Now a group of scientists working on the frontline in Iraq have analysed what motivates such fighters in research they say could help combat extremists. As well as speaking to captured Isis fighters, the team carried out in-depth interviews with Arab Sunni combatants, as well as Kurdish fighters from the PKK, Peshmerga and members of the Iraqi army. With the sample size of fighters small, the team also quizzed more than 6,000 Spanish civilians through online surveys. Surveys of the Spanish population also revealed that they made links between spiritual – but not physical – strength and the willingness to make sacrifices. But the team stress that decisions made by devoted actors on the frontline were not made without emotional turmoil.

Source: The Guardian September 04, 2017 15:27 UTC