Beyond defection
A narrative analysis of disillusioned Isis foreign fighters
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21837388 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Afsaneh Seifinaji (0000-0002-9900-9122, The University of Melbourne, corresponding author), Shahram Akbarzadeh (0000-0001-8829-9147, Deakin University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-22 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-22 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1943-4480 • E-ISSN: 1943-4472 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/19434472.2026.2689350 |
| OpenAlex | W7165682529 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 19 |
This article uses narrative analysis to examine disillusionment among former ISIS foreign fighters through a dataset of publicly available media interviews. The study draws on these journalistic accounts and conceptualises disillusionment as a process emerging from interconnected factors of deception, unmet expectations, inhumane practices and coercion. A central pattern across the narratives is the dissonance between recruits’ initial beliefs and expectations that is often shaped by idealised notions of jihad and moral purpose and the lived realities of life under ISIS rule. Exposure to violence, internal repression and organisational contradictions led many individuals to question the group’s legitimacy and reassess their ideological commitments. The analysis further demonstrates how sustained environments of fear and intimidation intensified cognitive dissonance and contributed to disengagement. These findings suggest that disillusionment develops through overlapping moral, emotional and experiential tensions rather than a single causal pathway. The study offers important insights into disengagement processes and has broader implications for understanding other violent extremist movements and informing counter-terrorism interventions
Cognitive dissonance · Disengagement theory · Experiential learning · Ideology · Intimidation · Legitimacy · Narrative · Narrative inquiry · Terrorism · Forgiveness and Related Behaviors · Islamic Studies and Radicalism · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
Who Goes, Why, and With What Effects
Holy Warriors
Is Drew This Dream Picture—like Floating on a Pink Cloud”
The Jihad Feminist Dynamics of Terrorism and Subordination of Women in the Isis
Isis in Their Own Words
Pro-integration
Why Jihadis Switch
A Strategy for the Isis Foreign Fighter Threat
Why They Leave
A Comparative Analysis of the Data on Western Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq
The Language of Radicalization
Criminal or Terrorist? Fear, Bias, and Public Support for Prisoner Reentry Programs
What Explains the Flow of Foreign Fighters to Isis
Turning away from terrorism
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |