Abstract
Although many different models of radicalization integrate different intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intergroup processes, this interactive approach is scarcely present in the empirical studies. The goal of this study was to fill this gap by combining personality traits (Machiavellianism), ideology (Islamism), and outcomes of intergroup comparisons (perceived deprivations) as predictors of support for Daesh among Muslims in the MENA region, based on Arab Barometer IV data. Results were calculated on the overall sample and on synthetically balanced samples from Algeria and Palestine, respectively, to ensure the robustness of findings. While Islamists were generally supportive of Daesh, socio-politically deprived individuals were not. A negative relationship between Machiavellianism and support for Daesh was found only in Algeria. Multiple interactions, which differed in Algeria and Palestine, confirm the relevance of studying complex relationships among potential predictors of extremism, as well as the role of context that can strengthen or diminish these relationships.
Highlights
Terrorism and political violence leave devastating and long-lasting socio-economic (Lutz & Lutz, 2017; Nussio et al, 2019; Sandler & Enders, 2008) and emotional (Eisenman & Flavahan, 2017; Housley & Beutler, 2007) consequences on the societies where it occurs
The earlier discussions based on personality disorders instead of traits advocated against the inclusion of intrapersonal factors in explaining extremism (e.g. Crenshaw, 2000; Sageman, 2004; Taylor & Horgan, 2001), which resulted in the diminished interest of personality psychologists in exploring political violence
The2 results obtained on overall models are presented, followed by the results calculated on samples of Muslims from Algeria and Palestine, respectively
Summary
Terrorism and political violence leave devastating and long-lasting socio-economic (Lutz & Lutz, 2017; Nussio et al, 2019; Sandler & Enders, 2008) and emotional (Eisenman & Flavahan, 2017; Housley & Beutler, 2007) consequences on the societies where it occurs. Apter (1997) and della Porta (2006) noticed that political violence stems from the interaction of different (contextual) factors. Some studies have shown that support for political violence can be predicted by (dark) personality traits and that the relationship between these traits and support of political violence is moderated by contextual factors like deprivation (Pavlović & Franc, 2020). This, in turn, implies that there might be a group of factors contributing to extremism that are understudied, which was the main reason why an integrative approach to radicalisation was taken in this study. This study focuses on three groups of factors that may contribute to radicalisation: intrapersonal (Machiavellianism), interpersonal (inequality and deprivations), and ideological (Islamism). The data is from within the MENA region, a context where Islamist terrorism posed an imminent threat at the time of data collection (2016)
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