belgium

Moreover, this pseudo-state contains at least one semi-failed state. The fractured and paralysed state of Belgium has been a jihadi haven from which attacks could be launched. At least two of those implicated in the Paris attacks had links with the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek, as did jihadists involved in previous terrorist incidents.

http://www.newstatesman.com/2015/11/coming-anarchy-john-gray-isis-secrurity-hobbes

assuming 'belgium is a semi-failed state' is true

does it being a 'jihadi haven' have anything to do with that?

Depends on what you see as the root causes of radicalisation, I think. If you take the view that it's easier to inspire people to acts of terrorism if they have been racially marginalised - economically, socially, educationally and in terms of criminal justice - then Belgium iirc having the biggest disparity across racial lines in Europe and regularly topping the polls of racist attitudes might be a factor. Some of these figures are disputed. It's hard to separate that from the fractured nature of Belgian politics and Vlaams (in particular) nationalism.

Belgium also had incredibly lax gun laws for a long time, was slow to change them and failed to stem an influx of assault weapons from the Balkans. Whether that would have been different under a more effective government is open to question. Belgium developed a reputation with French and Dutch criminals as a place to buy weapons and plan stuff under less scrutiny.

On the other hand, France doesn't seem much further behind and the case could be made that both countries have the highest proportion of people with heritage in the key ISIS recruiting countries of Morocco and Tunisia so it might not make a huge amount of difference.

John Gray is a dork tbf

that's probably about as good an answer as his claim can get, in terms of linking this anomalously large contribution to jihad to belgium's constitutional issues

throwaway pejorative in an essay that in general is not that good; hobbes should be a subsidiary element rather than structuring....though he does at least identify an essential problem that exists whatever the local particulars in different countries

re vlaams blok etc, possibly although could go the other way, unlike most european countries the ancient, internal divide is more politically significant than the european/islamic one; though they must intensify each other

not sure about 'biggest disparity across racial lines,' even if that can be demonstrated, as you mentioned yourself in another thread, british pakistanis/bangladeshis fairly socially isolated, often poor, and produce relatively few active threats

different groups have autonomous factors that aren't reducible to the state and the majoritarian attitudes, in some instances that seem more important; muslim immigrant populations come from places with greater differences between themselves than exist between the european countries they have moved to (deobandi/salafi etc)

these both good, quite blackly funny article about a convert in syria and his peculiar father, and interview with belgian police specialist on jihadism with some actual knowledge of the islamic world/arabic

new yorker article suggests another constitutionally semi-failed state across the sea might be responsible for exporting this to belgium

Previously we were mostly dealing with “radical Islamists”—individuals radicalized toward violence by an extremist interpretation of Islam—but now we’re increasingly dealing with what are best described as “Islamized radicals.” The young Muslims from “inner-city” areas of Belgium, France, and other European countries joining up with the Islamic State were radical before they were religious. Their revolt from society manifested itself through petty crime and delinquency. Many are essentially part of street gangs. What the Islamic State brought in its wake was a new strain of Islam which legitimized their radical approach. These youngsters are getting quickly and completely sucked in.

The program’s final task was a written exam. The questions were rudimentary, including “What does Islam mean?” and “Should I vote?” (Members were discouraged from voting, on the ground that it acknowledged the legitimacy of the democratic process.) One student, whose exam was found in the police raid, scored eighty-four per cent. Today, he is believed to be a member of the religious police in Raqqa.