The Expansion of Neosalafism in Europe: Ideational Backgrounds and Security Consequences

Abstract

Before the emergence of ISIS, there was an idea that the danger of Neosalafism is limited in the Middle East but it is accepted that this kind of fundamentalism threatens international security. The growing number of European citizens joining Neosalafist groups such as ISIS shows that Europe is confronting one of the most important security dilemmas after World War II. What are the most important reasons of joining the European young people to Neosalafist groups? What are the main security consequences of this phenomenon in Europe? On the basis of Casstell's theory, the process of “identity making project" in Europe could not attract European Muslims and led to creation of “identity resistance" in European Muslims and expansion on Neosalafism. The aim of this article is to examine the reasons of the Neosalafism expansion in Europe and security consequences of this expansion in the European society.

Keywords

• security
• resistance identity
• neosalafism
• europe
• middle east