Identity Formation and Islamic Radicalization in the 21st Century - The Jihadist Propaganda in French Prisons

The sudden expansion of ISIS over the past ten years has been a challenging topic for numerous experts on the field of international relations, who have sought to explain this rise of the jihadist ideology. And while there has been enough focus into analyzing the attacks and goals of the Islamic State in order for governments to implement counter strategies, the past four years have shifted the discussion into other aspects of the ISIS case. One topic of debate revolves around the explanation of how Islamic radicalization takes place within the Muslim youth of Europe. This thesis will make the case for linking Islamic radicalization with the effects of existential anxiety and identity insecurity within French prisons. Through constant interactions in society due to cultural globalization and which are enhanced by sentiments of isolation that the prison environment brings in, the thesis will analyze these connections with how the jihadist identity is promoted. By presenting Jihadism as the solution from this ‘identity crisis’, ISIS can radicalize and attain more followers. Lately this has been taking place within the isolated environment of French prisons. But why are French prisons so crucial for Islamic radicalization and why do they differ from the radicalization cases of young Muslims within the French society? These questions will be answered throughout the course of the thesis, finally linking the prisons to the historical perspective attributed to the creation of ISIS in order explain how identity formation can be linked so closely with the rise of extremist ideals. Finally the thesis will try to outline how this Islamic radicalization case on a domestic level of a prison can actually have consequences on an international scale.