France and Belgium are two of the top countries in Europe with an increasing number of root fighters. Over the last two years, both countries have been primary targets of terrorism. This thesis investigates the repeated pattern of events and analyzes from a birds-eye view the cycle leading to the rise of terrorism in France and Belgium. This research disputes that anxiety causes discrimination and lack of integration in France and Belgium, which contributes an identity crisis. In essence, these factors trigger radicalization and lead to terrorism. Analyzing the patterns of terrorist activity and the path of radicalization is essential to preclude individuals from joining terrorist organizations. This research aims to recognize key elements of understanding the correlation between radicalism, identity, and sense of belonging.
","abstract_html":"<p>France and Belgium are two of the top countries in Europe with an increasing number of root fighters. Over the last two years, both countries have been primary targets of terrorism. This thesis investigates the repeated pattern of events and analyzes from a birds-eye view the cycle leading to the rise of terrorism in France and Belgium. This research disputes that anxiety causes discrimination and lack of integration in France and Belgium, which contributes an identity crisis. In essence, these factors trigger radicalization and lead to terrorism. Analyzing the patterns of terrorist activity and the path of radicalization is essential to preclude individuals from joining terrorist organizations. This research aims to recognize key elements of understanding the correlation between radicalism, identity, and sense of belonging.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Martinez, Magdalena"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"International Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Olivier Bercault"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-12-16T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2016-12-16T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:43:46Z","subjects":["Radicalism","Identity","sense of belonging","repeated patterns","discrimination","integration","recruitment","terrorism","terrorist attacks","vulnerability","public anxiety","secularism","Defense and Security Studies","Other International and Area Studies","Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/195","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Olivier Bercault"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Martinez, Magdalena"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2016-12-13T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["International Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Radicalism","Identity","sense of belonging","repeated patterns","discrimination","integration","recruitment","terrorism","terrorist attacks","vulnerability","public anxiety","secularism","Defense and Security Studies","Other International and Area Studies","Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/195"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["France and Belgium are two of the top countries in Europe with an increasing number of root fighters. Over the last two years, both countries have been primary targets of terrorism. This thesis investigates the repeated pattern of events and analyzes from a birds-eye view the cycle leading to the rise of terrorism in France and Belgium. This research disputes that anxiety causes discrimination and lack of integration in France and Belgium, which contributes an identity crisis. In essence, these factors trigger radicalization and lead to terrorism. Analyzing the patterns of terrorist activity and the path of radicalization is essential to preclude individuals from joining terrorist organizations. This research aims to recognize key elements of understanding the correlation between radicalism, identity, and sense of belonging.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Loss of Identity, Radicalization, and Terrorism"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Olivier Bercault"],"dc:creator":["Martinez, Magdalena"],"dc:date.available":["2016-12-13T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["France and Belgium are two of the top countries in Europe with an increasing number of root fighters. Over the last two years, both countries have been primary targets of terrorism. This thesis investigates the repeated pattern of events and analyzes from a birds-eye view the cycle leading to the rise of terrorism in France and Belgium. This research disputes that anxiety causes discrimination and lack of integration in France and Belgium, which contributes an identity crisis. In essence, these factors trigger radicalization and lead to terrorism. Analyzing the patterns of terrorist activity and the path of radicalization is essential to preclude individuals from joining terrorist organizations. This research aims to recognize key elements of understanding the correlation between radicalism, identity, and sense of belonging.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/195"],"dc:subject":["Radicalism","Identity","sense of belonging","repeated patterns","discrimination","integration","recruitment","terrorism","terrorist attacks","vulnerability","public anxiety","secularism","Defense and Security Studies","Other International and Area Studies","Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration"],"dc:title":["Loss of Identity, Radicalization, and Terrorism"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["International Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:43:46Z"}