Location effects, group effects, and loyalty conflicts: jihadist engagement as a process of circumstantial and constrained involvement

As part of a European H2020 research program “Dialogue about Radicalisation and Equality” (DARE), this article examines radicalization trajectories within “Islamist” circles in the Brussels-Capital region. Drawing on a case study rooted in empirical research and an ethnographic survey conducted over several years, it highlights the influence of both local structural factors and circumstantial conditions. Combining a variety of sources, the study analyzes how violent engagement emerges at the intersection of personal trajectory, situational context, and biographical availability.