Page 22 - Šolsko polje, XXIX, 2018, no. 5-6: Radicalization, Violent Extremism and Conflicting Diversity, eds. Mitja Sardoč and Tomaž Deželan
P. 22
šolsko polje, letnik xxix, številka 5–6
of Brussels; or parts of the Hague in the case of the “Hofstad Group” of
terrorists in the Netherlands, appear to have been so significant in the sto-
ries of recent terrorist attacks in Europe.
Radicalisation Models
There are undoubtedly problems with conducting empirical work in the
fields of terrorism and extremism, since the subjects of interest are either
difficult or dangerous to reach; incarcerated in prison which poses a par-
ticular set of ethical issues on interviewing; or are deceased. There are also
methodological problems in asking someone, where they are available,
why they became a radical or a terrorist, as Horgan observes, since there
may be a natural tendency for the response to focus lazily on an ideolog-
ical narrative about “the cause” rather than revealing anything personal
(Horgan, 2008: p. 87).
This does not, however, mean there is a dearth of empirical study in
the area of radicalisation, as some have suggested (Githens-Mazer, 2012: p.
558). In fact, many have undertaken surveys of a range of people of inter-
est about notions of radicalisation and extremism, delivering an interest-
ing body of primary material. The problem is not so much about the many
valiant efforts to gather such data, but about the ability to derive general-
isations from them.
One of the more interesting recent studies was that of McGilloway,
Ghosh and Bhui, who undertook an extensive survey of academic outputs
on the radicalization of Muslims in the West up to 2012 (McGilloway et
al., 2015). This project identified 17 relevant major studies based on orig-
inal primary research. The conclusions of this survey were broadly that
there was:
no single cause or route responsible for engaging in violent extremism.
Radicalization was seen as a process of change, but that some may be
more predisposed to being vulnerable if catalytic events/precipitating
factors are present (McGilloway et al., 2015: p. 49).
There was general consensus across the studies reviewed that there is
a significant connection between personal “vulnerabilities” and the risk of
exposure to “violent radicalization”; namely the synthesis of macro- and
micro-level processes and influences, to which we will return. All of the
studies involving empirical survey work with young Muslims seemed to
suggest that the difficulties in “finding a sense of identity and belonging”
were highly significant sources of vulnerability for many, with a number
of studies identifying this factor among young British Muslims in par-
ticular (McGilloway et al., 2015: p. 49).
20
of Brussels; or parts of the Hague in the case of the “Hofstad Group” of
terrorists in the Netherlands, appear to have been so significant in the sto-
ries of recent terrorist attacks in Europe.
Radicalisation Models
There are undoubtedly problems with conducting empirical work in the
fields of terrorism and extremism, since the subjects of interest are either
difficult or dangerous to reach; incarcerated in prison which poses a par-
ticular set of ethical issues on interviewing; or are deceased. There are also
methodological problems in asking someone, where they are available,
why they became a radical or a terrorist, as Horgan observes, since there
may be a natural tendency for the response to focus lazily on an ideolog-
ical narrative about “the cause” rather than revealing anything personal
(Horgan, 2008: p. 87).
This does not, however, mean there is a dearth of empirical study in
the area of radicalisation, as some have suggested (Githens-Mazer, 2012: p.
558). In fact, many have undertaken surveys of a range of people of inter-
est about notions of radicalisation and extremism, delivering an interest-
ing body of primary material. The problem is not so much about the many
valiant efforts to gather such data, but about the ability to derive general-
isations from them.
One of the more interesting recent studies was that of McGilloway,
Ghosh and Bhui, who undertook an extensive survey of academic outputs
on the radicalization of Muslims in the West up to 2012 (McGilloway et
al., 2015). This project identified 17 relevant major studies based on orig-
inal primary research. The conclusions of this survey were broadly that
there was:
no single cause or route responsible for engaging in violent extremism.
Radicalization was seen as a process of change, but that some may be
more predisposed to being vulnerable if catalytic events/precipitating
factors are present (McGilloway et al., 2015: p. 49).
There was general consensus across the studies reviewed that there is
a significant connection between personal “vulnerabilities” and the risk of
exposure to “violent radicalization”; namely the synthesis of macro- and
micro-level processes and influences, to which we will return. All of the
studies involving empirical survey work with young Muslims seemed to
suggest that the difficulties in “finding a sense of identity and belonging”
were highly significant sources of vulnerability for many, with a number
of studies identifying this factor among young British Muslims in par-
ticular (McGilloway et al., 2015: p. 49).
20
