Radicalized Terrorists - Research Paper

Introduction

Radicalization is a process through which people adopt extremist belief systems. Basically, it involves the adoption of ideology as a way of life which includes willingness to encourage or facilitate violence. Radicalization process involves individuals severing ties with those in their immediate surrounding including family members, friends, or colleagues and advancing in a radical path that eventually leads to violence. The incidences of radicalization are on the increase, this has also lead to an increase in the terrorism (Doosje et al, 2019). Terrorists follow three main phases to be radicalized which include, sensitivity, group membership, and action. This paper will discuss the various methods that terrorists become radicalized, the risk factors and how radicalization can be prevented.

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Radicalization Methods

Radicalization process for terrorists in most, if not all cases, is non-violent. The radicalizing agents promote their ideologies through various platforms, which are highly accessible to terrorists. In the past two decades, the rate of radicalization has increased by 40% (Ponsota et al, 2018). There are three main forms of terrorist's radicalization: Internet, referral, and contact person.

Internet

We are currently living in a digital era. In the UK, 85% of homes have access and/or are connected to the internet (Koehler, 2015). As the traffic increases, those wishing to promote their ideologies through the same has also increased. The internet provides a platform were terrorists and extremist can communicate, collaborate, and convince each other. Approximately 75% of radicalization is done through social media (Allison & Smith, 2018). The internet plays an enormous role in radicalization and yet it has remained difficult to address. With its enormous role, very little is known about individuals' engagement with the internet during radicalization.

Referral

After radicalization, based on the ideologies, terrorists are bound to give referrals. This method is not widely used, but it is one of the most effective. This is because already those who have been radicalized give out contacts of the people they have been working closely with (Bunker & Bunker, 2016). The process of getting contacts from those who have already been radicalized is a violent process.

Contact Person

There are always people on the ground doing the radicalization process. These people are strategically placed in such a way that they can hardly be noticed by the concerned authorities. In most cases, these people are drawn from people with a great following or basically social influencers (Ponsota et al, 2018). These people include; students, religious leaders, and politicians. These people are used to do the radicalization and in exchange, they are paid. This form of radicalization is not always perfect; it depends on the ability of the contact person to make the right decisions.

Risk Factors and Ways to Prevent Radicalization

There are various factors that tend to increase the likelihood of an individual engaging or attempting to engage in terrorism. Individuals who are exposed to the potential risk factors are more likely to engage in terrorism or be radicalized (Bunker & Bunker, 2016). However, it is not always a must that everyone who is exposed to such factors become or engage in terrorism. Radicalization is a complex process that varies depending on a number of factors. Some of these factors include the ideologies that an individual embraces, time period of the radicalization, the movement, and personal characteristics.

Radicalization Prevention

Over the last two decades, the rate of radicalization has increased by 40%. It should be noted that not all those who are exposed to the risk facts who become radicalized. However, some models have been developed to prevent radicalization. Some of these models include the Aarhus model, the Mechelen model, PREVENT strategy, Religious Rehabilitation Group, and Exit to Enter (Koehler, 2015).

The Aarhus Model

This policy was made to discourage young people from joining ISIS or al-Qaeda. The model was designed in Aarhus, one of the largest cities in Denmark. The model is specifically designed to offer counselling and mentoring services for the radicalized as well as an exit program for those who support or are willing to engage in violent activities (Ponsota et al, 2018). The model also rehabilitates fighters who have returned from Syria. The model compresses of family networks and social workers who provide support services.

Since its inception, the model has been effective in addressing the issue of radicalization and other support services. This is because of the trust it has created between the authorities and the social environment. This model also offers an exit program, which is designed as a form of intervention whereby those leaving the extremist organizations are offered employment instead of being imprisoned (Doosje et al, 2019). Aarhus model embraces the fact that the process of radicalization is different among different individuals. Therefore, each case is handled differently.

The Mechelen Model

Mechelen is a city in Belgium. Belgium has the highest number of foreign fighters in Europe. Mechelen is a cosmopolitan and/or multicultural city with Muslims forming the larger population (Koehler, 2015). However, due to the effectiveness of this model, no one left the city to fight in either Syria or Iraq. The city has an integrated approach which focuses on prevention. To enhance its effectiveness, the model brings together policing and community dialogue.

Prevent Strategy

This is a UK prevent strategy which is a framework designed to help in countering violent extremism. It is widely known as CONTEST and entails prevention of terrorist attacks and mitigation of terrorist attacks (Allison & Smith, 2018). This model engages with different sectors to offer assistance to those most vulnerable to radicalization ideologies and terrorism. This strategy was implemented to support community-based campaigns, mentorship programs, and supporting authorities (Ponsota et al, 2018).

Despite being very effective in the prevention of radicalization and terrorism, this strategy received criticism after the London bombing in 2005. This strategy has been accused by some Muslim leaders as being counterproductive and discrimination among the Muslim community (Allison & Smith, 2018). However, the government assured the critics that it will work for everyone and that it does not only focus on a certain form of terrorism.

Religious Rehabilitation Group

This initiative was started in Singapore in 2002. It is among the largest anti-radicalization initiative which involves volunteers, scholars, and teachers who offer to counsel the extremists. The group also discourages the reading of violent scripts among Muslims (Bunker & Bunker, 2016). This is done through the development of counter-narratives which are based on Islam teachings. The approach for this initiative entails after-care initiative and involving reformed radicals in the process of prevention (Allison & Smith, 2018). This initiative is one of the best in Asia as it addresses the problem in prison, a case which is ignored by all governments around the globe.

Exit to Enter

This initiative was developed in Germany to help individuals leave extremist groups and be offered training or employment. This initiative has been effective due to the fact that it addresses the major factors that help extremist groups to succeed (Koehler, 2015). On the other hand, Exit to Enter recognizes the close relationship between extremism and socio-economic factors. The Germany government has long-term financial commitments towards the program (Allison & Smith, 2018). Due to this fact, many consider life outside extremism. This program also recognizes the fact that prevention is a long term endeavor, and as thus there ought to be long term strategies and enough financial support.

Online Publications and Radicalization

There is a very high correlation between online publications and radicalization. In the recent past, numerous youths have joined terrorist organizations. For instance, a high number of European youths were radicalized and joined terrorist organizations during the Syria and Iraq civil war (Brocklinga et al, 2018). These youths committed to launching attacks in their homelands under the Islamic State. The Islamic State magazine, Dabiq, which was published in 2016 was aimed at radicalizing youths. This publication came at a time when the Islamic State had begun losing some of its territories in Iraq and Syria (Brocklinga et al, 2018). The publications of the Inspire by the Al-Qaida was also aimed at radicalizing youths. Youths spend most of their time online and as such, they were the targeted readers for the publications. It is evident that the publications achieved their goal due to the increase in the number of radicalization, soon after the publication. The freedom of the press is a right that should be exercised freely. However, considering the effects of some of the publications, the authorities concerned should move in and regulate such publications.

Conclusion

Radicalization is the adoption of an ideology which becomes part of life. We are currently living in a digital era where information is highly accessible. This has increased the rate of radicalization, especially among the youth. There are various methods used to radicalize terrorists. However, it largely depends on an individual's character. Due to the increased incidences of radicalization, various government and agencies have come up with strategies to counter and/or prevent radicalization. These strategies also apply differently in different situations. One of the major issues that need to be addressed in order to curb the menace of radicalization is the restriction on publications. Publications such as the Dabiq and Inspire should be made inaccessible. Taking into consideration the prevention measures, as discussed above can help fight radicalization.

References

Allison, G., & Smith. (2018). Risk factors and indicators associated with radicalization to terrorism in the United States: What research sponsored by the national institute of justice tells us. U.S. Department of Justice. 3-25https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/251789.pdf

Brocklinga, M, Fritscha, C., Haidera, M., & Yalmana, T. (2018). Kill Them Wherever You Find Them" - Radicalizing Narratives of the "So-Called" Islamic State Via the Online Magazine Rumiyah. Journal for Deradicalization. 2363(17). 1-49 http://journals.sfu.ca/jd/index.php/jd/article/download/180/135

Bunker, R & Bunker, P. (2016). Radical Islamist English-Language Online Magazines Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press. 10-203 https://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/pdffiles/PUB1381.pdf

Doosje, B., Moghaddam, F., Kruglanski, A., Wolf, A., Mann, L., & Feddes, A. (2019). Terrorism, radicalization and de-radicalization. Elsevier. 1-6 https://nvvb.nl/media/cms_page_media/694/Terrorism%2C%20radicalization%20and%20de-radicalization.pdf

Koehler, D (2015). The Radical Online: Individual Radicalization Processes and the Role of the Internet. Journal for Deradicalization. 1. 1-19 http://journals.sfu.ca/jd/index.php/jd/article/viewFile/8/8

Ponsota, A., Autixierb, C., & Madriazac, P. (2018). Factors Facilitating the Successful Implementation of a Prevention of Violent Radicalization Intervention as Identified by Front-Line Practitioners. Journal for Deradicalization. 2363(16). 5-30 http://journals.sfu.ca/jd/index.php/jd/article/download/160/124