What factors are truly associated with risk for radicalisation? A secondary data analysis within a UK sample

TY - JOUR

T1 - What factors are truly associated with risk for radicalisation? A secondary data analysis within a UK sample

AU - Ahearn, Elizabeth Rose

AU - Bhui, Kamaldeep

AU - Jones, Edgar

PY - 2020/1/1

Y1 - 2020/1/1

N2 - Radicalisation and extremist violence are of increasing concern internationally. The unconventional, decentralised, and transnational nature of modern terrorism involves an active process of radicalisation requiring national security responses to reflect findings from recent empirical research. This study aims to identify factors that relate to extremist attitudes and potential vulnerability to radicalisation in order to inform preventative action. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of a representative population sample of men and women aged 18–45 of Muslim heritage recruited by quota sampling in two English cities. Logistic regressions were performed on a seven-item dichotomised measure based on our previously developed scale of ‘sympathy for terrorist acts’. Scores representing ‘non-condemnation of these acts’ were deemed to represent risk for radicalisation. Thirteen respondents had a positive score on the sympathy for terrorism measure (2.4%), 39 scored zero (6.41%) and the remainder (91.4%) had a negative score representing condemnation of terrorist acts. There was a significant association between sympathy for terrorism and belonging to the local or global Muslim community, anxiety, and support for the use of defensive violence. Gender, religious identity, country of birth, belief in Sharia law, the importance of religion in life, and mosque attendance were all not associated with sympathy for terrorism. The results contribute to an understanding of the radicalisation process and have potential value in developing preventative public health interventions.

AB - Radicalisation and extremist violence are of increasing concern internationally. The unconventional, decentralised, and transnational nature of modern terrorism involves an active process of radicalisation requiring national security responses to reflect findings from recent empirical research. This study aims to identify factors that relate to extremist attitudes and potential vulnerability to radicalisation in order to inform preventative action. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of a representative population sample of men and women aged 18–45 of Muslim heritage recruited by quota sampling in two English cities. Logistic regressions were performed on a seven-item dichotomised measure based on our previously developed scale of ‘sympathy for terrorist acts’. Scores representing ‘non-condemnation of these acts’ were deemed to represent risk for radicalisation. Thirteen respondents had a positive score on the sympathy for terrorism measure (2.4%), 39 scored zero (6.41%) and the remainder (91.4%) had a negative score representing condemnation of terrorist acts. There was a significant association between sympathy for terrorism and belonging to the local or global Muslim community, anxiety, and support for the use of defensive violence. Gender, religious identity, country of birth, belief in Sharia law, the importance of religion in life, and mosque attendance were all not associated with sympathy for terrorism. The results contribute to an understanding of the radicalisation process and have potential value in developing preventative public health interventions.

KW - attitudes

KW - extremism

KW - mental health

KW - radicalisation

KW - religion

KW - terrorism

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087519718&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/1363461520933755

DO - 10.1177/1363461520933755

M3 - Article

C2 - 32611222

AN - SCOPUS:85087519718

SN - 1363-4615

JO - Transcultural Psychiatry

JF - Transcultural Psychiatry

ER -