The Dynamics of Radicalization (Paperback)

Eitan Y. Alimi

ISBN 10: 0199937729 / ISBN 13: 9780199937721

Published by Oxford University Press Inc, New York, 2015

About this Item

Paperback. Why is it that some social movements engaged in contentious politics experience radicalization whereas others do not? The Dynamics of Radicalization offers an innovative reply by investigating how and when social movement organizations switch from a nonviolent mode of contention to a violent one. Moving beyond existing explanations that posit aggressive motivations, grievances or violence-prone ideologies, this book demonstrates how these factors gain andlose salience in the context of relational dynamics among various parties and actors involved in episodes of contention. Drawing on a comparative historical analysis of al-Qaeda, the Red Brigades, the CypriotEOKA, the authors develop a relational, mechanism-based theory that advances our understanding of political violence in several important ways by identifying turning points in the radicalization process, similar mechanisms at work across each case, and the factors that drive or impede radicalization. The Dynamics of Radicalization offers a counterpoint to mainstream works on political violence, which often presume that political violence and terrorism is rooted in qualities intrinsicto or developed by groups considered to be radical. The book offers an innovative approach to studying processes of radicalization across a variety of cases, highlighting al-Qaeda, the Red Brigades, and the Greek-Cypriot EOKA. Focusing not only on opportunities for aggression or violence-prone ideologies, the book also demonstrates the key role of relational dynamics not only in driving, but also in impeding the radicalization process. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780199937721

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Dynamics of Radicalization (Paperback)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, New York
• Publication Date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0199937729
• ISBN 13: 9780199937721
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Why is it that some social movements engaged in contentious politics experience radicalization whereas others do not? The Dynamics of Radicalization offers an innovative reply by investigating how and when social movement organizations switch from a nonviolent mode of contention to a violent one. Moving beyond existing explanations that posit aggressive motivations, grievances or violence-prone ideologies, this book demonstrates how these factors gain and lose salience in the context of relational dynamics among various parties and actors involved in episodes of contention. Drawing on a comparative historical analysis of al-Qaeda, the Red Brigades, the Cypriot EOKA, the authors develop a relational, mechanism-based theory that advances our understanding of political violence in several important ways by identifying turning points in the radicalization process, similar mechanisms at work across each case, and the factors that drive or impede radicalization. The Dynamics of Radicalization offers a counterpoint to mainstream works on political violence, which often presume that political violence and terrorism is rooted in qualities intrinsic to or developed by groups considered to be radical.

About the Author

Eitan Y. Alimi is Senior Lecturer of Political Sociology in the Department of Political Science at the Hebrew University and author of Israeli Politics and the First Palestinian Intifada.

Chares Demetriou is Assistant Professor at the National Research University, Higher School of Economics, Moscow.

Lorenzo Bosi is Assistant Professor at Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy.