Interactions of neosalafi, delinquent and non-delinquent youth in marginalized neighborhoods

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Zick
• Subject Area: Empirical Social Research
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 459883564

The aim of the research project is to empirically examine the triad of interactions of dynamics of neosalafi, delinquent and non-delinquent youth in marginalized neighborhoods. The research project addresses the blind spot that, on the one hand, research on neosalafism and radicalization largely neglects the social space; at least in terms of interactions with peers and local actors. On the other hand, research on juvenile delinquency also just rudimentarily addresses the interactions of delinquent and non-delinquent youth. All three milieus have not been examined in specific neighborhoods at the same time, in which they grew up together, live jointly, and interact on a more or less daily basis. All in all, we combine different research lines that are examined at the IKG for years. Therefore, we consider prior findings in order to go beyond the state of the art in this project and to use the option of gaining important new findings for socio-spatial research.In order to achieve these goals, we use a cross-sectional and mainly qualitative methodological approach. We assume high innovation potential of this approach because our empirical knowledge indicates interconnections of the three milieus, particularly in marginalized neighborhoods, if the youth (largely) grew up here together. The daily experiences at the borders of these milieus are addressed, border crossings, and experiences of external impact on the borders. This includes how the (individual) involvement of others in different milieus is thermalized and/or how people try to have an impact on that. We especially assume innovation potential in the fields of socio-spatial and interactionist research and theory formation.The empirical study contains 60 narrative-biographical interviews, 10 interviews of experts, 12 problem-centered interviews, and 8 group interviews as well as participatory observations. Apart from the interviews of experts, all interviews are conducted with young men – aged between 14 and 18 years – from Berlin-Neukölln and Wuppertal-Vohwinkel.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Steffen Zdun