Page 75 - Šolsko polje, XXIX, 2018, no. 5-6: Radicalization, Violent Extremism and Conflicting Diversity, eds. Mitja Sardoč and Tomaž Deželan
P. 75
k. bovan, m. kovačić, m. vučković ■ being mainstream, being radical ...
Having a set of values clearly organised is important. In other words, the system of
values in which one believes in. Furthermore, the set of values as such has to have a
hierarchical setup. (Zagreb)
Another interesting finding is that, nominally, young people char-
acterise radicalism as a neutral concept which can be filled with mean-
ing depending on the context, just as this participant from Zagreb claims:
For me, for this is important to define what it means to be radical because, for me,
this concept is not necessarily negative, it is neutral and being filled by negative and
positive connotations. A certain type of radicalisation can be very useful if directed
adequately, it can be productive for societal change and in some cases it is even nec-
essary. On the other hand, it can be very problematic when it is directed towards
those at the bottom. If radicalisation is directed towards the top, towards the power
structures then it is acceptable, but if it is directed towards the bottom, towards those
who are weak then it is very problematic.
However, when we analysed later responses (even from partici-
pants who described radicalism neutrally), it is evident that our partic-
ipants view radicalism as in fact a negative occurrence. Attributed with
reductionism, exclusion, lack of tolerance for others, and belief of superi-
ority of one’s set of values, for young people radicalism is unwanted. This
claim is supported by their diagnosis of how radicalism is being created.
According to participants the combination of reductionism and reaction
to societal problems creates a radical response. Young people therefore see
radicalism as a product of narrow-mindedness and a tainted system which
is clearly a negative attribution of a concept.
A radical citizen is someone who looks only in one direction and sees nothing left or
right and does not agree with other attitudes. He does not accept other opinions/at-
titudes and stubbornly pushes his head against the wall. It doesn’t matter in which
direction this radical is looking, right or left, but he does not accept anything except
his framework which is there since his childhood. (Split)
Radicalism is a consequence of not seeing the whole picture, not looking at the wider
context, but only how your family has educated you. (Zagreb)
This discrepancy between the text and subtext is of a particular value
because it shows that young people in fact reluctantly accept everything
that diverges from the average or common. This clearly demonstrates that
young people have “fallen into society’s trap”; they predominantly want to
replicate existing social patterns and values and want less to enforce inno-
vation and creativity. The perception of young people is that everything
73
Having a set of values clearly organised is important. In other words, the system of
values in which one believes in. Furthermore, the set of values as such has to have a
hierarchical setup. (Zagreb)
Another interesting finding is that, nominally, young people char-
acterise radicalism as a neutral concept which can be filled with mean-
ing depending on the context, just as this participant from Zagreb claims:
For me, for this is important to define what it means to be radical because, for me,
this concept is not necessarily negative, it is neutral and being filled by negative and
positive connotations. A certain type of radicalisation can be very useful if directed
adequately, it can be productive for societal change and in some cases it is even nec-
essary. On the other hand, it can be very problematic when it is directed towards
those at the bottom. If radicalisation is directed towards the top, towards the power
structures then it is acceptable, but if it is directed towards the bottom, towards those
who are weak then it is very problematic.
However, when we analysed later responses (even from partici-
pants who described radicalism neutrally), it is evident that our partic-
ipants view radicalism as in fact a negative occurrence. Attributed with
reductionism, exclusion, lack of tolerance for others, and belief of superi-
ority of one’s set of values, for young people radicalism is unwanted. This
claim is supported by their diagnosis of how radicalism is being created.
According to participants the combination of reductionism and reaction
to societal problems creates a radical response. Young people therefore see
radicalism as a product of narrow-mindedness and a tainted system which
is clearly a negative attribution of a concept.
A radical citizen is someone who looks only in one direction and sees nothing left or
right and does not agree with other attitudes. He does not accept other opinions/at-
titudes and stubbornly pushes his head against the wall. It doesn’t matter in which
direction this radical is looking, right or left, but he does not accept anything except
his framework which is there since his childhood. (Split)
Radicalism is a consequence of not seeing the whole picture, not looking at the wider
context, but only how your family has educated you. (Zagreb)
This discrepancy between the text and subtext is of a particular value
because it shows that young people in fact reluctantly accept everything
that diverges from the average or common. This clearly demonstrates that
young people have “fallen into society’s trap”; they predominantly want to
replicate existing social patterns and values and want less to enforce inno-
vation and creativity. The perception of young people is that everything
73
