EUROPE: Radicaliz Terrorism

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Are some individuals more likely than others to radicalize and participate in terrorism-related activities? Which factors explain the cognitive opening to extremist ideas experienced by some individuals? What are the determinants associated with the process of violent radicalization leading to terrorism? How motivations of one type or the other influence individual decisions to engage in terrorism? Is it possible to observe different patterns according to dissimilar modalities of terrorist involvement? What do we know about the outcome of programs implemented to prevent violent radicalization? What is being done with respect to foreign terrorist fighters relocated in conflict zones or returned? This course, styled as seminar, aims at providing empirical and analytical responses to these seven questions, therefore promoting informed discussions on the topics in question. The focus will be placed on evidence coming from research on relevant cases in Western European nations, mainly though not exclusively Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. All this invites class members to adopt a comparative approach. The period covered coincides with that of the unprecedented wave of jihadist mobilization experienced since 2012 in these and other countries across the region, but attention will also be paid to other expressions of terrorism.