Radicalization

Radicalization is the process in which an individual changes from passiveness or activism to become more revolutionary, militant or extremist. Radicalization is often associated with youth, adversity, alienation, social exclusion, poverty, or the perception of injustice to self or others.^{[citation needed]}

Definitions

The U.S. Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 defines "Violent Radicalization" as the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.

The term is used in the context of Islamic radicalism and terrorism, but the term can, and has, been used to refer to radicalization within the context of a wide number of militant movements with a wide variety of ideologies.

Radicalization is an important factor in the development of militant movements, including those involved in terrorism. According to the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, The grievances that fuel radicalization are diverse and vary across locations and groups. Radicalization frequently is driven by personal concerns at the local level in addition to frustration with international events.

According to the NCTC, the association between radicalization and poverty is a myth. Many terrorists come from middle-class backgrounds and have university-level educations, particularly in the technical sciences and engineering. There is no statistical association between poverty and militant radicalization.

The NCTC also states that there are no visible outward signs of radicalization. Changes in appearance during different stages of radicalization often are the same changes seen in individuals who are not being radicalized, making it difficult to identify visible markers.

In 2007 The New York Police Department Intelligence Division released a document that focused on the radicalization process entitled, Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat. The report was co-authored by Mitchell D. Sibler and Arvin Bhatt, who are both Senior Intelligence Analysts for the NYPD. The report researched and analyzed several famous case studies from abroad as well as from the United States to collect the needed data to create their step by step explanation of radicalization. The cases examined included: the London, England 7/7 attack, 2004 Madrid, Spain terrorist attack, the Toronto 18 case, Herald Square Bomb Plot, the Lackawana Six plot, and the Al Muhajiroun Two plot. The NYPD report breaks down the radicalization process into four steps with each step including its’ own key indicators and triggers. The four steps to radicalization are their key indicators are:

• Pre-radicalization: Individuals ordinary life prior to radicalization
  • Key indicators: Individuals background and current environment. Other indicators from the study included being a 2nd or 3rd generation immigrant to the U.S., having a college or even advanced degree, and being a recent convert to Islam
• Self-identification: The individual comes to identify with radical movements
  • Key indicators: 1) A crisis event occurs progressing the individual towards Salafi Islam. 2) Regular attendance at a Salafi mosque 3) Change in personal behavior that may include: giving up vices such as gambling, drinking alcoholic beverages, and smoking, as well as becoming involved in social activism pertaining to Islam
• Indoctrination: Individual intensify and focus their beliefs
  • Key indicators: 1) Individual takes on political worldview and relating all things back to Salafi Islam and its teachings 2) Withdrawal from mosque and movement towards a small group or “cluster” where radical ideas are espoused and shared 3) Politicalization of new Salafi beliefs
• Jihadization: Individual start to take actions based on their beliefs
  • Key indicators: 1) Decision to travel abroad to countries involved in conflict for training 2) Preparation for an “act of furtherance” by way of internet research, physical surveillance of possible targets, and visiting jihadi websites for words of encouragement prior to an attack 3) Acquiring materials needed for explosives or other means of attack i.e. guns, vehicles, bomb components

Similar to other radicalization reports that have been created the NYPD report also includes several key assumptions:

• There is no single pathway to extremism. All cases take very different paths of radicalization
• If an individual goes through all or even some of the steps of radicalization that does not mean that they will commit an act of terrorism. Several cases exist where an individual radicalized (wholly or partially) and never committed any acts of terrorism
• The NYPD report also cites that the Internet as a key driver of radicalization and includes it in several sections of the report.

An MI5 report, Understanding Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in the UK, made public by The Guardian newspaper, emphasized the diverse possible routes that can lead to an individual being radicalized. The MI5 report is dated June 12, 2008 and drew its analysis from case studies and input of those who were closely associated with the counterterrorism mission in the UK. They key findings of the report are:

• There is no single pathway to extremism. All cases take very different paths of radicalization
• The timeframe of the radicalization process can take months or even years but is always driven by contact with others who share extremism views
• Individuals who seem to be the most receptive to extremist ideologies were:

1. those who had recently migrated to Britain
2. individuals who had faced marginalization and racism from their peers
3. persons who had achieved little in their professional career despite owning a university level degree
4. individuals with a serious criminal past
5. persons who had traveled abroad for more than 6 months and come in contact with extremists networks overseas
6. those who would be considered religiously naive and vulnerable to proselytization

• Extremist groups often act as "fictive kin" for dislocated individuals who have lost ties to their family or community
• Not enough substantial research exist on disengagement from Islamist terrorist organization but using other historical records from other terrorist organization MI5 believes that disengagement does occur in Islamic terrorist organizations for varying reasons such as the birth of a son or daughter, a new job offer, or new personal relationship
• Strong religious faith can protect individuals from the effects of extremism

The MI5 report closes by saying that no single measure will reduce radicalization in the UK and that the only way to combat it is by targeting the at risk vulnerable groups and trying to assimilate them into society. This may include helping young people find jobs, better integrating immigrant populations into the local culture, and effectively reintegrating ex-prisoners into society.

In 2010, the British government launched a controversial anti-radicalization campaign called Prevent, led by the Home Office, that seeks among other things to identify persons that would be the most vulnerable to recruitment by al Qaeda-aligned groups, to wean them away from an extremist path.

See also

• Radical (disambiguation)
• Moderation theory
• The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence
• Homegrown terrorism

Further reading

• MI5 official UK government web site article on Tackling Radicalisation
• Article on Christmas bomber from the Telegraph
• The Times article on radicalization
• Paper on radicalization
• Another paper on radicalization
• A book on radicalization
• Article on causes of radicalisation

External links

• Prominent blog on radicalisation: FREErad!cals
• RadicalisationResearch.org - high-quality academic research on radicalisation and extremism
• H.R. 1695: Preventing Radicalism by Exploring and Vetting its Emergence as a National Threat (PREVENT) Act
• Radicalization as a reaction to failure: an economic model of Islamic extremism
• Women and radicalization
• "Studies: War radicalized most foreign fighters in Iraq". The Christian Science Monitor. 18 July 2005. http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0718/dailyUpdate.html.