RADICALIZATION
RADICALIZATION IS A DYNAMIC PROCESS
THAT VARIES FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL, BUT
SHARES SOME UNDERLYING
COMMONALITIES THAT CAN BE EXPLORED.
SHIRA FISHMAN, RESEARCHER AT THE NATIONAL CONSORTIUM
FOR THE STUDY OF TERRORISM AND RESPONSES TO TERRORISM
RADICALIZATION

Radicalization (or radicalisation) is a process
by which an individual or group comes to adopt
increasingly extreme political, social, or religious
ideals and aspirations that reject or undermine
the status quo or reject and/or undermine
contemporary ideas and expressions of freedom of
choice.
HOW DOES RADICALIZATION OCCUR?
RADICALIZATION (1)

Radicalism can originate from a broad social
consensus against progressive changes in society.
Radicalization can be both violent and
nonviolent, although most academic literature
focuses on radicalization into violent extremism.
RADICALIZATION (2)

The UK Home Office (Ministero degli Interni)
defines radicalization as “The process by which
people come to support terrorism and violent
extremism and, in some cases, then join terrorist
groups.”
Key indicators in the process
of radicalization
PRE-RADICALIZATION


Individual's ordinary life prior to radicalization.
Key indicators
Individual’s background and current
environment, 2nd or 3rd generation immigrant,
having a college or even advanced degree. Being
a recent convert.
SELF-IDENTIFICATION

The individual comes to identify with radical
movements.
Key indicators
1) A crisis event occurs progressing the individual
towards new belief.
2) Regular attendance at radical meetings
3) Change in personal behavior e.g. giving up vices
such as gambling, drinking alcohol, and smoking, as
well as becoming involved in social activism pertaining
to new belief.
INDOCTRINATION


Individuals intensify and focus their beliefs.
Key indicators
Individual takes on political worldview and
relates all things back to new belief and its
teachings,
movement towards a small group where radical
ideas are espoused and shared.
JIHADIZATION


Individual starts to take actions based on new
belief.
Key indicators
Decision to travel abroad to countries involved in
conflict for training.
Preparation for an act of terrorism through
internet research, physical surveillance of
possible targets, and visiting jihadi websites for
words of encouragement prior to an attack.
Acquiring materials needed for explosives or
other means of attack i.e. guns, vehicles, bomb
components
USING THE INTERNET FOR TERRORISM
WE LIVE IN A DIGITAL ERA. IN THE UK ALONE
85 PER CENT OF HOMES HAVE INTERNET
ACCESS. AS SOCIETY INCREASINGLY EMBRACES
THE INTERNET, SO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE
WISHING TO USE IT FOR TERRORISM HAVE
GROWN. THE INTERNET OFFERS TERRORISTS
AND EXTREMISTS THE CAPABILITY TO
COMMUNICATE, COLLABORATE AND CONVINCE.
HOW DOES THE INTERNET CONVINCE
POTENTIAL TERORRISTS?
PRIMARY RESEARCH CONDUCTED ON
RADICALISATION VIA INTERNET CONFIRMS THAT
THE INTERNET PLAYS A ROLE IN THE
RADICALISATION PROCESS OF VIOLENT
EXTREMISTS AND TERRORISTS.
FINDINGS SHOW THAT:
THE INTERNET CREATES MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME RADICALISED

the internet may enhance opportunities to
become radicalised, as a result of being available
to many people, and enabling connection with
like-minded
individuals from across the world
THE INTERNET ACTS AS AN ‘ECHO
CHAMBER’

the internet may act as an ‘echo chamber’ for
extremist beliefs; in other words, the internet
may provide a greater opportunity than offline
interactions to confirm existing beliefs.
THE INTERNET ACCELERATES THE
PROCESS OF RADICALISATION

The internet appears to facilitate this process,
which, in turn, may or may not accelerate it.
THE INTERNET MAY ENCOURAGE
RADICALISATION TO OCCUR WITHOUT PHYSICAL
CONTACT

It is not necessarily a substitute for in-person
meetings but, rather, complements in-person
communication.
THE INTERNET MAY INCREASE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-RADICALISATION

Research does not support the suggestion that
the internet has contributed to the development
of self-radicalisation. Subjects usually have
contact with other individuals, whether virtually
or physically.