The volume presents key findings from the Proton project. As detailed in this introduction, the papers included add substantive and significant knowledge to our understanding of these questions focusing on the economic, social, and psychological factors that increase the likelihood of recruitment. We first briefly review the existing literature on recruitment to terrorism and organized crime, identifying key gaps in the literature. We then turn to the specific contributions in the volume and summarize how they have added to the knowledge base in this area. Finally, we revisit the question of similarities and differences between factors influencing recruitment based on the papers in the volume, and try to draw broader conclusions about how this knowledge can inform societal responses to the problem of recruitment.
The goal of the book is to explore the current knowledge about these common drivers, as well as highlight emerging research, to identify and prioritize a research agenda for scholars, as well as policymakers. The research presented in this work aims to fill existing gaps in the knowledge of recruitment to both organized crime and terrorism. For each area, it provides a systematic review of the existing research on social, psychological, and economic drivers of recruitment. It then presents findings from independent original research aimed to explore new ground not covered in these previous studies.