Violent Rejection of Law and Democratic Principles

Abstract

Chapter 9 discusses when radical thoughts and associated feelings shift to radical and extremist behaviors. The chapter aims to delineate the ontogenesis of radical behavior by arguing that the active rejection of democratic principles and the rule of law is an important phase in various radicalization processes. This usually takes place via processes of delegitimization. Thus, when people put their own right before the right of others in open societies, this may well serve as a red flag for those interested in trying to prevent the onset of violent and illegal extremism. When people are willing to break the law to obtain their goals, possibly by violent means, this is an important signal that something is seriously going wrong. Evil as a motive and the justification of violence are important antecedents of political violence, religious violence, and terrorism. These insights can be used for the prevention of extreme radicalization.