Radicalized

By Peter R. Neumann

Book Description

Understanding the forces that drive individuals toward extremism has become one of our era's most pressing challenges. In "Radicalized," Peter R. Neumann examines the complex phenomenon of Western youth who abandoned their homelands to join ISIS in Syria and Iraq, only to return as trained operatives with dangerous intentions.

Drawing from extensive interviews and previously unrevealed materials, Neumann traces the journey of these "new jihadis" who emerged from the conflicts in Syria and Iraq beginning around 2015. His investigation reveals how thousands of young Europeans were drawn into ISIS territory, where they received military training and formed international networks before returning to plan devastating attacks on Western soil.

This analytical work explores the psychological and social mechanisms behind radicalization, offering readers insight into how ordinary individuals can be transformed into instruments of violence. Neumann's research illuminates the recruitment strategies, training methods, and operational networks that have created what he identifies as an unprecedented terrorist threat.

For those seeking to understand the darker aspects of human transformation and the forces that can corrupt spiritual seeking, this book provides a sobering examination of how ideological manipulation can redirect the human search for meaning toward destructive ends. Neumann's findings offer essential context for comprehending one of the defining security challenges of our time.