Rehabilitating the terrorists challenges in assessing the. In particular, the question of whether the internet serves as a primary or secondary role in the radicalization process of homegrown terrorists remains largely unanswered. Radicalization or radicalisation is a process by which an individual or group comes to adopt increasingly radical political, social, or religious ideals and aspirations that reject or undermine the status quo or contemporary ideas and expressions of the nation. As the result of our case studies, we hypothesize that the development of terrorist networks. This paper will seek to address this core issue and others by examining several key case. Social networking before the internet, as described by evan kohlmann in his testimony before congress was, the process of. It discusses the radicalization process and the forces driving violent extremist activity. Conceptual models of radicalization into violent extremism. Radicalization to violence is a critical subset of the terrorist threat. We specify the microlevel, mesolevel and macrolevel factors in deradicalization. Pdf exploring the theories of radicalization researchgate. As indicated radicalization earlier, this person follows three phases.
Jun 16, 2016 the radicalization process deepens in its second phase when an individual seeks religious meaning. Current theories and models of the radicalization process offer a linear progression or focus heavily on religious behaviors. The analysis suggests that specific patterns of radicalization are linked to systematic differences in modes of attack planning and preparation. In the example of the homegrown threat, local residents or citizens gradually adopt an extremist religiouspolitical ideology hostile to the west, which legitimizes terrorism as a tool to affect societal change. Islamic radicalization in the united states does not appear to be endemic, but it does exist nationwide. Western style terrorism is the ultimate consequence of the radicalization process. The results provide insights into the heterogeneity of terrorist involvement and. Countering radicalization in america united states institute of peace. Challenges in assessing the effectiveness of deradicalization programs john horgan and kurt braddock international center for the study of terrorism, pennsylvania state university, university park, pennsylvania, usa renewed interest on how and why terrorism ends has emerged in parallel with. Its connotation as in the word radish is of being buried. Theradicalizing person forms the central element in our model.
Preventing terrorism and countering violent extremism and. Radicalization is a process through which people become increasingly motivated to use violent means against members of an outgroup or symbolic targets to achieve behavioral change and political goals. A perspective on the challenges and benefits lindsay clutterbuck phd broadly speaking, the word radicalization can be used to describe a process whereby individuals and even groups develop, over time, a mindset that canunder. The difference between radicalization and terrorism. The growth and development of terrorist networks is largely a decentralized and evolutionary process, based on contingent adaptations to unpredictable events and improbable opportunities, more the result of localized tinkering of fragmentary connections between semiautonomous parts than intelligent design hierarchical command and control. This is followed by what is called frame alignment, in which individuals connect with the publicfacing agenda of the terrorist group, vizcaino said. It seems that radicalization is a complex and highly individualized process, often shaped by a poorly understood interaction of structural and personal factors. The united nations compound in normally peaceful mazarisharif, north of kabul, was attacked, and seven foreigners were killed. Strikingly, the pace of the radicalization process has. Or, as social scientists suggest, a perverse idealism.
The recent surge in the number of american muslims involved in terrorism has led u. The process view of radicalization may be applicable to other types of violent extremism, but the research does not support the argument for an ideologyblind assessment policy. How radicalization to terrorism occurs in the united. Jun 25, 2018 smiths pair of papers largely cover the same research projects, but one paper is organized around risk factors and indicators associated with radicalization to terrorism, whereas the other is focused on how that radicalization occurs processes that facilitate the extremists emergence as terrorist as well as models and frameworks that help. An important factor in radicalization is the presence of a charismatic person who can easily deliver persuasive speeches not only in mosques but also in schools, universities, or even prisons. Terrorisms connection to islam is generally overstated and misunderstood. The violent islamic radicalization process is understood differently across disciplines within the homeland security enterprise. Radicalization processes in afghanistan combating terrorism. Reconceptualizing the drivers of violent extremism terre des. Terrorism, radicalization and deradicalization bertjan. The authors thank david rapoport, christopher boucek, max taylor, and two anony. Combating a complex threat congressional research service 1 executive summary this report describes homegrown violent jihadists and the plots and attacks that have occurred since 911. Radicalization component ufouothe complexity in the radicalization process of becoming a terrorist cannot be captured by a simple, linear explanation.
Jun 14, 2016 why average people decide to become terrorists. However, many terrorists do report feelings of doubt, persecution, and insecurity. A behavioral study of the radicalization trajectories of. Sciences on the role of internet communication in the radicalization process. However, not all people become increasingly radical. The groups involved in all these case examples have experienced different intensities of mutual radicalization. Mechanisms of individual radicalization personal victimization. Terrorist use of social media should not be surprising to anyone. Radicalization to violence is the process by which. Recognition of the complexity of radicalization process. A framework that examines radicalization using varying levels of analysispersonal, group, community, sociopolitical, and ideologicalallows for the integration of. Hidden brain explores the psychology of terrorist groups, and why people join them. A framework that examines radicalization using varying levels of analysispersona 1 group.
At the individual level, the radicalization process often involves embracing a terrorist belief. Fbi law enforcement bulletin, borum proposed a fourstage conceptual model for the emergence of a terrorist mindset. Radicalization is defined as the process of adopting for oneself or inculcating in others a commitment not only to a system of radical beliefs, but also to their imposition on the rest of society. Why average people decide to become terrorists vox. Social networking existed long before the advent of facebook, twitter or youtube. Using psychology to understand and prevent terrorist recruitment. Rather, the radicalization process results from a complex interaction of multiple mechanisms.
The role of education in the prevention of radicalization. The final stage of radicalization is the actual undertaking of a terrorist act. The english word radical comes from the latin radis, or root. In figure 1, we outline a model of radicalization and deradicalization. The psychology of terrorism and radicalization 3 mission. A timeline for radicalization was then calculated for the offenders. Yet other individuals do not seem to make wellconsidered decisions within this process, but follow it like a slippery slope. It is the ideology and the behavioral changes and adaptations required by the salafijihadist belief system that lends a predictable structure to the radicalization process.
Fundamentally, the fourstage process begins by framing some unsatisfying event, condition, or grievance its not right as being unjust its not fair. It analyzes post911 domestic jihadist terrorist activity and describes law enforcement and intelligence efforts to combat terrorism and the challenges associated with those efforts. The radicalization process can take several years for some persons, but develop very quickly for others. Using psychology to understand and prevent terrorist. The process of radicalization leading to violence follows a nonlinear, nonpredetermined path, shaped by multiple factorspersonal and collective, social and psychological. Terrorism, radicalization and deradicalization sciencedirect. Radicalization is the process by which individuals or groups come to adopt extremist views, particularly sociopolitical or religious views. Highly relevant to the future deradicalization of an in organisation terrorist is the issue of how states might manage the potential return of terrorists who are known to be overseas and whether the best solution is or is not to prevent the terrorist from returning to a homecountry, which is examined within. Discontent seems to serve as the prerequisite of the radicalization process. The complexity in the radicalization process of becoming a terrorist cannot be captured by a simple, linear explanation. The radicalization process deepens in its second phase when an individual seeks religious meaning.
This process, often referred to as radicalization to terrorism, is the central focus of nijs research and evaluation efforts addressing terrorism. We then focus on the idea that although it is possible to distinguish different types of radical groups, these. Radicalism, violent extremism and terrorism, sit at the. And just as there is no grand theory of radicalization and no common terrorist profile, there is no single explana tion for why people deradicalize or disengage from a militant group. No single element suffices, in and of itself, to explain the. How radicalization to terrorism occurs in the united states ncjrs.
Psychological process and pathways to radicalization. The outcomes of radicalization are shaped by the ideas of the society at large. Domestic radicalization research yields possible keys to. Special report on internetfacilitated radicalization radicalization is the process of adopting an extremist belief system, including the willingness to use, support, or facilitate violence, as a method to effect societal change.
Dec 15, 2015 the researchers who study terrorist groups suggest that communities can counteract the mindsets that are susceptible to radicalization by teaching students such values as being comfortable with. Terrorism, communication and new media universiteit leiden. A communitypolicing approach jean pierre devos, police commissioner, belgian federal police, project manager, community policing for the prevention of radicalization edward j. Pdf after the london bombings in july 2005, the concern of terrorism. The rcmp defines radicalization as the process by which individuals usually young people are introduced to an overtly ideological message and belief system that encourages movement from moderate, mainstream beliefs towards extreme views. After a series of highprofile terrorist attacks involving previously incarcerated extremists during the last halfdecade, prison radicalization is an increasing concern within many. It is unique to each person and varies from group to group. Radicalization patterns and modes of attack planning and.
He is the recipient of a 20092010 predoctoral terrorism research award from the national consortium for the study of terrorism and responses to terrorism start. We describe the microlevel, mesolevel and macrolevel factors that in. Radicalization is a critical subset of the terrorist threat. Pdf the future of terrorist deradicalization programs. Sep 01, 2011 yet other individuals do not seem to make wellconsidered decisions within this process, but follow it like a slippery slope. We highlight the importance of the role of group membership and intergroup relations in the radicalization process. Rather, terrorism is a result to of a radicalization process in steps that can happen normal people 8. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. How radicalization to terrorism occurs in the united states. Many analysts and policymakers consider prison radicalization, the process by which detained or incarcerated individuals. Surprisingly few studies compare radicalization to terrorism to the joining of organized crime groups or.
Although the most dangerous instances of radicalization have so far been overseas, the islamic radicalization of u. The difference between radicalization and terrorism many theories have been put forth to explain why certain individuals become radicalized to the point where they are willing to commit violence. Some groups, such as china and japan, are still experiencing a relatively low but increasing inten. In april 2011, a series of violent protests erupted in afghanistan that reflected public anger over news of an american preacher burning a quran.
Radicalization of youth as a growing concern for counter. Strikingly, the pace of the radicalization process has accelerated in recent years. The concepts were derived from analyses though anecdotal. Rehabilitating the terrorists challenges in assessing. First, it discusses the term radicalization and suggests the use of the following definition of radicalization as a process by which a person adopts belief systems which justify the use of violence to effect social change and comes to actively support as well. Radicalization, a highly debated topic, does not have an established or standard. In this model, we distinguish three phases in radicalization. Rightwing extremism, religious cults, and gangs have been omitted from serious study of the process of radicalization. Theoretical frames on pathways to violent radicalization. Smiths pair of papers largely cover the same research projects, but one paper is organized around risk factors and indicators associated with radicalization to terrorism, whereas the other is focused on how that radicalization occurs processes that facilitate the extremists emergence as terrorist as well as models and frameworks that help. Radicalization is a process of adopting an extremist system of values combined with expressing approval, support for, or use of violence and intimidation as a method of achieving changes in society or encouraging others to such acts szlachter, 2012. Flynn, senior human rights officer, united nations counterter. Terrorisms connection to islam is generally overstated and misunderstood 10 c. An important factor in radicalization is the presence of a charismatic person who can easily deliver persuasive speeches not only in mosques but also in.
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