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Gang Affiliation and Radicalization to Violent Extremism within Somali-American Communities

Award Information

Award #
2014-ZA-BX-0001
Funding Category
Continuation
Location
Awardee County
Suffolk
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2014
Total funding (to date)
$1,172,055

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2014, $331,241)

Approximately 40 young Somali-Americans are believed to have left the United States to join al-Shabaab. Somali-American communities have also faced significant gang activity. To what degree are these two phenomena, radicalization to violent extremism and gang involvement, related? The overall goal of this project is to conduct in-depth analyses of risk and resiliency in relation to both gang affiliation and radicalization to violent extremism among Somali youth resettled in North America.
Specific Aim 1: To understand how psychosocial and demographic factors relate to support for violent activism and gang affiliation. In year 1, using Structural Equation Modeling we will analyze how known risk and protective factors relate to gang affiliation and support for violent activism among a general population of Somali youth resettled in North America. We will analyze a pre-existing dataset
(PI: Ellis) that includes longitudinal interview data on Somali youth in 5 communities in North America (Minneapolis, Boston, Lewiston/Portland ME, Toronto; N = 465, 291 male, 174 female, ages 18-30). Using a concurrent triangulation strategy, qualitative in-depth interview data from a
subset of participants from the above-mentioned study (N = 36) as well as previously-collected focus group data (N = 36 Somali males ages 18-25 who participated in 9 focus groups) will be analyzed.

Specific Aim 2: To understand the role of gang affiliation (or lack thereof) in the radicalization to violent extremism of Somali youth who left Minneapolis to join al-Shabaab through analysis of in-depth case studies.

In year 1 and during the first 3.14 months of year 2, we will complete interviews related to this aim, and then using a combination of open source data analysis, psychological autopsy and case analysis methodology, we will develop 4 in-depth case studies of Somali youth who left
Minneapolis to join al-Shabaab (total N for year 2 = 23, males aged 22-30).

Specific Aim 3: Drawing on findings of the above specific aims, we will develop a theoretical model of the overlap and divergence of gang affiliation and radicalization to violent extremism among Somali youth in the U.S.

During year 1 and during the first 3.14 months of year 2, we will work on scholarly
products including the completion of 1 manuscript and preparation of the 2nd, the development of our first set of policy briefs, the development of a database of the in-depth case studies of Somali youth who left Minnesota to joined al-Shabaab, and an interim report.
ca/ncf

Date Created: September 15, 2014