Radicalization in Theory and Practice

Understanding Religious Violence in Western Europe

Subjects: Political Science, Comparative Politics, Religion
Open Access : 9780472902835, 296 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, 6 x 9, December 2022
Paperback : 9780472055142, 296 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, 6 x 9, December 2022
Hardcover : 9780472075140, 296 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, 6 x 9, December 2022

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Building on a comparative case study, explores the conditions under religious radicalization leading to violent action

Table of contents

List of illustrations
Radicalization and Religious Violence in Western Europe: An Introduction, Thierry Balzacq and Elyamine Settoul
Part I. Theories
1.    Economic Perspectives, Tim Krieger and Daniel Meierricks
2.    Social Movement Research, Daniela I. Pisoiu
3.    Islamic Doctrines, Mohamed-Ali Adraoui
4.    Conversion Models, Juliette Galonnier
5.    Social Psychology, John Morrison
Part II. Patterns of Radicalization in Western Europe
6.    Belgium, Sarah Teich
7.    France, Elyamine Settoul
8.    Germany, Robert Pelzer and Mika Moeller
9.    Spain, Rut Bermejo
10.    United Kingdom, Tahir Abbas
Conclusion, Valérie Amiraux
Contributors 

Description

Radicalization is a major challenge of contemporary global security. It conjures up images of violent ideologies, “homegrown” terrorists and jihad in both the academic sphere and among security and defense experts. While the first instances of religious radicalization were initially limited to second-generation Muslim immigrants, significant changes are currently impacting this phenomenon. Technology is said to amplify the dissemination of radicalism, though there remains uncertainty as to the exact weight of technology on radical behaviors. Moreover, far from being restricted to young men of Muslim heritage suffering from a feeling of social relegation, radicalism concerns a significant number of converted Muslims, women and more heterogeneous profiles (social, academic and geographic), as well as individuals that give the appearance of being fully integrated in the host society. These new and striking dynamics require innovative conceptual lenses. 

Radicalization in Theory and Practice identifies the mechanisms that explicitly link radical religious beliefs and radical actions. It describes its nature, singles out the mechanisms that enable radicalism to produce its effects, and develops a conceptual architecture to help scholars and policy-makers to address and evaluate radicalism—or what often passes as such. A variety of empirical chapters fed by first-hand data probe the relevance of theoretical perspectives that shape radicalization studies. By giving a prominent role to first-hand empirical investigations, the authors create a new framework of analysis from the ground up. This book enhances the quality of theorizing in this area, consolidates the quality of methodological enquiries, and articulates security studies insights with broader theoretical debates in different fields including sociology, social psychology, economics, and religious studies.

Thierry Balzacq is Professor of Political Science and Professorial Fellow at Sciences Po, Paris.

Elyamine Settoul is Associate Professor at CNAM, Paris.

“This important book offers a clear contribution to the literature through its focus on multi-faceted and non-linear explanations for radicalization. The collection emphasizes the importance of local and social contexts in understanding how radicalization is made possible.”

—Christopher Baker-Beall, Bournemouth University

- Christopher Baker-Beall