By Kimberly Seif
Dr. Vera Mironova, a visiting scholar in the economics department at Harvard University, discussed the motivations and problems of foreign fighters with armed groups during a visit to her alma mater, the University of Maryland, on Oct. 15.
The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) hosted the conversation regarding her new book, “From Freedom Fighters to Jihadists: Human Resources of Non-State Armed Groups.”
Miranova explained that her book is divided into two different parts: local manpower groups and foreign fighters. Local manpower refers to local individuals and connections that armed groups have access to. Foreign fighters refers to people that leave their home country in order to join, or fight for, an armed group.
In Mironova’s book, she specifically discusses non-state armed groups, which can include organizations like ISIS or Jabhat Al Nusra. Mironova said she chose to study and report on foreign fighters because the groups they belong to have unique power structures compared to local manpower groups that are normally recruited for armed groups.
Foreign fighters can choose to join an armed group due to the monetary benefits they receive, or in hopes of receiving prestige and power. Another motivation is safety for themselves or their families, according to Mironova.
The foreign fighters who join these armed groups often come from all parts of the globe, which leads to language barriers and broken chains of command, as the fighters will choose to trust those who speak the same language as them.
Despite the problems that come with recruiting foreign fighters, armed groups continue to do so. Mironova explained that it was because they not only have training and connections but also are inclined to be more loyal fighters are enlisted voluntarily and would have nowhere to go if they abandoned the armed group.
“He’s dead if he’s not a part of a group,” Mironova said, describing the average foreign fighter.
Jade Cohen, forensic psychology graduate student at George Washington University, was impressed with the presentation. Cohen just started working at START for the Global Terrorism Database.
“It was very interesting and refreshing,” Cohen said.
Mironova’s book is the culmination of more than 600 interviews Mironova conducted in conflict and post-conflict zones with civilians and active and in-active fighters for armed groups like ISIS or Jabhat Al Nusra. Before becoming a Visiting Scholar at Harvard, Mironova received her Ph.D. in political science at the University of Maryland in 2017.
“Vera is one Terp that lives up to the logo [“Fearless Ideas”] if you know her at all,” said Gary LaFree, the founding director of START and the current chair of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
“From Freedom Fighters to Jihadists: Human Resources of Non-State Armed Groups” was published in June of 2019 as the first book in a series through START’s partnership with the Oxford University Press. LaFree said that the process to begin this book series began five years ago and involved a lot of dedication and hard work from the researchers and staff at START.
“I can’t tell you how good it is to actually see the real product here,” LaFree said.
Six other books are close to production as a part of the START and Oxford University Press book series.