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Radicalization or Reaction: Understanding Engagement in Violent Extremism in Northern Ireland.

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Title: Radicalization or Reaction: Understanding Engagement in Violent Extremism in Northern Ireland.
Authors: Ferguson, Neil (AUTHOR), McAuley, James W. (AUTHOR)
Source: Political Psychology. Apr2020, Vol. 41 Issue 2, p215-230. 16p.
Subjects: Radicalism, Peer pressure, Group identity, Thematic analysis, Paramilitary forces
Geographic Terms: Northern Ireland
Abstract: Over the last decade various theoretical models of radicalization or pathways into engagement in violent extremism have been developed. However, there is a dearth of primary data based on direct contact with violent extremists to test these models. In order to address this weakness, we analyzed accounts of engagement in violent extremism produced by former Northern Irish loyalist and republican paramilitaries to explore their understanding of how and why they engaged in this seemingly politically motivated violence. A thematic analysis incorporating aspects of interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to gain an understanding of these accounts. While the analysis of the interview transcripts produced findings that share similarities with many of the theoretical models, they challenge the importance of ideological radicalization in fueling initial engagement in violent extremism. Instead, the results demonstrate the importance of collective identity, reaction to events, perceived threats, community grievance, and peer and family influences in fueling initial engagement with the armed groups. Insulation and small‐group pressures within the organizations then amplify identity, threat perceptions, and biases, which increase feelings of efficacy and engagement in violence. Finally, the findings discuss the role of imprisonment in ideologically radicalizing the participants, which in turn allows the paramilitaries to both sustain and rationalize their violent extremism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Political Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Radicalization or Reaction: Understanding Engagement in Violent Extremism in Northern Ireland.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ferguson%2C+Neil%22">Ferguson, Neil</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McAuley%2C+James+W%2E%22">McAuley, James W.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Political+Psychology%22">Political Psychology</searchLink>. Apr2020, Vol. 41 Issue 2, p215-230. 16p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radicalism%22">Radicalism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+pressure%22">Peer pressure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Group+identity%22">Group identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paramilitary+forces%22">Paramilitary forces</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Northern+Ireland%22">Northern Ireland</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Over the last decade various theoretical models of radicalization or pathways into engagement in violent extremism have been developed. However, there is a dearth of primary data based on direct contact with violent extremists to test these models. In order to address this weakness, we analyzed accounts of engagement in violent extremism produced by former Northern Irish loyalist and republican paramilitaries to explore their understanding of how and why they engaged in this seemingly politically motivated violence. A thematic analysis incorporating aspects of interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to gain an understanding of these accounts. While the analysis of the interview transcripts produced findings that share similarities with many of the theoretical models, they challenge the importance of ideological radicalization in fueling initial engagement in violent extremism. Instead, the results demonstrate the importance of collective identity, reaction to events, perceived threats, community grievance, and peer and family influences in fueling initial engagement with the armed groups. Insulation and small‐group pressures within the organizations then amplify identity, threat perceptions, and biases, which increase feelings of efficacy and engagement in violence. Finally, the findings discuss the role of imprisonment in ideologically radicalizing the participants, which in turn allows the paramilitaries to both sustain and rationalize their violent extremism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Political Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1111/pops.12618
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Paramilitary forces
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      – SubjectFull: Northern Ireland
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              Text: Apr2020
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