Challenges to the integration of young Muslims in Europe and Spain: strategies and tactics of radical Islamist groups

Abstract

The study exposes the strategies and tactics of radical Islamism in Europe and Spain, to attract and
radicalize young Muslims with a religious, media and propagandistic content; from Al Qaeda, Daesh
or other related organizations that share the culture of jihad; chain of subjects, actions, messages and
propaganda to participate in a process of ideologization, to make use of violence in the jihad against
the West, way of life, social and political; and interfere in the democratic, liberal and legal process in
Europe.
This qualitative research, achieves approximations of individual characteristics and family, social, familiar
and economic conditioning factors of the vulnerable groups to the jihadist message; highlighting
ignorance or dissolution of their cultural, religious and ritual traditions; absence or weak individual,
family or community identity, experience of social, educational, labor or political discrimination and
economic inequality; facilitating the process of radicalization until their participation in acts of indiscriminate
violence.
This research was carried out in the city councils of Fuenlabrada and Leganés, Comunidad de Madrid
and Reus and L’ Hospitalet de Llobregat, Province of Tarragona, Comunidad de Cataluña, Spain;
through specialized bibliography, interviews to academic, police and intelligence experts, public attention
and social services workers, the contribution of Muslim community representatives; who make
emerge these elements and the need to improve strategies and preventive actions in Europe, reducing its
impact on the vulnerable population.