Post-9/11 Radicalization Theory and Its Impact on Violent Extremism

Abstract

Since 9/11, a trend has emerged in which theories of radicalization have come to emphasize religious beliefs, rather than psychological factors or political affiliations, as motives for adopting extremist ideologies. In particular, radicalization has taken on a strong association with Islamic religion and culture, based more on 9/11-fueled fears than on empirical data. This chapter explores this shift in theory and argues that it has, in turn, shifted the reality of radicalization. In the two decades since 9/11, individuals associated with Islam have been suspected of radicalization at higher rates, which has contributed to profiling, targeting, and, in some cases, further radicalization. This chapter first examines the evolution in radicalization theories and discourse since the early twentieth century, revealing a post-9/11 trend toward conflating radicalization with Islam. Second, this chapter explores the consequences of this shift and the role it has played in the spread of Islamophobia, creating profound consequences in domestic and international affairs. This chapter argues that the theoretical focus on individuals associated with Islam as holding an implied monopoly on radicalization and violent extremism has exacerbated an ingrained culture of Islamophobia and opened a space for other extremist groups to form and commit acts of violence.