Summary
A precursor to radicalization and terrorism is the lack of proper socio-political integration of certain communities in countries. Therefore, the phenomena of xenophobia, victimization, and discrimination appear. Individuals and groups which cannot properly interact with the host society, that is, assimilate, are looking for like-minded people to communicate, while building separate social networks. Therefore, radicalization builds ideology and extreme belief systems, whereas terrorism facilitates action pathways through violence.
Toxic Ideas
Radicalization lies at the heart of terrorism and plays a central role in the propagation of ideas. It is the process of creating and developing extremist beliefs and ideologies, which should be distinguished from action pathways (Borum, 2012). The transformation of each radical terrorist is a deeply individual and unique process. The predecessors of the personal approach of radicalization are socio-political alienation, deep religious identity as opposed to globalization, and dissatisfaction with the state’s foreign policy.
Pathway to Terrorism
Radicalization and terrorism are highly interconnected notions that facilitate each other. Certain factors trigger the development of new systems of personal beliefs and critical reflection, which lead to sustainable behavior change. Applying these concepts to the phenomenon of terrorism explains how people who have not previously practiced violence come to justify engaging in violent behavior. Social and political factors which conflict with the existing interpretation of oneself and society contribute to radicalization. Precursors do not just coerce into participation in terrorism but affect the context of life in this way. A person becomes receptive to new experiences, redefinition of semantic perspectives, and changing beliefs.
Social Mechanisms
The three theories discussed in the article are Social Movement Theory (SMT), Social Psychology (SP), and Conversion Theory (CT). SMT must be able to grow and expand to preserve its influence by mobilization, recruitment, participation, and removal of barriers (Borum, 2012). In other words, a person who joins an extremist group needs to be actively involved by either recruiting people or promoting the overall cause. SP is a section of psychology, which studies group dynamics and interaction. It explains radicalization by claiming that groupthink is often more biased and irrational, which leads to higher levels of polarization and extremism (Borum, 2012). In addition, the members feel less responsible for their actions because the group acts as a support network. CT primarily focuses on the individual rather than groups, where there are key stages, such as interaction, commitment, consequences, quest, encounter, context, and crisis (Borum, 2012). Therefore, the overall transformation of a person’s belief and views occur gradually through the given steps.
Possible Steps
The best way to address the radicalization process is to understand how action pathways are different from the concept. The article proposes theories to explain the nature of violent radical thinking, which is the result of a collective approach as well as individual conversion. To properly combat the situation, it is essential to have clarity of comprehension by applying the relevant ideas. Therefore, it is critical to develop a strong theoretical framework for the radicalization process, where the key elements are defined.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is in these changing contexts of life that the perception and interpretation of certain information can initiate the process of identity reconstruction and deconstruction inherent in terrorism. In the radicalization of jihadists, notions based on religious ideals are critical and lead to a rethinking of international politics and history. It also leads to a reassessment of the boundaries between justice, protection, and aggression, as well as a redefinition of their relationship with the immediate and global community.
Reference
Borum, R. (2012). Radicalization into violent extremism I: A review of social science theories. Journal of Strategic Security, 4(4), 7-36. Web.