Disentangling the EU Foreign Fighter Threat: the Case for a Comprehensive Approach

Islamic extremists returning from fighting in Iraq and Syria pose a massive problem for European policymakers. But there are no quick fixes, argue Dr. Alastair Reed and Johanna Pohl in an article originally published as part of the RUSI Newsbrief Series.

In order to better understand and respond to the threat posed by the foreign fighter phenomenon, the authors argue that it is helpful to conceptualise the threat as four distinct but interlinked aspects which must be tackled collectively: the travel of foreign fighters to conflict theatres; their return to their countries of residence; deteriorating social cohesion and an increased risk posed by lone actors and terrorist sympathisers who do not travel as foreign fighters.