Resisting Radicalization: Exploring the Nonoccurrence of Violent Extremism

“An important contribution to the effort of correcting the tendency of some of the literature ... to hold an overly deterministic view of the spread of militant Islamism. It is a valuable resource.” ―Mikael Hiberg Naghizadeh, Perspectives on Politics

"Uncovers contradictions and surprises about how policies intended to curb extremism can misfire, how they can be used to buttress repressive regimes, and how difficult it is to generalize across contexts." ―Mary B. Anderson, founder and former president of CDA Collaborative Learning Projects

Precarious living conditions across the Balkans, the Middle East, and North Africa create fertile ground for radical ideas. Yet, despite genuine grievances and legitimate grounds for anger, most people living in these regions are not radicalized and do not embrace ideas that lead to acts of violent extremism. Which raises the question ... why?

To answer this question, the authors of Resisting Radicalization investigate the nonoccurrence of violent extremism in what they term enabling environments. Their work, the result of a multiyear international project, has critical implications for the future of P/CVE (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism) programs.

CONTENTS:

• The Religious Landscape of Congress―the Editors.
• HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS.
• The Founding Fathers and Religious Freedom―N.G. DiPucchio.
• A History of the House Chaplaincy―M.A. Wasniewski.
• The Evolution of the Senate Chaplaincy―D.S. Holt.
• RELIGION, POLITICS, AND POLICY.
• Catholic Senators and Abortion Politics: The Cases of Joe Biden and Ted Kennedy―T.J. Carty and J.J. Thomson.
• Religious Factionalism in the House―J.L. Guth.
• Evangelicals and Trump Loyalty in Congress―N.A. Mathew.
• Religious Lobbying on Capitol Hill―A.M. Cammisa.
• Faith and Foreign Policy―E.S. Hurd.
• RELIGION AND LIFE ON THE HILL.
• The Role of Guest Chaplains in the People's House―J.R. Straus and J.C. Nagel.
• Congressional Prayer and Bible Study Groups―G. McCarthy.
• THEMES AND RECURRING CONCEPTS.
• Congress and Religion: A Lifetime of Tension and Coexistence―the Editors.

Morten Bøås is research professor at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). 

Gilad Ben-Nun is a senior lecturer in the Global and European Studies Institute at Leipzig University.

Ulf Engel is professor of African politics at Leipzig University. 

Kari Osland is director of NUPI.