Category: Radicalisation

What is radicalisation and why is it so hard to understand?

What is radicalisation and why is it so hard to understand?

Recently, the British Government has created a specialist task force to specifically tackle the process of radicalisation in UK prisons. This marks a wave of tactics focusing on the processes that lead to terrorism and violence, rather than focusing time and energy on the end-product of extremist views as previously tried and failed. However, the terms “radicalisation”, “radical” and “extremist” have become increasingly entangled and in turn, carry several misconceptions regarding the nature of each of these terms. Because of these misconceptions, it is difficult for any governing body to accurately tackle the forces that are causing terror across the Globe.

Does academic debate on ‘radicalisation’ increase or decrease the threat of violent extremism?

Does academic debate on ‘radicalisation’ increase or decrease the threat of violent extremism?

The academic debate surrounding radicalisation and violent extremism has shifted dramatically from the 1970s where it was used to understand structures and behaviours of violent groups compared to the 21st Century where radicalisation is closely associated with Islamist terrorism. However, how has this shift affected individual’s understanding of what violent extremism is? I will consider how academic debate surrounding ‘radicalisation’ has either increased or decreased the threat of violent extremism.

Conceptualising radicalisation

Conceptualising radicalisation

by Joanna HodgkinsonThe number of people being radicalised in the UK and Europe have increased drastically in the past decade. Almost 4,500 people were referred to the UK government’s flagship counter-terrorism scheme last year. “Nearly triple the figure in the...