Toujours Le Choix: The Role of Entertainment Education in Radicalization Prevention

Abstract

This thesis addresses the issue of recruitment and radicalization of female non- Muslim adolescents in France by Islamic State. The principle research question is how the French government could incorporate Entertainment Education into their radicalization prevention strategy. The thesis is focused solely on this unique demographic, because it is a pressing concern for France and requires a new strategy.

The thesis begins by outlining the basic definitions and background of Jihadism and radical thinking. It then goes on to outline the history of women in terrorism. The thesis also summarizes insights and analyses from other counter-terrorism research facilities about Islamic States’ unique recruitment and radicalization strategy.

The thesis then outlines the radicalization process of young French girls, and the counter-radicalization campaign designed by the French government. It also defines and provides background information about Entertainment Education, and how it has been used around the world in various contexts. The theory section analyzes propaganda strategy as well as social learning theory. This includes the role of propaganda in terror recruitment and the role of social learning theory in Entertainment Education.

The analysis section outlines Entertainment Education case studies as well as the current French radicalization prevention strategy and highlights the potential for Entertainment Education to be incorporated into this new radicalization prevention campaign. The conclusion of the paper is that the French radicalization prevention strategy could benefit from the Entertainment Education method.