NCJ Number
224840
Date Published
2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the procedures and tactics used by Turkish terrorist organizations to recruit youth and then cultivate them to commit terrorist acts.
Abstract
Adolescence is a period in which youth forge a sense of identity and purpose in their lives. This makes them vulnerable to manipulation by others. Terrorist organizations focus on those youth who have social, psychological, and family problems, because they are the most vulnerable to manipulation and cultivation for the organization‘s goals. In discussing how terrorist organizations play upon these factors in a youths life, this paper discusses Turkish youth and Turkish terrorist organizations. Problems faced by youth in Turkey are unemployment, education, housing, nourishment, health, and lack of cultural identity. Psychologically, Turkish youth, as well as youth in other cultures, are searching for self-confidence, adventure, an exciting direction for their lives, idealistic purposes, and independence from parents and other representatives of authority. Regarding the latter factor, parents in Turkish society tend to raise their children in an overly protective and authoritative manner. Research has shown that Turkish youth complain about not being taken seriously by their parents, not being understood by their parents, and being treated too strictly. When a youth is not being perceived and treated as a mature person within the family, he/she searches for a social environment where he/she is valued and given adult responsibilities. The latter portion of this paper discusses the methods used by terrorist organizations to attract Turkish youth through social and psychological methods. The paper concludes with a section on how youth are trained to be militants through ideological and theoretical education as well as practical training. The developmental sequence of training is outlined. 5 tables and 67 references