Page 90 - Šolsko polje, XXIX, 2018, no. 5-6: Radicalization, Violent Extremism and Conflicting Diversity, eds. Mitja Sardoč and Tomaž Deželan
P. 90
šolsko polje, letnik xxix, številka 5–6
- Single-issue radicalisation linked to solving specific problems
through the use of violence (e.g. Animal Liberation Front, etc.).
Accordingly, Islamist radicalisation is a religion-related process of
radicalisation towards the use of violence for achieving religious or pseu-
do-religious goals, such as the establishment of an Islamic religious state
with the supremacy of Sharia law. Islamist radicalisation and the related
terrorism have become the most pressing type of terrorism in Europe since
9/11. As Laquer found out (2004: p. 29), such religious motivation has be-
come prevalent over the previously strongest ideological motivation. After
a brief look at the history of radicalisation, we can see that Al-Qaeda has
become a supreme organisational and motivational actor with global in-
fluence on the Islamist radicalisation process, and that ISIS successfully
continued this work on the global level. The main aim of Islamist radical-
isation process has been to increase the number of supporters and members of
terrorist or radical groups. This process has been based on recruiting vol-
unteers for Jihad in present conflict areas (Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Syria,
Afghanistan, Somalia, Lebanon, etc.), enabling these volunteers to get
into conflict areas and return from there (foreign fighters and returnees),
sending them to training camps in various countries (where they learn to
shoot, assemble bombs, collect intelligence), etc. The radicalisation pro-
cess, however, does not lead only to the recruitment of fighters, it also fo-
cuses on the recruitment of people for several support roles.
The whole radicalisation process is strongly based on the use of com-
munication tools and propaganda to increase membership, increase broad-
er support, and explain or excuse their violence. Accordingly, the radicals
and terrorists increasingly use the internet, publish speeches of imams and
other relevant persons, carry out and publish interviews, publish maga-
zines, produce movies and other multimedia materials, promise paradise
for jihadists, etc. With ISIS, the radicalisation time has decreased, partic-
ipation in foreign conflict areas by the so-called foreign fighters has in-
creased and more elaborated communication strategies targeted to vari-
ous publics have been used.
We need to understand that Islamist radicalisation is a process com-
posed of several phases. It starts with pre-radicalisation or moral outrage,
interpretation and self-identification, internalisation or indoctrination,
and mobilization by terrorist network or jihadisation (see Sageman, 2008:
pp. 71–89). Islamist terrorist and radical actors need to capture the mind of
individuals in this process or, in other words, need to win their hearts and
minds. The more people captured this way, the more support and legit-
imisation for their actions will exist. The same is true for fight against
88
- Single-issue radicalisation linked to solving specific problems
through the use of violence (e.g. Animal Liberation Front, etc.).
Accordingly, Islamist radicalisation is a religion-related process of
radicalisation towards the use of violence for achieving religious or pseu-
do-religious goals, such as the establishment of an Islamic religious state
with the supremacy of Sharia law. Islamist radicalisation and the related
terrorism have become the most pressing type of terrorism in Europe since
9/11. As Laquer found out (2004: p. 29), such religious motivation has be-
come prevalent over the previously strongest ideological motivation. After
a brief look at the history of radicalisation, we can see that Al-Qaeda has
become a supreme organisational and motivational actor with global in-
fluence on the Islamist radicalisation process, and that ISIS successfully
continued this work on the global level. The main aim of Islamist radical-
isation process has been to increase the number of supporters and members of
terrorist or radical groups. This process has been based on recruiting vol-
unteers for Jihad in present conflict areas (Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Syria,
Afghanistan, Somalia, Lebanon, etc.), enabling these volunteers to get
into conflict areas and return from there (foreign fighters and returnees),
sending them to training camps in various countries (where they learn to
shoot, assemble bombs, collect intelligence), etc. The radicalisation pro-
cess, however, does not lead only to the recruitment of fighters, it also fo-
cuses on the recruitment of people for several support roles.
The whole radicalisation process is strongly based on the use of com-
munication tools and propaganda to increase membership, increase broad-
er support, and explain or excuse their violence. Accordingly, the radicals
and terrorists increasingly use the internet, publish speeches of imams and
other relevant persons, carry out and publish interviews, publish maga-
zines, produce movies and other multimedia materials, promise paradise
for jihadists, etc. With ISIS, the radicalisation time has decreased, partic-
ipation in foreign conflict areas by the so-called foreign fighters has in-
creased and more elaborated communication strategies targeted to vari-
ous publics have been used.
We need to understand that Islamist radicalisation is a process com-
posed of several phases. It starts with pre-radicalisation or moral outrage,
interpretation and self-identification, internalisation or indoctrination,
and mobilization by terrorist network or jihadisation (see Sageman, 2008:
pp. 71–89). Islamist terrorist and radical actors need to capture the mind of
individuals in this process or, in other words, need to win their hearts and
minds. The more people captured this way, the more support and legit-
imisation for their actions will exist. The same is true for fight against
88
