Radicalization
Encyclopedia
Radicalization is the process in which an individual changes from passiveness or activism
to become more revolutionary
, militant or extremist
. Radicalization is often associated with youth
, adversity, alienation
, social exclusion
, poverty
, or the perception of injustice
to self or others.
defines "Violent Radicalization" as the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.
The term is used in the context of Islamic radicalism and terrorism
, but the term can, and has, been used to refer to radicalization within the context of a wide number of militant movements with a wide variety of ideologies.
Radicalization is an important factor in the development of militant movements, including those involved in terrorism. According to the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center
, The grievances that fuel radicalization are diverse and vary across locations and groups. Radicalization frequently is driven by personal concerns at the local level in addition to frustration with international events.
According to the NCTC, the association between radicalization and poverty is a myth. Many terrorists come from middle-class backgrounds and have university-level educations, particularly in the technical sciences and engineering. There is no statistical association between poverty and militant radicalization.
The NCTC also states that there are no visible outward signs of radicalization. Changes in appearance during different stages of radicalization often are the same changes seen in individuals who are not being radicalized, making it difficult to identify visible markers.
In 2007 The New York Police Department Intelligence
Division released a document that focused on the radicalization process entitled, Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat. The report was co-authored by Mitchell D. Sibler and Arvin Bhatt, who are both Senior Intelligence Analysts for the NYPD. The report researched and analyzed several famous case studies from abroad as well as from the United States to collect the needed data to create their step by step explanation of radicalization. The cases examined included: the London, England 7/7 attack, 2004 Madrid, Spain terrorist attack, the Toronto 18 case, Herald Square
Bomb Plot, the Lackawana Six
plot, and the Al Muhajiroun Two plot.
The NYPD report breaks down the radicalization process into four steps with each step including its’ own key indicators and triggers. The four steps to radicalization are their key indicators are:
Similar to other radicalization reports that have been created the NYPD report also includes several key assumptions:
An MI5
report, Understanding Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in the UK, made public by The Guardian
newspaper, emphasized the diverse possible routes that can lead to an individual being radicalized. The MI5 report is dated June 12, 2008 and drew its analysis from case studies and input of those who were closely associated with the counterterrorism mission in the UK. They key findings of the report are:
The MI5 report closes by saying that no single measure will reduce radicalization in the UK and that the only way to combat it is by targeting the at risk vulnerable groups and trying to assimilate them into society. This may include helping young people find jobs, better integrating immigrant populations into the local culture, and effectively reintegrating ex-prisoners into society.
In 2010, the British government launched a controversial anti-radicalization campaign called Prevent, led by the Home Office
, that seeks among other things to identify persons that would be the most vulnerable to recruitment by al Qaeda-aligned groups, to wean them away from an extremist path.
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
to become more revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
, militant or extremist
Extremism
Extremism is any ideology or political act far outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common moral standards...
. Radicalization is often associated with youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
, adversity, alienation
Social alienation
The term social alienation has many discipline-specific uses; Roberts notes how even within the social sciences, it “is used to refer both to a personal psychological state and to a type of social relationship”...
, social exclusion
Social exclusion
Social exclusion is a concept used in many parts of the world to characterise contemporary forms of social disadvantage. Dr. Lynn Todman, director of the Institute on Social Exclusion at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, suggests that social exclusion refers to processes in which...
, poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, or the perception of injustice
Injustice
Injustice is the lack of or opposition to justice, either in reference to a particular event or act, or as a larger status quo. The term generally refers to misuse, abuse, neglect, or malfeasance that is uncorrected or else sanctioned by a legal system. Misuse and abuse with regard to a particular...
to self or others.
Definitions
The U.S. Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007
The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 was a bill sponsored by Rep. Jane Harman in the 110th United States Congress...
defines "Violent Radicalization" as the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.
The term is used in the context of Islamic radicalism and terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, but the term can, and has, been used to refer to radicalization within the context of a wide number of militant movements with a wide variety of ideologies.
Radicalization is an important factor in the development of militant movements, including those involved in terrorism. According to the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center
National Counterterrorism Center
The National Counterterrorism Center is a United States government organization responsible for national and international counterterrorism efforts. It is based in a modern complex near McLean, Virginia called Liberty Crossing...
, The grievances that fuel radicalization are diverse and vary across locations and groups. Radicalization frequently is driven by personal concerns at the local level in addition to frustration with international events.
According to the NCTC, the association between radicalization and poverty is a myth. Many terrorists come from middle-class backgrounds and have university-level educations, particularly in the technical sciences and engineering. There is no statistical association between poverty and militant radicalization.
The NCTC also states that there are no visible outward signs of radicalization. Changes in appearance during different stages of radicalization often are the same changes seen in individuals who are not being radicalized, making it difficult to identify visible markers.
In 2007 The New York Police Department Intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
Division released a document that focused on the radicalization process entitled, Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat. The report was co-authored by Mitchell D. Sibler and Arvin Bhatt, who are both Senior Intelligence Analysts for the NYPD. The report researched and analyzed several famous case studies from abroad as well as from the United States to collect the needed data to create their step by step explanation of radicalization. The cases examined included: the London, England 7/7 attack, 2004 Madrid, Spain terrorist attack, the Toronto 18 case, Herald Square
Herald Square
Herald Square is formed by the intersection of Broadway, Sixth Avenue and 34th Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Named for the New York Herald, a now-defunct newspaper formerly headquartered there, it also gives its name to the surrounding area...
Bomb Plot, the Lackawana Six
Buffalo Six
The Buffalo Six is a group of six Yemeni-American childhood friends who were convicted of providing material support to al-Qaeda, based on the fact they had attended an Al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan together in the Spring of 2001.They are:*Mukhtar Al-Bakri,*Sahim Alwan,*Faysal...
plot, and the Al Muhajiroun Two plot.
The NYPD report breaks down the radicalization process into four steps with each step including its’ own key indicators and triggers. The four steps to radicalization are their key indicators are:
- Pre-radicalization: Individuals ordinary life prior to radicalization
- Key indicators: Individuals background and current environment. Other indicators from the study included being a 2nd or 3rd generation immigrant to the U.S., having a college or even advanced degree, and being a recent convert to IslamIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
- Key indicators: Individuals background and current environment. Other indicators from the study included being a 2nd or 3rd generation immigrant to the U.S., having a college or even advanced degree, and being a recent convert to Islam
- Self-identification: The individual comes to identify with radical movements
- Key indicators: 1) A crisis event occurs progressing the individual towards SalafiSalafiA Salafi come from Sunni Islam is a follower of an Islamic movement, Salafiyyah, that is supposed to take the Salaf who lived during the patristic period of early Islam as model examples...
IslamIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. 2) Regular attendance at a Salafi mosque 3) Change in personal behavior that may include: giving up vices such as gambling, drinking alcoholic beverages, and smoking, as well as becoming involved in social activism pertaining to Islam
- Key indicators: 1) A crisis event occurs progressing the individual towards Salafi
- IndoctrinationIndoctrinationIndoctrination is the process of inculcating ideas, attitudes, cognitive strategies or a professional methodology . It is often distinguished from education by the fact that the indoctrinated person is expected not to question or critically examine the doctrine they have learned...
: Individual intensify and focus their beliefs- Key indicators: 1) Individual takes on political worldview and relating all things back to Salafi Islam and its teachings 2) Withdrawal from mosque and movement towards a small group or “cluster” where radical ideas are espoused and shared 3) Politicalization of new Salafi beliefs
- Jihadization: Individual start to take actions based on their beliefs
- Key indicators: 1) Decision to travel abroad to countries involved in conflict for training 2) Preparation for an “act of furtherance” by way of internet research, physical surveillance of possible targets, and visiting jihadi websites for words of encouragement prior to an attack 3) Acquiring materials needed for explosives or other means of attack i.e. guns, vehicles, bomb components
Similar to other radicalization reports that have been created the NYPD report also includes several key assumptions:
- There is no single pathway to extremism. All cases take very different paths of radicalization
- If an individual goes through all or even some of the steps of radicalization that does not mean that they will commit an act of terrorism. Several cases exist where an individual radicalized (wholly or partially) and never committed any acts of terrorism
- The NYPD report also cites that the Internet as a key driver of radicalization and includes it in several sections of the report.
An MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
report, Understanding Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in the UK, made public by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper, emphasized the diverse possible routes that can lead to an individual being radicalized. The MI5 report is dated June 12, 2008 and drew its analysis from case studies and input of those who were closely associated with the counterterrorism mission in the UK. They key findings of the report are:
- There is no single pathway to extremism. All cases take very different paths of radicalization
- The timeframe of the radicalization process can take months or even years but is always driven by contact with others who share extremism views
- Individuals who seem to be the most receptive to extremist ideologies were:
- those who had recently migrated to Britain
- individuals who had faced marginalization and racism from their peers
- persons who had achieved little in their professional career despite owning a university level degree
- individuals with a serious criminal past
- persons who had traveled abroad for more than 6 months and come in contact with extremists networks overseas
- those who would be considered religiously naive and vulnerable to proselytization
- Extremist groups often act as "fictive kin" for dislocated individuals who have lost ties to their family or community
- Not enough substantial research exist on disengagement from Islamist terrorist organization but using other historical records from other terrorist organization MI5 believes that disengagement does occur in Islamic terrorist organizations for varying reasons such as the birth of a son or daughter, a new job offer, or new personal relationship
- Strong religious faith can protect individuals from the effects of extremism
The MI5 report closes by saying that no single measure will reduce radicalization in the UK and that the only way to combat it is by targeting the at risk vulnerable groups and trying to assimilate them into society. This may include helping young people find jobs, better integrating immigrant populations into the local culture, and effectively reintegrating ex-prisoners into society.
In 2010, the British government launched a controversial anti-radicalization campaign called Prevent, led by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
, that seeks among other things to identify persons that would be the most vulnerable to recruitment by al Qaeda-aligned groups, to wean them away from an extremist path.
See also
- Radical (disambiguation)
- Moderation theoryModeration theoryModeration theory is a set of interrelated hypotheses that explain the process through which political groups eschew radical platforms in favor of more moderate policies and prefer electoral, compromising and non-confrontational strategies over non-electoral, exclusive, and confrontational strategies...
- The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political ViolenceThe International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political ViolenceThe International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence is a non-profit, non-governmental think tank based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of political violence and radicalisation....
- Homegrown terrorismHomegrown terrorismHomegrown terrorism is commonly associated with an international organization rather than being a ‘lone wolf’ act committed by isolated and disturbed individuals. It constitutes terrorist attacks from within the target nation, often Western...
Further reading
- MI5 official UK government web site article on Tackling Radicalisation
- Article on Christmas bomber from the Telegraph
- The Times article on radicalization
- Paper on radicalization
- Another paper on radicalization
- A book on radicalization