Radicalization in Theory and Practice: Understanding Religious Violence in Western Europe

Thierry Balzacq

ISBN 10: 0472055143 / ISBN 13: 9780472055142

Published by University of Michigan Press, 2022

About this Item

Leichte Rillen / Abschürfungen / Risse / Knicke; Gebrochener Buchrücken. Radicalization poses a significant challenge to global security, often associated with violent ideologies and terrorism. Initially, this phenomenon was primarily observed among second-generation Muslim immigrants, but recent developments have broadened its scope. Technology plays a role in spreading radical ideas, although its exact impact on radical behaviors remains unclear. Radicalism now affects a diverse range of individuals, including converted Muslims, women, and those who appear well-integrated into society, challenging the stereotype of young men from marginalized backgrounds. This evolving landscape necessitates new conceptual frameworks. The book identifies the mechanisms linking radical religious beliefs to radical actions, detailing its nature and the processes that enable radicalism to manifest. It develops a conceptual architecture to assist scholars and policymakers in understanding and evaluating radicalism. Empirical chapters based on firsthand data explore the relevance of various theoretical perspectives in radicalization studies. By emphasizing empirical investigations, the authors establish a fresh analytical framework, enhancing the quality of theorizing and methodological inquiries. The work integrates insights from security studies with broader theoretical discussions across sociology, social psychology, economics, and religious studies.

Seller Inventory # a50fc231-0e6b-4d99-b36d-4b949e709199

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Radicalization in Theory and Practice: Understanding Religious Violence in Western Europe
• Publisher: University of Michigan Press
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0472055143
• ISBN 13: 9780472055142
• Binding: Softcover
• Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Political Science & Politics

About this title

Synopsis

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.

About the Author

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

Elyamine Settoul is Associate Professor at CNAM, Paris.