higher levels of jihadist activity in the country. Indeed, Finland has experienced one of the largest – if not the largest – mobilisation to Syria and Iraq relative to Muslim population size. Yet, thus far Finland has been largely exempt from scholarly scrutiny. This thesis addresses this gap in the literature by examining how jihadism has manifested itself and developed in Finland between 2012 and 2020, and why. The overall purpose and primary contribution of the thesis is to provide the first systemic, empirically strong, and theoretically sound academic study of the phenomenon and its evolution in Finland.The thesis is an empirical case study, primarily combining qualitative analysis with few quantitative assessments. It will draw relevant data from several open sources. These include official reports and documents from various governmental agencies in Finland; official reports and documents from various international agencies; relevant journalistic articles from Finland and abroad; relevant pre-existing academic literature; and various online accounts belonging to Finnish extremists and militants. Despite being an empirical study, the thesis will situate in its analysis in social movement theory, and particularly resource mobilisation approach. Further, it will adopt a peripheral perspective, which will allow the thesis to better understand how jihadism takes root in Europe’s periphery and what the variations of jihadist activism are in regions where attacks occur rarely if at all. By adopting this analytical framework the thesis offers an empirically strong and theoretically grounded assessment of how jihadism has manifested itself and developed in Finland, and what the underlying causes behind its developmental trajectory are.
Between 2012 and 2020 jihadism in Finland has developed significantly in several ways, facilitated by the Syrian conflict and the rise of the IS and its caliphate project, and further aided by the jihadi digital empowerment revolution. Its milieu grew, the quality of its domestic activists increased, and collective activism has become more commonplace and effective, particularly due to the emergence of multi-ethnic and multigenerational extremist networks, which have significant international connections to jihadist actors abroad. While Finland has only experienced one jihadist terror attack to date, foreign fighting has become a common form of activism, almost solely in the context of the conflict in Syria and Iraq. As a consequence of the mobilisation, the Finnish profile in jihadist propaganda has strengthened and various jihadist actors have better knowledge about Finland and the Finnish jihadi milieu. This has already attracted external attention and activism targeting the country. Indeed, Finland is now more integrated to the global phenomenon, and regional trends are likely to be reflected in Finland to a greater degree than previously. The significance of these developments should not be exaggerated, however. Finland is still a peripheral and remote country in the broader European jihadi milieu. It still lacks radicalisation hubs, and its levels of jihadist radicalisation, activism, and violence are still low.
Jihadism’s developmental trajectory in Finland can be best understood from a resource mobilisation perspective. This perspective views surges of activism as a function of the ability of entrepreneurs to craft activist networks and exploit protest technologies. Indeed, in the Finnish case recruitment in the 2010s, particularly in the context of foreign fighting, has become much more common and effective than in the previous decade. The Syrian conflict, the IS caliphate project, and later the western-led military intervention against the group have all provided emotionally resonant causes and grievances. Domestic activists and networks as well as armed jihadist groups in the conflict zone have framed them in a way to suit their narratives of Islam under siege from infidels and disbelievers to amplify their recruitment activities, particularly online. The recruitment activities of key activists and networks were further improved by online freedom provided to them by the jihadi digital empowerment revolution.
| Date of Award | 1 May 2021 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
|
| Supervisor | Emmanouil Karagiannis (Supervisor) & Warren Chin (Supervisor) |