Investigating Antecedents to Radicalisation: European Concepts at the Top of the Global Counter-Terrorism Agenda

For a Special Edition of the journal of Social Sciences, we invite proposals for papers that analyse radicalisation processes as part of the global counter-terrorism agenda. This Special Issue will seek to deliver insights into the role of European and global responses to these phenomena through the application of interdisciplinary perspectives on radicalisation. With its interdisciplinary approach to the study of radicalisation, the journal of Social Sciences is an ideal venue for such an endeavour. Europe has seen significant and varied terrorist activities in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, ranging from the Provisional Irish Republican Army through the German Red Army Faction to al Qaeda- and Daesh-inspired individuals and groups, as well as far-right and far-left terrorist groups, notably more recently. Although there had long been a scholarly interest in matters relating to “radicalisation”, it is only in the aftermath of 9/11 that this concept gained popularity amongst policy-makers and researchers alike. However, there is no single, universally accepted definition of “radicalisation”. Coolsaet (2019, p. 29) describes radicalisation as a multi-layered concept with a “twisted history”, while Sedgwick (2010 p. 479) notes that “the term is understood and used in a variety of different ways, which in itself produces confusion”. Scholars generally agree on the basic understanding that “radicalisation can be defined as the process whereby people become extremists”, although there are differences amongst the various conceptualisations of the specific factors and dynamics at play in this process (Neumann 2013 p. 874). Unsurprisingly, this means that the related concept of de-radicalisation also lacks clarity, despite its frequent use.

When it comes to the EU, the idea of radicalisation initially did not occupy a prominent place in its conceptualisation of terrorism and in its counter-terrorism policy. The understanding of terrorism that underpinned the first phase of the development of the EU counter-terrorism policy following 9/11 was that it was largely an external security threat. A turning point came with the Madrid terrorist attacks in March 2004, in which 193 people died and nearly 2000 were injured. Those came to be widely seen as a case of “homegrown terrorism”, which led to a new emphasis in the EU’s official discourse on addressing radicalisation. The first key EU document on radicalisation was the “EU Strategy for Combating Radicalisation and Recruitment to Terrorism”, which was published in November 2005. This was followed by the adoption of the “EU Strategy for Combating Radicalisation and Recruitment to Terrorism” in November 2005. It identified three priorities for the EU, namely (1) “[disrupting] the activities of the networks and individuals who draw people into terrorism; (2) [ensuring] that voices of mainstream opinion prevail over those of extremism; and (3) [promoting] yet more vigorously security, justice, democracy and opportunity for all” (Council of the European Union 2005, p. 3). In addition, the Strategy emphasised the importance of respecting fundamental rights whilst countering radicalisation. Those were largely echoed in the 2014 Revised Strategy. As a result, ten priorities were identified: “(1) [promoting] security, justice, and equal opportunities for all; (2) [ensuring] that voices of mainstream opinion prevail over those of extremism; (3) [enhancing] government communications; (4) [supporting] messages countering terrorism; (5) [countering] online radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism; (6) [training], [building] capacity and [engaging] first line practitioners across relevant sectors; (7) [supporting] individuals and civil society to build resilience; (8) [supporting] disengagement initiatives; (9) [supporting] further research into the trends and challenges of radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism; and (10) [aligning] internal and external counter-radicalisation work” (Council of the European Union 2014, p. 5). However, radicalisation and violent extremism are global challenges. The aim of this Special Issue is to analyse radicalisation in the light of the 10 priorities mentioned above. This Special Issue has the ambition of contributing with new knowledge on the approaches, strategies, and initiatives taken by various implementing actors globally and in Europe.

Types of contributions sought

Possible areas for empirical analysis are identified below, but we would welcome proposals that seek to examine any aspect of radicalisation in Europe or globally, either in individual states (or perhaps two to three countries compared), at the EU level or international level, or via comparative analysis/multi-country illustrations. We also encourage an analysis of counter-terrorism initiatives dealing with radicalisation processes. We particularly encourage also an analysis of the EU. Potential themes include but are not limited to:

• Taking stock of radicalisation models developed in this field
• Comparing:
  • Between countries
  • Within countries
  • Between the different forms of radicalisation (Far-Right, Jihadi, Left-wing, any other form)
  • Between different areas of radicalisation (e.g., prisons, schools, returnees, etc.)
• Areas of potential interest:
  • Returnees
  • Foreign fighters (jihadist, far-right and, if applicable, far-left)
  • Prisons
  • PVE efforts in different areas

The primary (although not necessarily exclusive) empirical focus of all contributions should be on one or more European or international cases. Comparative analyses are particularly welcome, and so are articles that extend beyond the traditional analytical foci of studies, for instance, by looking at trans- or sub-national cases. Finally, to maximize the interdisciplinary nature of the proposed research agenda, contributions are encouraged from a wide range of academic fields, including, e.g., political science, international relations, international history, political sociology, criminology, policing, social anthropology, and other studies. 

References

(Coolsaet 2019) Coolsaet, Rik. 2019. Radicalization : the Origins and Limits of a Contested Concept. In Radicalisation in Belgium and the Netherlands : Critical Perspectives on Violence and Security. Edited by Fadil, Nadia, Martijn de Koning, and Francesco Ragazzi. London: I.B. Tauris. p. 29.

(Sedgwick 2010) Sedgwick, Mark. 2010. The Concept of Radicalization as a Source of Confusion. Terrorism and Political Violence 22: 479.

(Neumann 2013) Neumann, Peter R. 2013. Options and Strategies for Countering Online Radicalization in the United States. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 38: p. 874.

(Council of the European Union 2005) Council of the European Union. 2005. The European Union Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Available online: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%2014469%202005%20REV%204 (accessed on 26 June 2020).

(Council of the European Union 2014) Council of the European Union. 2014. Revised EU Strategy for Combating Radicalisation and Recruitment to Terrorism. Available online: http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9956-2014-INIT/en/pdf (accessed on 26 June 2020).

Prof. Dr. Christian Kaunert
Prof. Dr. Sarah Leonard
Guest Editors

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• Terrorism
• Political Violence
• Radicalisation
• Counter-Radicalisation
• Disengagement
• Returnees
• Foreign Fighters
• Prisons
• Policing
• Counter-Terrorism