Browsing by Subject "reintegraatio"

This thesis studies the issue of children affiliated with ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), referring to children who can be linked to the radical Sunni Muslim organization by living under its rule or based upon their parent’s association with it. The organization occupied a considerable territory in Iraq and Syria in 2014 using extremely violent practices. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world travelled to join the organization, which has been known to train boys as young as nine to fight, whereas girls of same age have been perceived as fit for marriage. Finnish people also travelled to the area and once the last territories that ISIS had controlled were conquered back in the year of 2019, Finnish women and children were taken to al-Hol camp in Syria. This sparked an intense public discussion concerning their possible return to Finland, followed by the Finnish government stating in late 2019 that it aims to repatriate the children as soon as possible. In October 2020, some children and families have returned to Finland, and less than ten Finnish adults and about twenty children are still at the camp. This thesis studies the subject of children affiliated with ISIS, because it is not merely a political issue but also a social work issue. In Finland, for example child welfare social workers can encounter the returning children, as they can be assumed to need support upon arrival. The aim of this thesis is to form a comprehensive picture of children affiliated with ISIS, providing social workers with useful knowledge of an underresearched subject. A mixed method approach of using scoping study as the research method is used to map and present relevant literature on the topic. The following five step methodological framework for scoping studies is used: 1) identifying the research question, 2) identifying relevant studies, 3) study selection, 4) charting the data, and 5) collating, summarizing and reporting the results. The fifth step of the framework includes a twofold analysis with both quantitative and qualitative analysis methods. Firstly, numerical information is analyzed to describe the characteristics of the data. Secondly, a thematic analysis is conducted, and social ecology theory is used as a tool in applying meaning to the findings of it. Literature on child soldier reintegration also informs the process of reflecting upon the results and fully answering the following research questions: “In the existing literature, what has been researched about the children affiliated with ISIS?” and “In the identified literature, how are these children framed and which factors are linked to their experiences?”. The dataset is composed of 16 texts that have been published in 2016–2019, including peer-reviewed articles, reports, research papers and policy briefs. The results of studying the characteristics of the data show that literature on children affiliated with ISIS is diverse in its nature and includes gaps. Only two texts in the data use empirical data and only four of the texts have clear links to Iraq or Syria in the form of author, publisher or data collection. Thus, a need for more local research and analysis on the issue, as well as a need to use more firsthand empirical data, is apparent. As a result of the thematic analysis, two main themes with two subthemes each are identified: “The time in ISIS” with the subthemes “Children as an unprecedented problem” and “A life immersed in violence”, as well as the theme “Challenges in reintegration” with the subthemes “An urgent and complex matter” and “Recommendations”. The themes paint a picture of ISIS’ comprehensive and all-encompassing influence on the lives of children living in its territory. Using social ecology theory, factors that shape their lives are identified on each level of the children’s social ecology systems. The interconnected nature of these factors and the complexity of the issue at hand is clear. Social work with children affiliated with ISIS must take this into account and address the following matters: the children can hold dual identities as both victims and perpetrators of violence, and it is possible that they have been desensitized to violence and exposed to a comprehensive cycle of propaganda and systemic radicalization. Reintegration practices need to address the children’s complex and multifaceted needs in a tight time frame as the issue is urgent and has its risks. Individual assessments should be the basis for addressing the diverse needs, while support should also engage the existing social ties and make use of the community’s resources. Future social work research on the issue should address the gaps identified in the data and provide more detailed recommendations for suitable practices to be used in social work.