Youth Radicalization, Prison Subcultures as Extremist Recruitment Vectors, and the Structural Limits of Modern Penal Rehabilitation Paradigms

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 16, No. 6, June 2026 | pp. 46–54

DOI: 10.46882/2026/GJPCS/160601

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Youth Radicalization, Prison Subcultures as Extremist Recruitment Vectors, and the Structural Limits of Modern Penal Rehabilitation Paradigms

Authors: Aigul N. Sadykova¹, Driss Benali²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of International Relations, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan; ²Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco

Abstract:
This study investigates the structural dynamics of violent extremist recruitment within carceral institutions, evaluating the long-term efficacy of state-sponsored rehabilitation and de-radicalization initiatives in transitional democracies. Employing a comprehensive qualitative policy review alongside detailed behavioral case profiles of 82 former detainees, we analyze how high-security prison systems function as spaces for radical ideological transmission. The empirical evidence demonstrates that overcrowding, severe administrative isolation, and abusive disciplinary practices create an environment where vulnerable, non-violent offenders are rapidly integrated into sophisticated extremist networks. Quantitative indicators establish that states relying primarily on high-security carceral containment show a 55% higher recidivism rate among former inmates compared to states integrating community-based open rehabilitation pathways. The research highlights how current counter-radicalization frameworks fail because they focus heavily on theological re-education while ignoring the structural drivers of alienation: widespread economic exclusion and systemic judicial corruption. We conclude that sustainable security sector reform requires decoupling low-risk offenders from radical inmate populations and expanding post-release employment support structures.

Keywords: Youth Radicalization; Carceral Subcultures; Recruitment Vectors; De-Radicalization; Penal Rehabilitation; Recidivism.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: July 19, 2024; Revised: September 15, 2024; Accepted: December 02, 2024; Published: June 15, 2026

Citation: Sadykova, A. N., & Benali, D. (2026). Youth Radicalization, Prison Subcultures as Extremist Recruitment Vectors, and the Structural Limits of Modern Penal Rehabilitation Paradigms. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 16(6), 46–54. DOI: 10.46882/2026/GJPCS/160601

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