A Framework for Understanding Radicalization
Chapter 1 introduces and defines the concept of radicalization and associated issues such as extremism and terrorism. In doing so, this chapter introduces a framework that is used in this book to understand the process of radicalization, including extremist beliefs and terrorist behaviors. The chapter notes that an important reason why people radicalize lies in people’s perceptions of unfairness. Especially when one focuses on earlier phases of radicalization, perceptions of unfairness (and associated experiences such as injustice, the opinion that some issues are immoral, and the general feeling that things are “not right”) are key to understanding radicalization, extremism, and terrorism. Figure 1.2 summarizes the process of growing radicalization on which the book focuses. Figure 1.3 depicts the process of prevented or attenuated radicalization on which the book focuses. The chapter ends with an overview of the chapters presented in the book.