Causes of extremism Flashcards by Iona McDonald

There are 3 categories of factors that cause extremism, these are …

Social
Economic
Political

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Religion is a cause of extremism?

False

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What is a dictatorship?

An oppressive form of govt that makes decisions on behalf of its citizens that are often unfair.

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In countries that suffer from dictatorships and human rights violations, groups of citizens known as rebels may resort to acts of extremism to try and bring about change?

True

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What is an example of extremist activities due to human rights violations?

The civil war in Syria

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Explain how the civil war in Syria is a result of rebel extremist organisations trying to bring about change.

Widespread discontent with President Assad and his oppressive govt, escalated to mass violence.

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Pro Russian rebels in Ukraine is a result of ?

Russia supplying rebel terrorist organisations within Crimea with weapons to fight against the Ukrainian Army.

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When a view of independence and personal autonomy for individual countries is radicalised this is known as …

Nationalism

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Extreme Nationalists believe in what?

The superiority of their own common culture, heritage and language

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Nationalists are also referred to as …

Separatists

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What is an example of nationalist terrorist activities in the UK?

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

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What attack did the IRA take responsibility for in 2019?

Fitting a bomb under the care of a police officer at a golf club in East Belfast.

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What is known as the action of harming an individual or a group because they harmed you or something that you care about?

Political retaliation and/or revenge.

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Islamic religious extremists have conducted many terrorist attacks in recent years in retaliation to Western foreign policy and their involvement in the middle east?

True - particularly in retaliation the involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

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Explain the 2015 November Paris attacks.

9 Islamic State extremists detonated 3 suicide bombs and committed mass shootings resulting in the death of 130 individuals.

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Why was the 2015 November Paris attacks carried out?

In retaliation to the US led military coalition airstrikes.

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Some religious extremists believe in martyrdom, what is this?

When individuals will be rewarded in the after life for carrying out their duties.

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What 2017 attack in the UK did ISIS take responsibility for?

The Manchester Arena attack.

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Terrorist organisations have been likened to cults, one wat that individuals are intimidated into joining these organisations is through …

Peer Pressure

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A report for International Centre for the study of radicalisation and Political Science found that peer pressure was the leading factor when recruiting …

Young British Muslims to fight in Syria. Often done through propaganda videos.

What is radicalisation?

A process where a person or group increasingly adopts extreme political, social or religious views or ideas. These individuals and groups are often angry with society.

Quilliam - a counter extremism think tank found what …

Women who travelled to Syria to marry ISIS fighters are using social media platforms to radicalise and shame men into travelling to Syria to fight.

Ideological extremism refers to small groups in society who use extremism as a tool to impose their political and sociological ideals on the wider community?

True

What kinds of issues to some of the most extreme ideological extremist organisations focus on?

Racism, the environment and animal rights.

What are two examples of groups active in the USA who commit extremism as a result of their ideological beliefs?

Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Earth Liberation Front (ELF)

ALF extremists were widely criticised for what?

Sending packages contaminated with the HIV/AIDS virus to intimidate scientists from UCLA to not carry out testing on animals.

How can poverty and deprivation cause extremism ?

citizens can become discontent with substandard living conditions as they have grown up in societies plagued by turmoil with a lack of education, prospects and employment.

This can be seen in ___________ ___________ where poverty and deprivation has made individuals vulnerable to the arguments and promises made by terrorist militant groups such as Boko Haram and al-Shabaab.

Northern Africa

Explain how extremism can be linked to piracy?

the issue of piracy which is a major problem especially off the north east coast of Africa. Many poor people in Somalia are forced or persuaded to hi-jack ships and to take hostages by local gangs. There can be more money in it than there is in fishing.

This overlaps with political causes as the government of a country suffering from terrorist activity within its borders is more likely to be corrupt and/or guilty of embezzling state funds causing high levels of deprivation. This means that the country will not be able to operate a functioning welfare state to support its citizens and often cannot support a successful economy, failing to create jobs and opportunities for its people. What is this cause?

Corrupt government

Where can a corrupt government be exemplified?

This is illustrated in Syria, where the lack of a legitimate government has led to a weak economy and welfare state meaning that young men in particular are susceptible to being recruited by the religious extremist group ISIS

Al-Shabab took responsibility for what terrorist attack in Kenya in 2016?

The attack on a Kenyan Military base which killed 180.

Research into motives for individuals to join al-Shabab found that ...

27% joined for economic reasons 15% joined for religious 13% were forced

Boko Haram oppose what ?

Western Education

In February 2018, how many schoolgirls did Boko Haram kidnap and demand ransom for

111

Demanding ransom for terrorist activities is motivated by

Financial benefits

Describe the Manchester Arena attack

22nd May 2017 Suicide bomber - Salam Abedi ISIS claimed responsibility 22 dead and over 800 injured

Dylan Roof committed terrorism as a result of discrimination. What kind?

White Supremacy

Dylan Roof opened fire on a bible study class killing 9 in the Charleston church attack as a result of racial hatred?

True

What is the name of the nationalist group that operate in Spain?

ETA, Basque separatist organization in Spain that used terrorism in its campaign for an independent Basque state.

What terrorist attack took place in March 2024 killing at least 129 people?

Moscow, Russia at a Concert Hall

Who took responsibility for the Moscow attack in March 2024?

ISIS- claiming it was retaliation for Russia's military involvement in Muslim countries such as Syria

How did COVID-19 cause extremist activities?

Far right group Reichsburger joined forces with anti vaccine movements and tried to storm the Reichstag building in 2020.

What beliefs did QAnon spread through Europe?

The idea of a deep state and anti government extremism.

What attack did the IRA carry out in 2019?

Fitting a bomb under a police car at a golf club in East Belfast.

Describe the Halle Synagogue Shooting in 2019.

In Halle, Germany, a far-right gunman attacked a synagogue during Yom Kippur, killing two people after failing to enter the building. The attack, live-streamed on Twitch, was motivated by anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant beliefs. This was another example of how far-right terrorists have leveraged social media to broadcast their ideologies.

Another example of political retaliation is the Nice Basilica Attack (2020), what happened?

A Tunisian national carried out a stabbing attack at the Notre-Dame basilica in Nice, France, killing three people. This incident followed renewed tensions in France over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, and it echoed other recent Islamist attacks in Europe, including the 2020 beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty.

What extremist organisation has tried to use social media more often since 2020 to recruit new members?

ISIS recruiters continued using platforms like Telegram, where close-knit groups foster loyalty among recruits by creating a family-like atmosphere. They target isolated individuals, especially young people, and provide a sense of belonging through interactive and closed social groups.

What is the link between extremism and deprivation in Afghanistan?

Following the Taliban's return to power, deteriorating economic conditions have worsened, with unemployment leading to increased recruitment by groups like ISIS-K (Khorasan). The economic crisis contributes to the cycle of violence as individuals join extremist groups for financial survival.