Violent Extremism

radicalization

The complex process by which individuals adopt violent extremist ideologies that may lead them to commit terrorist acts, or which are likely to render them more vulnerable to recruitment

3 recruitment approach types

The Net, The Funnel, and Infection

Early research on terrorism focused on what kind of explanation for terrorism?

clinical explanations

Social Psychological theories

groups tend to lead to more radicalization because group opinions tend to be more extreme than those held by its individual members, group decision-making is often more biased, individuals feel less responsible for group actions, and people join groups because of perceived incentives

social movement theory

aims to explain how individuals are drawn into terrorism through rational processes

Rambo’s Conversion Theory Model

• context

• crisis

• quest

• encounter

• interaction

• commitment

• consequences

FBI conversion types

• jilted believers

• faith reinterpretation

• protest conversion

• acceptance seeking

Venhaus conversion types

• the revenge seeker

• the status seeker

• the identity seeker

• the thrill seeker

What did Amy Mack study?

the far-right and ideological extremism and community responses to radicalization

2022 Freedom Convoy

massive in-person protests in Ottawa, leading to several arrests and frozen bank accounts, a massive social media presence, and record-breaking fundraising

Coutts Border Blockade

blockade between Coutts, Alberta and Sweetgrass, Montana, resulting in a +$200 million economic hit, 14 arrests, and a part of the justification for the Emergencies Act

The movement to save the “Coutts Boys”

Facebook groups with thousands of members, fundraisers that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and gained accusations of fraud, and podcasts and livestreams

Coutts Border Blockade Anniversary Tour

social media based organizing

push factors

structural conditions: inequality, marginalization, poor governance, etc

pull factors

individual motivations: identity, ideology, belonging, etc

UN’s 5 drivers

1. lack of socio-economic opportunities

2. marginalization and discrimination

3. poor governance, violations of human rights and the rule of law

4. prolonged and unresolved conflicts

5. radicalization in prisons

what undermines economic causality of terrorism

many extremists are educated and employed

prevention must include what two elements?

prevention must address root causes and promote human rights