Youth recruitment by extremist and terrorist groups is not a new phenomenon, but it has become more sophisticated and widespread due to advances in propaganda, social media, and targeted strategies. Terrorist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram actively recruit vulnerable youth by appealing to their psychological needs and exploiting their environments. Research indicates that these pull factors—seeking identity, revenge, thrill, and status—are more immediate and impactful in driving youth radicalization than broader systemic push factors like poverty or political instability. Introduction
Over 4,600 foreign minors have been affiliated with ISIS, and children as young as seven have served as suicide bombers for Boko Haram. Youth often join these groups due to personal grievances, emotional vulnerability, or the need to belong.
While push factors contribute to an environment of instability, addressing these systemic issues requires immense financial and political resources, often yielding slow results. Conversely, addressing pull factors through focused, activity-based interventions and counter-narrative campaigns offers a direct, cost-effective solution. This paper calls for a shift in focus: targeting pull factors through scalable, community-based programs and digital counter-narratives. By analyzing case studies and program outcomes, this white paper presents a blueprint for combating youth radicalization.
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