The Role of Local Islamic and Tribal Authority in Community Resilience: Bosnia, Syria & KRI
In a world where violent extremism often thrives in fragmented and weak states, this ccomparative research explores how traditional community leaders influence local resilience against such threats. Drawing on fieldwork from the Western Balkans, Iraqi Kurdistan, and northeastern Syria, the authors analyse whether and how traditional authorities, such as religious figures and tribal leaders, can counter the rise of violent extremist ideologies, particularly those promoted by violent extremism groups like ISIS. While traditional leaders can serve as stabilising forces, their effectiveness largely depends on broader social and political structures.
In the Western Balkans, the institutionalization of moderate Hanafi Islam and the proactive engagement of imams and muftis have been crucial in restraining extremist narratives. These leaders counter radical ideologies both offline and online, protect their communities from violent extremist influence, and reinforce a tolerant, culturally rooted version of Islam. Their work has been supported by relatively stable state structures and public trust, enabling them to isolate radical actors and maintain social cohesion. In Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, religious institutions have taken bold steps, including modifying curricula and leveraging media, to build resilience against violent extremism.
In contrast, Iraqi Kurdistan presents a more complex picture. The Kurdistan Regional Government has institutionalised and centralised religious authority and encouraged a form of “Kurdish Islam” that combines Kurdish nationalist cause with traditional beliefs. Quietist Salafi figures have also been supported, conditionally, to prevent religiously-motivated violent extremism. While this strategy has helped limit the number of Kurdish ISIS recruits, concerns remain about the long-term implications of empowering conservative ideologies under political patronage.
Meanwhile, in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, tribal leaders have largely failed to prevent the rise of jihadist groups. Weakened by decades of state manipulation and overshadowed by warlords and economic opportunists, traditional authority has splintered. Tribes became fragmented amid resource conflicts and alliances with extremist factions. This vacuum allowed ISIS to capitalize on local grievances, and despite attempts to revive tribal cohesion, leadership figures lacked the legitimacy or unity to counter extremism effectively. Overall, the chapter argues that traditional authority alone cannot resist violent extremism unless backed by strong, inclusive institutions and community trust.
The research was conducted within the framework of the Preventing Violent Extremism (PREVEX) project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Citation:
Selvik K, Ala’Aldeen DA, Mhidi A, Mishkova D, and Palani K (2025). Traditional Authority and Local Community Resilience: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, and Syria. In: Resisting Radicalization: Exploring the Non-occurrence of Violent Extremism. P161-178. Editors: Boas M, Ben-Nun G, Engel U, and Osland K. Published by Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc. USA