ISIS, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is a terrorist group that appeared as a branch of Al-Qaeda in 2014 and conquered large parts of Iraq and Syria. For a long time, ISIS waged an open and then guerrilla war with the civilized world and sought to create an invincible total institution with millions of citizens (Engel, 2018). This paper aims to discuss the particular practices of ISIS and its impact on humans.
Socialization is the familiarization of people with social norms, that is, a process that helps people function in society. Significant figures such as family members, religious leaders, or teachers play a large role in this lifelong process. ISIS used such techniques of socialization as school education, religious socialization using symbols, and socialization through traditions. For example, children in ISIS solve math problems where they count flowers and weapons. Physical education lessons take place in clothes with the symbols of the IS. Because socialization occurs with the participation and pressure of teachers, religious and political leaders, and parents, children from any country would behave the same under such influences, although children who already had previous socialization skills would certainly feel and demonstrate stress and rejection.
Resocialization is a process in which a person is taught norms and values when transitioning from one social role to another. Many people who voluntarily left their countries of residence and joined ISIS underwent resocialization and learned new values and ideologies. In Raqqa, young women were forcibly married to new husbands from local combatants, while men were recruited into guerrilla warfare for less responsible positions. The total institution is a closed social system where strict rules govern life. It is separated from society by space, property protection, and laws. Such a system includes prisons, military complexes, private schools, or closed psychiatric institutions. Notably, Hisbah had all the elements characteristic of the total institution.
Thus, the practices of ISIS and its impact on humans were discussed. The articles that I read enriched my understanding of the Islamic State and its practices without changing my view of the group, which was already negative. Highly likely, western people could not change the views of ISIS members on infidels, at least in the short term. It will be difficult because the ISIS members deliberately decided to become a part of their chosen social system. However, if the circumstances force them to make alternative decisions, they could be able to change their perceptions.
Reference
Engel, P. (2018). ‘Sometimes the gun is taller than the kid’: How ISIS uses schools to indoctrinate children.INSIDER.