Article 3e: Processes Of Radicalization And de-radicalization (Della Porta & LaFree, 2012)

Question 1

Radicalisation

Answer 1

A process characterised by increased commitment to and use of violent means and strategies in political conflict.

Question 2

The 2 dimensions of radicalisation

Answer 2

1. Attitudes: the aims and perceptions.
2. The behaviour that follows.
   These 2 are closely linked, but are not necessarily connected: radical attitudes do not always lead to violent actions AND engaging in violence is not always presumed by radical attitudes.

Question 3

How radicalisation and de-radicalisation can be understood in relation to violence

Answer 3

Radicalisation –> causes more political violence.
De-radicalisation –> causes a reduction of political violence.

Question 4

Research about radicalisation

Answer 4

Often focusses too much on the individual, which suggests that the problems of violence lies with some quality that is intrinsic to their individuals or groups, rather than it being a result of a larger conflict and societal and political conditions. It should be studies in its social and political context (an interaction between groups and their environment).

Question 5

Processes that shape radicalisation and de-radicalisation

Answer 5

Radicalisation and derealisation are multi-faces processes shaped by:
1. Repressive settings:
2. Legitimacy of the radicalisations
3. State dynamics/ institutional dynamics (the state can increase or repress radicalisation)
4. Organisational dynamics (internal dynamics of violent groups like power struggles and internal cohesion)
5. Unintended consequences (there should be focus on including beliefs rather than action instead of risk stigmatising communities, fostering mistrust and undermining legitimacy.