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Abstract
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has attracted many foreign fighters from all over the world. ISIS has disseminated voluminous propaganda in painting itself as the defender of Islam. The core of ISIS messages is designed to have a global religious appeal. At the same time, ISIS has incorporated local issues and grievances into its propaganda message. The analysis of Georgia's experiences with foreign fighters reveals that ISIS has exploited local issues to attract recruits, demonstrating that, even though foreign fighter recruitment seems global, it inevitably draws on local roots.
Acknowledgement
The author would like to thank all the individuals who helped carry out this research. My special thanks are extended to Dr Tricia Bacon, Dr Thomas Marks and Giorgi Goguadze, whose insights helped make this work better. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense, or the US Government.
Notes
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2 Author's interview with local expert on minorities 1, Tbilisi, Georgia, 26 July 2017.
3 Author's interview with representatives of the Muslim community in Tbilisi, Georgia, 25 July 2017.
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8 Islam in Georgia: Policy and Integration (Tbilisi, Caucasian House, 2016, p. 16).
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20 A terrorist organisation operating in the North Caucasus.
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34 Because of the Chechen–Kist connection and the influence of the North Caucasus, Georgian foreign fighters are often lumped into the broader group of ‘Chechens’.
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Additional information
Notes on contributors
Elena Pokalova
Elena Pokalova, Associate Professor, College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Lincoln Hall 2140, Washington, DC 20319, USA. Email: [email protected]