ISIS recruitment from the South Caucasus: the case of Georgia

Abstract

The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant is the most discussed terrorist organization of our days and has reached new levels recently. With the evolution of the organization, many foreign fighters have been attracted to join the ranks of ISIS. This research concentrates on the case of recruitment of new fighters from Georgia and tries to give answers to how and why some Georgian citizens from some regions are becoming part of the Islamic State. The sources covered have showed that the recruitment processes taking place in the region of Pankisi Gorge carry both online and face-to-face characters. The population of the Pankisi Gorge is an easy target for the ISIS; Chechen fighters, Kists (Muslim Georgians) and young men from poor families are included in the targeted population of the IS. The analyses made show that there are both religious and socio-economic reasons for the Georgian citizens from this region to decide in favor of joining ISIS: feeling vulnerable as religious minorities under Orthodox Church, eliminations of justice, earning money and becoming a hero. Considering the importance of the issue of terrorism, the research also includes a chapter on how the Georgian government deals with the external and internal threats of terrorism.