Radicalization, religious identity formation, and terrorism in the Middle East

Radicalization and self-identity are some of the key terms related to what is normally happening in the world today: terrorism. Radicalization is blamed for the rising occurrences of terrorism cases around the like the Boko Haram in Nigeria, the Al Shabaab in East Africa, and the jihadist's movements in the various Islamic States in Lebanon and Syria. They have caused structured and adverse terrorism in various parts of the world. Borum (2011) mentions the different interpretations among scholars and even psychological and sociological experts while trying to explore the whole concept of terrorism in the world (Hossain, 2008).

The occurrence of the recent attacks in Paris, Beirut, Kenya, Nigeria, Canada, among others, all raise many questions on the turn that humanity is taking as regards life. What does happen to individuals to make them engage in such activities? What has lacked in the society or what is the factor behind the evolution of this behavior among the people? For how long will the people go "mad" and start killing others like animals? All these questions are explained behind certain adherences to the religion, which spans sociological and psychological changes among the people, thereby resulting in the present understanding of radicalization. Nevertheless, radicalization does not take place without the influence on the person, which is the identity Borum (2011) suggests that the world changes with the attachments that people absorb into their lives. The changes and transformations that take place among the people are essential and influential in influencing the change of attitude, intentions, among other attributes in people (Borum, 2011).

This study analyzes the concept of radicalization and self-identity especially on origin, understanding, the present state, and the future possibilities associated with radicalization and the way human self-identities will be tied to the happenings in the world. The study has explored the processes of identity formation besides understanding the concept of identity and self-identity. The theories that inform the process of identity formation have also been explored together with the factors essential and crucial in influencing the formation of identities in people. Much of the study has also endeavored to explore the role that religion plays in the process of identity formation. The concept of religion concerning identity has also been explored (Hossain, 2008).

The concepts of identity, identity formation, and the influences of religion have then been brought together to explore the concept of terrorism, defining out who is a terrorist. New forms of terrorism that have emerged in the world have been studied, with special reference given to those that have taken place in the middle east and other parts of the world like that of the 9/11 in the U.S. More specification has been given to the study of the rise of ISIL and the process of radicalization in the Middle East, specifically Lebanon and other related regions. Finally, the study has summed up the theme with an analysis of the cases of adjudication that have been done in the U.S., explaining how the identity transformation worked about these cases (Hossain, 2008).

Define clearly the concept 'identity.'

The Oxford English Dictionary defines identity as 'the characteristic determining who or what a person or thing is.' This definition is also further appraised by the understanding that identity refers to a collection or sum of the characteristics that define a person or a thing (Liles, 2012). Therefore, identity is what defines a person. The characteristics used to define a person include those that are physically felt, psychologically derived, mentally studied and realized, and those that come from the synthesis of what a person does or how he does things in life. For instance, a soldier is identified, or his identified is realized and understood through attributes like being disciplined, hardworking, persevering, skillful, accurate, and strong, among others. A terrorist would be identified by the attributes of being selfish, merciless, inhuman, and inconsiderate, among other attributes (Hossain, 2008).

The identity of a person considers not one or two things; rather, it considers some things that inform about everything on a person or a thing. The specific activities determined by a person are the actions. The most notable are the actions, which are informed psychologically by the inherent cognitive values in a person (Hossain, 2008). From these attributes, a person can be understood and explained regarding the impulsive gestures, the thoughts, the actions, and the feelings. It is from the concept of identity that one will be able to understand that people are sometimes influenced in one way or another, through their identities, to engage in extremism from the ideologies that impart them into their lives hence forming extremist identities. Hossain (2008) indicates that it is possible for a person to be involved in anything depending on the nature of the identity that has been developed and activated in a person. He identifies some influences associated with the formation of identity, the effects of different identities, and the development or extremist identities. Of most importance from this study is the fact that identity is a driving force in the life of a person. It is from the nature of the identity and its attributes that one can formulate the behaviors, actions, and even the feelings of a person (Smith, 2008).

Keaton and Gearhart (2013) in his research indicates that identity is something that no one is born with, rather, it is developed. The different developmental processes that a person undergoes in the process of growth and development can influence an inherent identity. Identity is a factor of many things, and becomes a force influencing the decisions, actions, and feelings of a person when it has developed. Keaton and Gearhart (2013) further say that identity is influenced by the external and the internal factors, but its decisiveness is personal. In most cases, identity has been referred as 'personal identity' and not just identity. The identity associated with terrorism and radicalization is derived from the personal identity that has been influenced by some factors, most of which are external. Identity evolves through the course of life (Keaton & Gearhart, 2013).

Some of the aspects of identity are out of control in a person while others are intentional and can be controlled amicably. The identity is demonstrated through some factors like how a person dresses, responds to the pressures of the society, and how a person views and interacts with people. Identity influences a person to take life as a sanctified thing, influences a person to perceive life as nothing, and can be terminated with ease. The religious philosophy influences the belief system in a person. Such a belief system is initiated by the actions of a person based on the nature of decisions that have been taken (Keaton & Gearhart, 2013)

Mention Identity Formation Process

Identity can be viewed from different perspectives. These perspectives are informed by the mechanisms that contribute or cause the formation of the different and distinct personal identities in people. They are the discourses under which identities are formed and perpetuated in the society (Identity and Pluralism: Ethnicity, Religion, and Values, 2008). They include cultural identities, ethnic identities, national identities, religious identities, cultural identities, among others. Cultures vary depending on the nature of people within a region around the globe. Culture is a way of people in a certain place at a particular time and with a certain realm of the environment. Culture has a great power to influence the identity of a person. For instance, the culture of the people of the Middle East makes men in this region to treat women as 'nothing.' Culture belongs to a group of people and transmitted from one generation to another. Thus, it has to be transmitted in through different channels like encrypting it in the identity of the people, education, among others. On the other hand, a religious identity refers to a collection of beliefs together with rituals and practices that have been made intrinsic in a person, like adhering to codes of beliefs that inform the decisions and intentions of everyday life (Smith, 2008).

Of much significance, with relevance to the topic under study, are the religious identities, and their significance in the lives of the people. The religious identities touch on the history, the pieces of writings in the form of teachings, the mythology, the mystic experiences, and the traditions of the people. All these have the innate power to influence the identity of a person, and hence can make a person make rational and even irrational decisions leading to actions. Other forms of identities, which are categorical and influential in the process of identity formation, include the national identity, like the identity of the people of France. These people mourned the deaths of the Paris attacks by offering flowers, candles, and many other such things to the death and the victims (Identity and Pluralism: Ethnicity, Religion, and Values, 2008).

Identity Formation Process

The process of formation of identity refers to the development of a person's distinct personality, perceived as an entity that will persist in a certain stage of life through which a person will be known (Smith, 2008). The different pieces of identity formation take place within a person in the form of sense to be unique, the sense to be continuous, together with the sense to be affiliated. The process of formation of identity influences the individual identity through the mechanisms, which the person thinks, or perceives his life while independent (van Stekelenburg, 2014). The processes of identity formation are all geared towards framing a whole that has been put together by different differentiated facets, most of which are observable while others are discrete. It is through this phase of identity formation that even the external factors become imperative in the formation of this whole. Kerpelman (2006) in the end, what is formed is a whole that is indivisible, stable, and active. The attributes of the whole are characteristics of the differentiated parts, most of which are external. For instance, various researchers, Kerpelman (2006), Indicate that the religious teachings are strong towards informing people on how they are supposed to behave, made decisions, and the do's and don't's within a society.

People access and possess social identity together with group identity through their affiliations. The aspect of self-concept refers to the total of an individual's knowledge together with an understanding of the self. In a society, people are affiliated with different structural organizations. Within this organizations and groups, they are absorbed into the attributes of self-concept as a group. Some of the basic characteristics developed in such a case include the acceptance of habits, ideas, and beliefs, all of which are psychological, social, and physical in nature. For instance, Kerpelman (2006) indicates that any person coming from the Middle East, a place with known and rampant idealistic movements would certainly be affected by the attributes purported by this society. In the Middle East, some 'weird' cultures have become part of life. An example is given by Kerpelman (2006) indicating that a child can be trained by the society alone to become something different even from what other aspects of life teach. Thus, the social identity is very imperative of the influence of a person's attitudes and decision-making processes (Hossain, 2008).

Likewise, the ethnic identity has its pathway through which it is formed. This identity comes with being identified as a certain ethnic group. Certain aspects of common genealogy and modes of ancestry to be propagated from one stage of life to another characterize an ethnic group (Hossain, 2008). It is certain to state that the ethnic attributes influence an individual's decision-making process and other mechanisms of interaction with the society. Some radicalization activities appear to be enjoined to other ethnic practices. In fact, the teachings of a certain ethnic group might be against the teachings of another ethnic group, yet they become the code of life for the people in such a group. Thus, aspects of radicalization are also present even with people possessing ethnic identity (Schori-Eyal, & Kruglanski, 2015).

With a national identity, members of a given nation have this aspect of identity. A nation has its guiding principles in the form of ethics, rules and regulations, goals and objectives, mission and vision, together with the laws and the constitutions. Every country in the world has these tributes, one or the other (Smith, 2008). In formalized or non-formalized society, much is attributed to the universal aspects that have to be followed for the sake of cohesion and stability in the living styles. These attributes of a nation will always inform the decisions and actions of its citizens (Smith, 2008). The evolution of a nation brings with it citizens who are bound to live within the limitations set by the national leadership of that nation (Smith, 2008). Thus, the national identity is significant since its attributes are shared by the people, and are practiced by the same people. In the meantime, the people become homogeneous to the guidelines to be followed to make life better at all times (Postmes et al. 2005).

The formation of the religious identity is also sentimental to the interactions and ordinance of intuition among the people. This is rather a famous and common aspect of identity that is instrumental in the development of a model of interaction and behavior of people in the world. Even with people with no specific religious body, they still belong to the atheist religion, which in itself has its teachings and aspects to be followed (van Stekelenburg, 2014).

Liles (2012) indicates that the religious identity is one of the identities in the world that has had numerous controversies and conflicts between themselves. One religious identity has the possibility of clashing with another identity. The ideological differences come with the attributes given to the people in the form of teachings and regulations. A person who exists within a given religious movement or group is certain to develop and grow under the principles of that group. Liles (2012) has identified some processes that take place in the formation of identity, based on the religious force in place. Religion exists as an ordinance that teaches its followers to absorb a certain code of living, manifesting the mechanisms that people should perceive the other people, the environment, and how they should relate to them. They also include how they observe their individual life, how they should treat the divine belief, and the mechanisms of remaining within the realms of respecting the divine teachings (Liles, 2012). The teachings that perpetuate the attributes of the identity are given in the form of daily practices that must be attained. It is through these teachings that a person develops the identity and grows with it (Hossain, 2008).

Theories of Identity and Identity Formation

Social Movement Theory

This is a theory that has a correlation with identity and the formation of identity among people. The theory is a basic explanation derived from an interdisciplinary investigation of the society through a scientific means to determine the reasons behind the formation and activity of social mobilizations. The theory explores on the circumstances under which social mobilizations occur, the imminent impacts on the society and the people, and the mannerisms through which these mobilizations manifest in the society today (Hossain, 2008). The theory focuses on the study of the social movements as is done in the modern study of the contentious politics. The social movement theory dates back to the 1900s when sociologists were trying to derive the nature of the social movements regarding individual participation and the outcomes. The basis of the theory is to find reasons behind the social movements. Are these movements necessitated by the emotions of the people as they try to respond to the forces of nature like the social economy, most of which are outside their control (Hossain, 2008).

Liles (2012) indicates that the reasons behind the social movement of the people are attributed to the derivation of identity that tries to make people achieve their needs in the society. The theory studies some other concepts like the collective behavior and the relative deprivation that was common in the olden society. Liles (2012) has done more research on the theory of social movement and realized that the theory is derived from a collective behavior point-of-view and is necessitated by accolades that have been made unavailable to the people. The nature of the relative deprivation makes people venture into movements, especially when what has been denied has brought some sense of inequality. Moreover, the aspect of the movement is also initiated by the stoppage of the flow of normally regarding development that has been the main theme and a boost of life (McGregor, Hayes, & Prentice, 2015). Concisely, the social movement theory explains the reasons why people engage in mobilization movements in the society. The formation of the identity of such people arises from the fact that they can come together, marginalized or deprived of something or many things, and hence making rational decisions that affect them directly and indirectly (Hossain, 2008).

The Social Movement Impact Theory

This theory is almost social movement theory. However, it focuses specifically on the impact of the social movement theory. The impact of the social movement impact theory is definitive of the strategies of the formation of identity among the participants. The impacts of the social movement theory are related to the society or the environment of action. The impacts of the movement are notable in individuals, political systems in the society, the cultures, and the institutions, among others (Smith, 2008). For this reason, such movements are crucial in defining the society. The impacts of the social movement theory are also notable in changing or transcending through the history and the culture and the people in the society. Several issues arise when it comes to the methodologies of the social movement impact theory. In the recent understanding of many social movements, Hossain (2008) indicates that these movements are related and have always been claimed to spark cases of violence efficacy. The general benefits of the political allies and the elite movements impacts directly on the state of human identity formation in any given society (Hossain, 2008)

Mass Communication Theory

It is also known as the framing theory. Framing is rather a state of perception and synthesis of a concept or anything at hand. The facet of framing has more comparisons to the act of setting an agenda, bringing out the essence of the issues at hand while giving it to the people. The theory of framing has a narrow study into the mannerisms involved in letting people know of something like and information. Hossain (2008) suggests that the frames are certain arbitrations organized and intended to influence people in a given way. For instance, the religious teachings can be framed in a way that people will be able to know or get the intention that has been designed by the instructor. As done in many educational forums and training sessions, the message is framed in such a way that the core objective is met directly through a particular organization of the content. Moreover, the core of framing is to ensure that the audience can set the agenda right from the teaching itself. This theory is influential in the formation of the identity of people in that the audience can be taught in such a way that the content given to them is framed to suit a particular need. Hossain (2008) indicates that the many lessons give to people in a way that has been framed intended and will always display the content that was intended for those people. Through framing, the teacher can offer a better avenue of making sure that the learner has exhibited the content, and only in a way that was best intended (McGregor, Hayes, & Prentice, 2015).

Conversion Theory of Minority Influence

Seger Moscovici formulated and analyzed the theory. Seger sought to understand the interpersonal and cognitive activities that act between the direct and the indirect influence of a consistent minority upon the majority. The theory seeks to understand the aspects related to the pressures exerted by the minority on the majority. The influence of the minority in any society is imperative. So much pressure comes based on the absence of the measures of understanding between the minority and the majority. The minority are outweighed when it comes to numbers used to pressure for the solutions to the problems at hand. Nonetheless, their significance is even felt more when they seek to use force to pass their message of consideration by the majority. As a way of making themselves be heard and considered, the minority have often sought to have physical influence, most of which have affected their identity formation and consequential use. This theory is related to the formation of identity in that it considers the methodologies used to meet the pressures of life among the minorities. Identity, which is a broad concept and can be developed in a multifaceted ways, is formulated with the assistance of the relationship between the minority and the majority in any social setting (McGregor, Hayes, & Prentice, 2015).

This theory called conversion theory talks about taking concerns of the processes of development of any individual transformation, which are the basic beliefs, and ideologies of life. With its relationship with the psychosocial development theory, the significance of the social roles and the different groups can be understood on how they affect the development of ego identity when the individual is going through the adolescence period (Hossain, 2008). As the proposer of the psychosocial development theory, Erikson studied and conceptualization of the aspect of identity as a way through which someone accesses the values and the outlook of life depending on a unique history of roles (Hossain, 2008). Erikson together with another theorist called Marcia who formulated the psychosocial development theory developed a basic approach towards the religious identity that has been transitioned to a given social psychological methodology that has been developed from the categorization and the theories of social identity. Other theories of identity in psychology have emphasized the significance of religion in the development of the individual and the group identities in the society today (Hossain, 2008).

Factors Influence Identity Formation

Some factors affect or influence the formation of identity in people. These are the factors that inform on the nature and purpose of the identities formed in people. The factors that influence identity are both external and internal in a person. Some of the influence on the process of identity formation has already been mentioned earlier. Nonetheless, others are specific to the overall formation of identity in people (Hossain, 2008). They include the following:

Cognitive Influences

Reicher (2004) argues that the development of cognition in a person is sentimental to the formation of identity. Reicher (2004) takes an example of adolescence taught to be able to apply abstractions in their thinking and logic in reasoning. When people can think in this way, using the aspects of logical arrangement and abstract thinking, they will be able to explore and make contemplated identities in life. Adolescents advance when their cognitive development has matured. When the cognitive ability has been assured, people can make effective decisions that will automatically affect their identity and the processes of forming new identities in life. The mental processes are the major parts of the body concerned with the formation of sequences that relate to the nature of the identity of the person.

The capability to resolve issues and handle matters of life is dependent on the level of maturity of growth of the cognitive in a person. This is also similar to the nature of identity formation since an equitable identity, which is useful and productive to a person, is derived from a well-equipped cognition. Through a developed cognition, the person can resolve issues more efficiently and within a short time, hence having a better time to develop the identity. Reicher (2004) advocates that to have an identity that is reserved to handle all matters of life, based on the issue of handling the foreseeable problems of life, it is necessary to consider developing the cognition. Wilner and Dubouloz (2010) considered cognitive strength as a strong identity supporting the idea of a person.

Scholastic influences

The scholastic influences are the influences generated through the different stages of learning, programmed in the lives of the people. When youths have had a better state of scholastic development, they are in a better place to make rational identities. The identities that they formed are characteristic of the skills and knowledge they have experienced through the avenues of acquiring scholastic skills and experiences. This is the reason many of the radicalization groups target students who are in institutions to equip them with the philosophies that will make them become radicalized on the society. When a person has gone through a university or a college, she or he is in a better position to have his identity become influenced, and more largely in a productive way. Besides, a truth comes from the opposite of this where the present identity influences on the education and academics in a person. Interplays between identity and the scholastic achievements in a person are commonplace (Reicher, 2004).

Sociocultural Influences

Much of the aspects of the society and culture have been discussed, as the type of the identities generated among individuals in a society. The sociocultural factors that influence on identity formation are broad in detail and have an adverse historical and social context. For instance, when the adolescent is young, they have a tendency to adapt easily to a religious or a job teaching (Wilner & Dubouloz, 2010). Thus, it had become a common thing for them to be within the paradigms of their parents who would guide them in the formation of identities related to the specific religious and social teaching. Many changes are happening in the society today, prompting the adversity of the identity formation strategies. According to Wilner & Dubouloz (2010), the social changes happening today are crucial in relating to the nature of the identity that is acquired by the young people.

Parenting Influences

While studying some patterns of relationships between the adolescents, Reicher (2004) discovered two major kinds of relationships common between parents and children. Using a scale of openness and engagements that happen between parents are their children; he discovered that a parent could have either a cordial relationship with their children or a relationship that is not cordial at all (Reicher, 2004).. Parental teachings, demands, and wishes influence the identity of a child when the relationship with parents is cordial. This is contrary to the identity developed between a parent and a child who are not in any good relationship. In such children, the external factors will have an upper hand in influencing the formation of identity (Schori-Eyal, & Kruglanski, 2015).

The Role of Religion in Identity Formation

Seol (2010) has done a research on the influence of the religious activities and specifically religion on the nature of the identity formed by the people. From the study, he noted a positive relationship between the identity and religion among adolescents, which also transcends to the later stages of life in adults (Pratt, 2015). The positivity of this relationship is in the sense that religion influences the development of identity while expressing the need for a force like religion to influence a formation and development of an identity in adolescence. From the conceptual framework used, religion offers a distinct ground that enables an individual to explore a given identity formation. The religious background sets the base from where a person can have a drive in the development and the sustenance of an identity (Karim, 2014).

The existence of many religions signifies the diversity and the nature of the identities that may arise globally. Through the religious inclination, a person can have a conceptual introduction and absorption into the nature of the identity that is significant in keeping with the faith perpetuated by the religion. For instance, the Islam religion is premised on Quranic teachings while Christianity on the Bible. These two religions will initiate two different identities among the people, and will always cause the identity to be nurtured and maintained throughout the time of engagement in these religious movements (Seol, 2010).

Religion is influential in the offering of the spiritual, social, and the ideological contexts needed in the formation of an identity. The content of the identity is backed by what is offered by the religion. The ideologies that make up an identity are contained in the religion. Identity formation is based on a belief system affixed to an existing religious movement. This author is referring to the system of ideologies significant in the formation and perpetuation of identities among people (Karim, 2014). Ideologies are significant in the formation of ideologies related to the religious movements assumed by the people. Seol (2010) argues that people have identities because of the ideologies provided by the religion. The diversity of ideological differences has caused conflicts in the world because of the religious connotations that lead to the formation of these identities. The identities differ based on the ideologies that inform them. Seol (2010) gives an example of the ideological difference that has often caused much strain between the Muslims and the Christians in the world. The context of the identities is generated for the religion accustomed by the person. The spiritual context that derives the nature of the identity is also realized from the religion in place (Thomas et al. 2009).

Religion is a broad concept that influences almost everything that people do in the society. The force is derived from the social frameworks speaking a lot about the nature of the interrelationships between people and the divine nature. The context of the religion, according to Seol (2010) promotes every sense of identity assumed by people. This sense of identity is the one that will navigate the self of the person hence promoting the need to have a social good provide by the same religion institution. Religion informs almost every form of identity (Pratt, 2015). The interplay between identity and religion is clear since each influence the success of the other, but religion causes the evolution of identity among people. Furthermore, people can derive identity in their understanding of the society and the forms of the interrelationship between people through religion (Thomas et al. 2009).

Explain the rise of ISIL and the radicalization processes

ISIL has been rising through the ranks of radicalization processes right from the time of its generation in the world. ISIL originates from Iraq dating back to 2003. It has been influential from then to date (Drury & Reicher, 2005). It was formed in Tawhid and Jihad after the death of Hussein Saddam in 2003. Its first leader was Abu al-Zarqawi, who hails from Jordan. Abu declared himself an Al-Qaeda and swore to proceed with bombings and killings, killing for killing sake after the fall of their leader Hussein. The U.S. Army later killed him in 2006. His group became a new after it branded itself and became the Islamic State in Iraq, and was taken over by another leader called Oma- Baghdadi, who drives the group to the international state (Wilner & Dubouloz, 2010). After spending his early years in prison after being arrested by the U.S. forces, he moved his group in 2012 to Syria where civil war began and became fierce (Drury & Reicher, 2005). In 2012, ISIL merged with Nusra Front in Syria, another group formed and led by Omar's lieutenant. The two became Islamic States of Levant and Iraq. Issues of power grab led to the dissolution of this merger, with both engaging in fights over the territory control, leading to the death of some Syrians Civilians after they crossed the strict interpretation of Islam (Kleinmann, 2012).

Baghdadi proceeded with major killings of the rivals and even denounced Zawahiri. It sought to control most parts of Syria including the lucrative oil fields (Wilner & Dubouloz, 2010). In 2014, it turned against Iraq where it sends forces to take over some of the states like Fallujah together with the province of Ramadi (Wilner & Dubouloz, 2010). In the last week, ISIL has moved even further and diverse in its mechanisms of control and recruitment of the people. In Iraq, it has taken over cities like Mosul and Tikrit, moving against the government of Iraq. Now, ISIL has dominated most of the Iraq regions around Syria, relying on some individual sympathizers, with greater intelligence and backing by their sympathizers from all over the world. The latest attacks in Mosul and other regions around the world have indicated the desire if ISIL to be a global force while it is fighting to realize its new caliphate even without the support of the Al-Qaeda (Drury & Reicher, 2005).

The group is financed with the extraction of oil within the Islamic State's income regions. Moreover, it has been using these resources to acquire weapons and source for new fighters all over the world. The radicalization begins with the teaching of the regime of ISIL among the young people, mostly young boys (Drury & Reicher, 2005). These young people are introduced to the teachings of Islam that are perpetuated by the need to have control of the major regions having resources in the Middle East. The group has advanced and makes recruits from all over the world, seeking sympathizers from institutions and organizations that are willing to be part of them (Drury & Reicher, 2005). The radicalization process simply involves the recruitment and teaching of the young people to have the identity of the terrorists and hence grow knowing that the only right they can do is to kill and fight. Concerning the recent videos indicating the radicalization of the young boys in Syria to kill, carry weapons, use them, and even participate in the killing processes, radicalization is real and affecting most of the young people, mainly influenced by the motivation for financial compensations. Parts of those who become radicalized with the teachings of the ISIL are the forces fighting against them, who are transformed through the teaching to become part of them and hence fight for them (Drury & Reicher, 2005).

Radicalization

The process of radicalization can be defined in the context of the recruitment and identity transformation processes that happens among the people to become terrorists. Borum (2011) defines this as a stepwise happening that makes people become extremists in their identities being influenced by extremist ideologies. The ISIL has been transforming many people to become their extremist fighters. The radicalization processes happen in the wake of transforming the identity and will of the people to become part of the violent groups that is bound by nothing else other than terrorism in the world (Kleinmann, 2012). Through the analysis of the models of conceptualization about radicalization, the systems of understanding this phenomenon of radicalization appears to take a scientific point-of-view. Borum, (2011) says that radicalization has been a process through which the existing terrorists undertake forceful and un-forceful steps to recruit members from the 'opposite' side to share their ideologies or extremism. Nonetheless, a clear explanation of the radicalization process has not been exposed since most of the processes that happen are terroristic in nature and requires many scientific explanations before making adjudicated conclusions (Borum, 2011).

Terrorist cases adjudicated in the U.S. - explain how identity transformation worked about these cases did

The U.S. has adjudicated some terrorism cases in the recent past, leading to the transformation of the identities among the involved. The adjudication of many terrorist cases in the U.S. Federal Courts has been a major force that has influenced on the identity formations and elaborations as regards terrorism in the world (Thomas et al. 2009). The courts in the U.S. have adjudicated over 1000 cases of terrorism, sending many terrorists to prisons within and outside the country (Borum, 2011). From these adjudications, hard stands have been created in the development and transformation of identities among the terrorists and even among the civilians.

The terrorists have engaged the many governments knowing that they are subject to adjudication. They are becoming smart in their identities, even working with people and not being known. The adjudication has turned the attention of many terrorists to remain within the phase of radicalization that is silent and not affected by any structures outside their formation (Schori-Eyal, & Kruglanski, 2015). The adjudication has often led to the coming up of new forces and radicalized groups who are fighting in the name of 'justice' for those who have been convicted. Nonetheless, the radicalization has taken a new step, involving the citizens of the country. The identity has been transformed to become fierce in the wake of trying to become a better and bigger force in the society, within and outside the U.S. (Borum, 2011).