Islamization of criminal behaviour: The path to terrorism? Terrorist threat and crime in French counterterrorism policy-formulation

Abstract

Several studies have covered wide-ranging features of terrorist groups and organization from both a state-centric and a strictly group analysis perspective. Rather than offering insights to determine the ‘nature’ of these forms of violence, this article focuses on states’ perception and process of construction of terrorism based on allegations of being criminals, religious extremists or psychologically disturbed people. It does so by reconstructing the determinants of the way French policy-makers have understood, communicated and approached the terrorist enemy since the 9/11 attacks. More than 150 documents, including parliamentary debates and strategic documents, have been analysed so as to understand the evolution of the image of the threat, its connection to crime and the political implications of this representation.