Journal for Deradicalization
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Die (De-)Konstruktion eines extremistischen Weltbildes. Eine Mixed-Methods Analyse von Al-Qaidas Online Magazin “Inspire”. (The (de-)construction of an extremist world view. A mixed-methods analysis of Al-Qaeda's online magazine "Inspire".)
No full text„Inspire“ ist ein hochprofessionell gestaltetes Magazin, das bis zu viermal im Jahr von Al-Qaida im Internet publiziert wird. Das Magazin wird in englischer Sprache veröffentlicht und enthält neben Bombenbauanleitungen im Stile des Do-It-Yourself Trends auch Artikel über die Unterdrückung von Muslimen, Koraninterpretationen oder Erfahrungsberichte aus dem Leben von sogenannten Gotteskriegern. In der vorliegenden Studie wird das Magazin aus einer sozialkonstruktivistischen und wissenssoziologischen Perspektive heraus analysiert, um den Inhalt von „Inspire“ auf Deutungsrahmen hin zu untersuchen. Mit dem Methodenmix aus semantischer Netzwerkanalyse und qualitativer Bild- und Textanalyse wird das Datenmaterial deskriptiv sowie qualitativ-rekonstruktiv erschlossen. Am Ende der Arbeit steht die Rekonstruktion der im „Inspire Magazine“ abgebildeten Deutungsrahmen und ihrer Zusammensetzung zu einem extremistischen Weltbild. Die Bestandteile des Weltbildes wurden in acht Dimensionen unterteilt, sodass dezidierte Aussagen über Zielgruppe und Mobilisierungsmechanismen möglich wurden. Darüber hinaus konnte theoretisch fundiert herausgearbeitet werden, wie das Weltbild konstruiert wird, nämlich über das Freund-Feind Schema, Mechanismen der Unterdrückung, das Bilden einer kollektiven Identität und das Nutzen der Vulnerabilität von Adoleszenz. Diese vier Ansatzpunkte bilden eine mögliche Erklärung für Selbstradikalisierungsprozesse über das Internet. English Abstract“Inspire” is a highly professionally designed magazine, which is published up to four times a year online by Al-Qaida. The magazine is published in English and contains bomb building instructions in the style of the Do-It-Yourself trend as well as articles about the suppression of Muslims, Quran interpretations or reports of experiences from the life of so-called jihadi warriors. In the present study, the magazine is analysed from a socio-constructivist and sociological perspective in order to examine the content of "Inspire". With the method mix of semantic network analysis and qualitative image and text analysis, the data material is descriptively and qualitatively reconstructed. At the end of the work, the reconstruction of the frames of interpretation and their composition depicted in the “Inspire” magazine into an extremist worldview is the final result. The components of the worldview were divided into eight dimensions, so that specific statements about the target group and mobilization mechanisms became possible. In addition, it was possible to work out how the worldview is constructed, i.e by means of the friend-foe scheme, mechanisms of oppression, the formation of a collective identity and the use of the vulnerability of adolescence. These four starting points provide a possible explanation for the processes of self-radicalization via the Internet. The article is written in German.
Fishermen or Swarm Dynamics? Should we Understand Jihadist Online-Radicalization as a Top-Down or Bottom-Up Process?
Get PDFThe internet has profoundly changed the way we communicate, including how jihadist groups seek to reach Western audiences with their propaganda strategies. Cases of believed online-radicalization call for a re-evaluation of radicalization processes, previously thought to depend on face-to-face interactions. Based on the Hoffman-Sageman debate on whether top-down or bottom-up processes drive terrorism, this essay explores both social movement and organizational approaches to understand online-radicalization. Do jihadist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and IS act as ‘fishermen’, actively engaging in the radicalization processes of individual recruits, or is radicalization driven by social group dynamics with little organizational involvement? Essentially, the larger question is: What role do organizational structures play for radicalization in times of ‘virtual jihad’? Bottom-up radicalization processes are facilitated online, because the conditions for Sageman’s ‘bunch of guys’ are replicated by the characteristics of virtual communication: an echo chamber effect causes frame-alignment through repetition and enables ‘digital natives’ to communicate claims that resonate with other ‘digital natives’. Top-down structures are influential, because organizations continue to employ sophisticated propaganda development, preachers and special recruiters or ‘fishermen’. The article finds evidence for both schools of thought and concludes that the internet facilitates both types of radicalization mechanisms. Only a holistic strategy will be successful in battling online-radicalization and must include both targeting direct channels through which the organizations execute control over recruits, and breaking the echo chamber created by social movement dynamics in the virtual world. While countermeasures need to include the provision of alternative social narratives and the utilization of ‘digital natives’ to make counter-messages more effective, organizational structures need to be tackled simultaneously, not only by identifying and arresting preachers and recruiters, but also through stronger internet governance tools and collaboration with social media companies
Countering violent extremism in Indonesia: priorities, practice and the role of civil society
Get PDFIndonesia has experimented with initiatives aimed at countering violent extremism (CVE) since the wave of arrests following the first Bali bombing attack in 2002. Initial efforts involved police attempting to develop relationships of trust with terrorists in custody. Today, a broader range of strategies are employed, from promoting peace among youth and thwarting the allure of extremist narratives, to managing prisoners and assisting former terrorists reintegrate with society. The lead government body since 2010 has been the national counterterrorism agency, Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme (BNPT), which is tasked with coordinating stakeholders in Indonesia’s struggle with domestic terrorism. But managing the divergent and sometimes competing interests of Indonesia’s large state institutions has not been straightforward, and effective collaboration between relevant state agencies remains an obstacle to the success of CVE initiatives. Where government has fallen short, civil society organisations (CSOs) often fill the gaps, and a number of dedicated practitioners now have invaluable experience, local contacts, and the specific knowledge required for countering extremism in the Indonesian context. CSOs also possess greater levels of trust among the communities they engage than security-centric state agencies could possibly hope to achieve. Yet instead of exploiting these civil society resources, the BNPT has largely preferred an independent (and top-down) approach to CVE initiatives, collaborating if and when assistance is required. The Indonesian government should make better use of the unique legitimacy and expertise of civil society organisations
The Role of Sport in Deradicalisation and Crime Diversion
Get PDFIn recent years the use of sport as an intervention to reduce crime in the community and prisons, and to reduce radicalisation of young adults, has become more common. Studies suggest that participating in sport may improve self-esteem, enhance social bonds and provide participants with a feeling of purpose. The introduction of an education element can improve outcomes following completion of the programme, providing participants with a pathway towards employment. Although it is recognised that sport may form only one aspect towards the reduction of crime and radicalisation, effectiveness, may be enhanced with a combination of other services such as religious re-education and assistance with housing. This article aims to appraise the literature on sports interventions in the UK, and worldwide, in order to highlight the positive and negative consequences of the approach, and identify limitations
Mishal: A Case Study of a Deradicalization and Emancipation Program in SWAT Valley, Pakistan
Get PDFNestled in the SWAT valley lies Pakistan’s earliest known deradicalization initiative for former militants, the Mishal Deradicalization and Emancipation Program (DREP). The Deradicalization program was launched following a military operation in 2009 against the Pakistan wing of the Taliban, namely, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The program aimed to deradicalize and rehabilitate arrested militants, with what officials claim is a 99 percent success rate and with more than 2,500 former Taliban fighters now ‘reformed’. The program abides by a ‘no blood on hand’ policy, whereby it only takes in militants who have not caused any bodily harm to others. In this paper, we analyze the deradicalization program and highlight the limits and challenges it faces. The paper also highlights the common individual and environmental factors among the beneficiary population of the deradicalization program. This study finds that most participants of the program belonged to large or broken families with weak socio-economic profiles. Additionally, these individuals had very little technical knowledge of religion. This study also finds that the program is more oriented towards re-integration rather than deradicalization due to its policy of inducting only low and mid-level cadre militants. The program also has other severe limitations including lack of credible religious scholars, limited financial and human resources
The 60 Days of PVE Campaign: Lessons on Organizing an Online, Peer-to-Peer, Counter-radicalization Program
Get PDFCombatting violent extremism can involve organizing Peer-to-Peer (P2P) preventing violent extremism (PVE) programs and social media campaigns. While hundreds of PVE campaigns have been launched around the world in recent months and years, very few of these campaigns have actually been reviewed, analyzed, or assessed in any systematic way. Metrics of success and failure have yet to be fully developed, and very little is publically known as to what might differentiate a great and successful P2P campaign from a mediocre one. This article will provide first-hand insight on orchestrating a publically funded, university-based, online, peer-to-peer PVE campaign – 60 Days of PVE – based on the experience of a group of Canadian graduate students. The article provides an account of the group’s approach to PVE. It highlights the entirety of the group’s campaign, from theory and conceptualization to branding, media strategy, and evaluation, and describes the campaign’s core objectives and implementation. The article also analyzes the campaign’s digital footprint and reach using data gleamed from social media. Finally, the article discusses the challenges and difficulties the group faced in running their campaign, lessons that are pertinent for others contemplating a similar endeavour
“Sein oder Nichtsein”: Zur Konstruktion muslimischer Identität im IS-Journal Rumiyah. ("To be or not to be": On the construction of Muslim identity in the IS journal Rumiyah)
No full textDer Islamische Staat (IS) gilt im Hinblick auf die Nutzung des Internets gemeinhin als versiertester Akteur unter extremistischen Gruppierungen. Seine Online-Aktivitäten nutzt er dabei zu verschiedenen Zwecken: Sie ermöglichen unter anderem die Radikalisierung und Mobilisierung von unterschiedlichsten Gruppen, Fundraising oder die Planung und Durchführung von Attacken. Eine besondere Rolle wird hierbei im westlichen Kontext dem Magazin Rumiyah zuteil, stellt es doch eines der Leitmedien islamistischer Propaganda dar. Zudem wird in diesem Magazin ein bestimmtes Bild eines Muslims dargelegt, welches den idealtypischen Vorstellungen des IS entspricht. Über diese Vorstellungen wird versucht, eine einheitliche kollektive Identität der Angehörigen des Islams zu zeichnen – die eigene. Das Ziel dieses Beitrages ist es daher aufzuzeigen, welche Einstellungen und Praktiken vom IS als muslimisch attribuiert werden und mit welchen Mitteln er dieses Bild konstruiert. Hierfür wurden mit einer qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring die ersten zehn Ausgaben von Rumiyah analysiert. Der Fokus der Untersuchung lag jedoch hierbei nicht auf den Effekten kollektiver Identitäten für die Individuen, sondern vielmehr auf ontologischen Fragen der kollektiven Identitäten. Der Beitrag beginnt zunächst mit einer kurzen Einführung in die Forschung zu kollektiven Identitäten. Im Anschluss werden die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung präsentiert. Die Studie versucht dabei zu zeigen, dass die muslimische Identität in Rumiyah vornehmlich über zwei Faktoren gezeichnet werden soll: Handlungsanweisungen und In-Group vs. Out-Group Mechanismen. Weiterhin zeigt sich im Vergleich zum Vorgängermagazin Dabiq auch, dass der IS neue Schwerpunkte in der Verbreitung seiner Ideologie setzt. Galt lange Zeit der Westen als stärkstes Feindbild, wird in Rumiyah vor allem eine intra-muslimische Abgrenzung unternommen. Abschließend werden prominente Lösungsansätze für (islamistische) Online-Propaganda vorgestellt und Implikationen dieser Studie erläutert.English AbstractThe Islamic State (IS, or ISIS) is generally regarded as the most sophisticated actor among extremist groups with regard to the use of the Internet. It uses online activities for various purposes: among other things, to facilitate radicalization and mobilization of different groups, fundraising or the planning and execution of terror attacks. The Rumiyah magazine plays a special role in the Western context, as it is one of the leading jihadist propaganda outlets. In addition, this magazine presents a specific picture of the true Muslim, which corresponds to the ideal definition of the concept by IS. These ideas regarding the true Muslim are used to attempt to draw a unified collective identity for Muslims – the organization’s own version. The aim of this article is therefore to show which attitudes and practices are considered “Muslim” by IS and which means are used to constructs this image. The first ten issues of Rumiyah were analysed with a qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. However, the focus of the study was not on the effects of collective identities for individuals, but rather ontological questions of collective identities. The study begins with a brief introduction to research on collective identities. The article tries to show that the Muslim identity in Rumiyah is mainly based on two factors: instructions for action and in-group vs. out-group mechanisms. Furthermore, in comparison to its predecessor Dabiq, IS also shows that it is setting new priorities in the dissemination of its ideology. For a long time, the West was considered the strongest enemy image, but in Rumiyah an intra-Muslim demarcation is made. Finally, prominent approaches to solutions for countering online (Islamic extremist) propaganda are presented and the implications of this study are explained. The article is written in German
The We in Me. Considering Terrorist Desistance from a Social Identity Perspective.
Get PDFAt present, the issue of leaving terrorism behind is a widely discussed but poorly understood subject. When compared to the extensive body of literature on the process of radicalization, research on terrorist desistance is both theoretically and conceptually lagging behind. As a consequence, policy makers and practitioners are currently operating in a theoretical vacuum. This article aims to address the pressing need for a better understanding of the discontinuance of terrorism by introducing a social identity perspective to the existing field of re-search. Social identity can be understood as the part of an individual’s self-concept that is derived from membership within personally relevant social groups. As such, the concept of social identity is vital to making sense of the identity transformation intrinsic to walking away from terrorism. Exploring the role of social identity in terrorist desistance gives prominence to the intersection between the individual and the social group. Framing terrorist dis-continuance as a process that emanates from the interface between individual and group-level mechanisms corresponds to the interactive nature of rebuilding a life after terrorism. Additionally, the explanatory value of a social identity perspective has already been demonstrated in the field of radicalisation research. Extending this theoretical framework to the subject of terrorist desistance enables us to connect the dots between two processes that are inherently linked, though frequently analysed as isolated entities
Scandinavia’s Daughters in the Syrian Civil War: What can we Learn from their Family Members’ Lived Experiences?
Get PDFThe phenomenon of Scandinavians joining Salafi-jihadi groups in the Syrian civil war is high on the political agendas of Scandinavian countries. To counter the phenomenon, authorities are increasingly focused on the inclusivity of families in efforts to counter violent extremism. However, research on the topic is limited. This article seeks to remedy this, by investigating the insights that can be gained from the lived experiences of relatives of three Scandinavian women who have joined Syrian Salafi-jihadi groups, primarily the Islamic State, based on ethnographic fieldwork. Through a narrative analysis of family members’ stories, this article critically discusses two different ways that family members’ lived experiences are used within the field of violent extremism. Firstly, media and researchers use the lived experiences of family members to explain why European Muslims join Salafi-Jihadi groups. Secondly, political initiatives increasingly emphasise that families should be involved in efforts to stop young men and women from becoming foreign fighters. This article employs these insights to discuss how the narratives of family members can be used to understand why people become foreign fighters, and to consider the role of the family in countering violent extremism efforts
Voices Against Extremism: A case study of a community-based CVE counter-narrative campaign
Get PDFThis article presents a case study of the recently conceived and ongoing counter-extremism campaign, Voices Against Extremism, a campaign designed and implemented by university students from Vancouver, Canada. Through a multifaceted approach that includes extensive use of social media, academic research, and grassroots community activities and involvement, Voices Against Extremism operates under the mission statement of countering and preventing violent extremism and radicalization through the humanization of minority groups and through the education and engagement of the silent majority. This article examines the effectiveness of this campaign as a proactive counter-radicalization strategy by outlining its specific components and activities. Based on the results of this campaign, suggestions are then offered regarding specific counter-extremism and counter-radicalizations policies that may be adopted by law enforcement, policymakers – or any other organizations concerned with countering and preventing radicalization and violent extremism – with a specific focus on the potential benefits of proactive and long-term social and community engagement