This paper explores the paradox at the core of modern terrorism. Despite years of evidence showing that terrorist campaigns rarely meet their strategic goals, groups keep using terrorism as a primary tactic. The continued use of terrorism is less about its external success and more about internal organisational benefits, such…

No longer confined to conflict theatres nor the periphery of adult-led organisations, recent years have seen a sharp rise in domestic cases of independent teenage attack-plotters, self-initiated travellers to terrorist-held territory, and digital extremist content creators. Despite this trend in organic, self-directed offending, children’s motivations for terrorist engagement are frequently…

The study of at-risk and radicalised youth has emerged as an area of academic interest. However, there are few models or theories to explain the process of youth radicalisation. This paper sets out a theoretical model for youth radicalisation drawing on Life-Course Theory and Situational Action Theory. The theoretical model…

Far-right extremism is rapidly becoming a primary security threat in both the UK and Australia. By adopting a comparative case-study approach, this article examines how misogyny and gendered narratives espoused through online channels can serve as motivators towards violent extremism through transnational networks. We argue that gendered narratives specifically play…

Violent radicalization linked to conspiracy belief has gained increasing attention over the last few years, yet little is known about these dynamics in youth. In this study, a latent profile analysis was conducted to better understand violent radicalization in the context of conspiracy belief among youth aged 16–25. Participants were…

This study explores the synergies between two complementary interventions for countering online extremism: deplatforming, a “hard” intervention that involves removing extremist users from online platforms, and inoculation, a “soft” intervention that exposes users to weakened forms of extremist arguments to build resistance. We developed an agent-based model to simulate the…

Prevention strategies for terrorist attacks commonly incorporate all aspects of radicalization, aiming to deter terrorist attacks by countering radical beliefs. In this article, however, we argue that the cognitive aspect of radicalization is not necessarily interconnected with its behavioral aspect and thus cannot reliably predict terrorist violence. It is therefore…

Our objectives in the article are twofold. First, we draw on empirical evidence to extend debates around the problems and issues faced by teachers responsible for the delivery of counter-radicalisation measures in secondary educational contexts in the UK. Second, we identify persistent and demanding challenges for teachers arising from the…

The study analyzes how the German climate protest is possibly becoming radicalised and whether violence is also being used to achieve its goals. Numerous interviews with activists show that although the protest is becoming more radicalised and more disruptive ways are being sought to express it, violence against people is…

The reintegration of former Boko Haram members into society remains a significant challenge due to the affected victims’ experiences of depression and trauma because of terrorism, and their resistance towards reintegration, with implications for recidivism. To address this issue, we adopt an experimental design to test a novel Group-integrated Cognitive…

Conspiracy theories, political polarisation and anti-government sentiment have proliferated in recent years. Similarly, trust in institutions is eroding, and forms of conspiracy-fuelled violence are now more widespread. While our understanding of how and why people come to believe in conspiracy theories is well developed, the consequences of such beliefs—particularly their…

This paper investigates eschatological narratives within contemporary far-right subcultures. Based on the observation that far-right traditions share an assessment of contemporary times as eschatologically significant, we argue that ideological developments within far-right online communities are best understood through a theoretical prism focusing on eschatology, agency and ideological adaptation. Using a…