Social Environment, Individual Characteristics, Religion, and Radicalization: The Case of Turkish Hizbullah

Based on quantitative data obtained from 467 handwritten background reports prepared by members of Turkish Hizbullah, this study examines the relationship between some individual and social characteristics of the militants and radicalization process in this terrorist organization. There are basically three basic categories into which the members of the organization can be placed: 1) low level; members who only joined the lectures of the organization, 2) middle level; members who have any kind of responsibility in the organization, and 3) high level; members who are in military wing. In order to legitimize its activities, the organization abuses the religious concepts ideologically. The findings regarding the level of religiosity of the members, however, are quite surprising. That is, before-joining religiosity level of the military wing members is the lowest when before-joining religiosity levels of the members in all three categories are concerned. The results concerning the level of practicing religious practices among members are also consistent with previous findings.