Radicalization is the process in which an individual changes from passiveness or activism to become more revolutionary, militant or extremist. Radicalization is often associated with youth, adversity, alienation, social exclusion, poverty, or the perception of injustice to self or others.
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The U.S. Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 defines "Violent Radicalization" as the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.[1]
The term is used in the context of Islamic radicalism and terrorism, but the term can, and has, been used to refer to radicalization within the context of a wide number of militant movements with a wide variety of ideologies.
Radicalization is an important factor in the development of militant movements, including those involved in terrorism. According to the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, The grievances that fuel radicalization are diverse and vary across locations and groups. Radicalization frequently is driven by personal concerns at the local level in addition to frustration with international events.[2]
According to the NCTC, the association between radicalization and poverty is a myth. Many terrorists come from middle-class backgrounds and have university-level educations, particularly in the technical sciences and engineering. There is no statistical association between poverty and militant radicalization.[2]
The NCTC also states that there are no visible outward signs of radicalization. Changes in appearance during different stages of radicalization often are the same changes seen in individuals who are not being radicalized, making it difficult to identify visible markers.[2]
In 2007 The New York Police Department Intelligence Division released a document that focused on the radicalization process entitled, Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat. The report was co-authored by Mitchell D. Sibler and Arvin Bhatt, who are both Senior Intelligence Analysts for the NYPD. The report researched and analyzed several famous case studies from abroad as well as from the United States to collect the needed data to create their step by step explanation of radicalization. The cases examined included: the London, England 7/7 attack, 2004 Madrid, Spain terrorist attack, the Toronto 18 case, Herald Square Bomb Plot, the Lackawana Six plot, and the Al Muhajiroun Two plot. The NYPD report breaks down the radicalization process into four steps with each step including its’ own key indicators and triggers. The four steps to radicalization are their key indicators are:
Similar to other radicalization reports that have been created the NYPD report also includes several key assumptions:
An MI5 report, Understanding Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in the UK, made public by The Guardian newspaper, emphasized the diverse possible routes that can lead to an individual being radicalized. The MI5 report is dated June 12, 2008 and drew its analysis from case studies and input of those who were closely associated with the counterterrorism mission in the UK. They key findings of the report are:
The MI5 report closes by saying that no single measure will reduce radicalization in the UK and that the only way to combat it is by targeting the at risk vulnerable groups and trying to assimilate them into society. This may include helping young people find jobs, better integrating immigrant populations into the local culture, and effectively reintegrating ex-prisoners into society.[4]
In 2010, the British government launched a controversial anti-radicalization campaign called Prevent, led by the Home Office, that seeks among other things to identify persons that would be the most vulnerable to recruitment by al Qaeda-aligned groups, to wean them away from an extremist path.[5][6]