De-Radicalization,
						Disengagement and the Attitudes–Behavior Debate

Clubb, Gordon

doi:10.4135/9781473917248.n18

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…While radicalization, deradicalization and disengagement are poorly defined and problematic assumptions (Clubb, 2015;Schurrman, 2018), research into both these aspects of the arc of terrorism have developed dramatically. However, while these processes of radicalization and deradicalization tend to be viewed as ideologically driven, they are best understood as identity driven with ideology providing the glue that binds extremists together and fastens them to the group (Borum, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dedicated to the Cause

Ferguson

McAuley

2021

European Psychologist

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Abstract. The threat of terrorism and rise of extremist movements across the globe pose some of the greatest challenges the world currently faces. While there have been serious conceptual and methodological problems within the psychological study of terrorism, the nascent field has advanced and the evidence, theories, and models have developed in their sophistication. The current article explores the role of social or collective identity in instigating, propagating, and diminishing engagement in violent extremism. Specifically examining how when a fundamental need to belong is challenged through threats and uncertainty this can lead to the people joining entitative groups which can fuse personal and social identities. These identities can be further amplified through ingroup and outgroup processes leading to involvement in violent extremism. The paper also explores how identity can mediate the stress of this extremist lifestyle and sustain engagement in violence. In order to illustrate these processes the article draws on interviews with Northern Irish paramilitaries. Finally, the paper explores the role of identity in moderating violent extremism, and provides suggestions of approaches to promote desistence from violent extremism.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dedicated to the Cause

Ferguson

McAuley

2021

European Psychologist

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“…The relationship between an extremist identity and conflict‐transformational work is not well understood. Specifically, it is unclear whether or not the involvement of former combatants in peace building and positive transformational work requires them to relinquish their extremist identity and deradicalize beliefs or whether they can retain their collective extremist identity (or aspects of it) in a different context (Clubb, 2015; Koehler, 2017).…”

Section: Loyalist Paramilitary Organizationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conflict Transformation: Relinquishing or Maintaining Social Identity Among Former Loyalist Combatants in Northern Ireland

Flack

Ferguson

2020

Political Psychology

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This study explored the accounts of former loyalist combatants now involved in conflict transformation, preventing violent extremism and peace‐building work. To understand how former loyalist combatants negotiate their dramatic change in context and function, we analyzed accounts of peace building through thematic analysis. The themes demonstrated that conducting conflict transformation is expressively linked to former combatant identity. The themes also demonstrate that former combatants construct identity continuity by viewing their current transformative actions as an evolution of their militant activity during the Troubles. The article concludes on the implications of these identity maintenance strategies for former combatants and, more widely, what implications this has for other militants transitioning from conflict or extremism towards peace.

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“…De-radicalisation has been commonly understood as an abandonment of a radical ideology and the emphasis on ideological abandonment (narrow de-radicalisation) has obfuscated other components of de-radicalisation which include a gradual moderation of beliefs, public renunciation and de-legitimisation of violence (broad de-radicalisation). 20 Given radicalisation is often framed as gradual and complex process of escalation, 21 the article understands de-radicalisation similarly as a complex process of wide attitudinal change which by definition of being a process constitutes de-radicalisation regardless of whether or not it has reached its supposed 'end state' of ideological abandonment. By making this distinction between types of de-radicalisationideological changes and changing attitudes and normative beliefs toward behaviour -the article proposes two ideal-types of former combatant agency.…”

Section: Conceptualising De-radicalisation and Re-integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%