Radical Groups Research Articles

The global terrorist threat forecast in 2023

The article presents three significant developments in the global terrorism landscape: Far-right terrorism, the growth of al Qaeda, with Taliban patronage from Afghanistan, and the persistence of the Islamic State as the most dominant threat in the world despite the successive decapitation of its leadership The article notes the importance in this context of political Islam and the spread of "jihadist" doctrines both from the Gulf and from conflict zones supplanting traditional and local Islam. The article also notes the potential impact of the radical environmental movement and the growing problem of the use of violence by other radical groups.

“That shit doesn't fly”: Subcultural constraints on prison radicalization

AbstractMany observers describe prison subcultures as inherently and irredeemably antisocial. Research directly ties prison subcultures to violence, gang membership, and poor reintegration. In extreme cases, research has also suggested that prison subcultures contribute to incarcerated people joining radical groups or embracing violent extremist beliefs. These claims, however, ignore key differences in the larger cultural and social context of prisons. We examine the relationship between prison subcultures and prison radicalization based on semistructured qualitative interviews with 148 incarcerated men and 131 correctional officers from four western Canadian prisons. We outline several imported features of the prison subculture that make incarcerated people resilient to radicalized and extremist messaging. These features include 1) national cultural imaginaries; 2) the racial profile of a prison, including racial sorting or a lack thereof; and 3) how radicalization allowed incarcerated men and correctional officers to act outside the otherwise agreed‐to subcultural rules. Our research findings stress the importance of contemplating broader sociocultural influences when trying to understand the relationship between radicalization and prison dynamics and politics.

Proton exchange membrane based on interpenetrating polymer network structure for excellent cell performance and chemical stability

Chemical stability and proton conductivity are the most critical factors for proton exchange membranes (PEMs). Here, we designed and prepared a co-polymer containing radical scavenger groups and imidazole groups. The membrane's acid-base crosslinking and interpenetrating network structure offer the PEM excellent dimensional stability and gas permeation inhibition properties. The continuous acid-base pairs and imidazole groups, which have high water retention, effectively improve the proton conductivity and reduce the PEM's gas permeability. Hence, a membrane electrode assembly based on as-prepared composite membranes exhibits higher single-cell performance and lower impedance than other membranes used for comparison. In addition, the introduction of hindered amine scavenger groups effectively eliminates the free radicals generated in the process of the electrochemical reaction. Both in-situ and ex-situ stability experiments show that the prepared composite membrane has excellent chemical stability. Morphological changes according to degradation level are also systematically analyzed. This paper shows that the introduction of imidazole and HA groups in the PFSA matrix membrane is effective for improving fuel cell performance and lifetime and for constructing continuous proton transport networks and interpenetrating network structures, making this a promising approach for achieving excellent proton conductivity and chemical stability in PEMs.

Mid-term functional outcome assessment of early surgical intervention in complex elbow fracture dislocation in adults

Aim: The aim of the present study was to study mid-term functional outcome assessment of early surgical intervention in complex elbow fracture dislocation in adults.Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics, trauma centre, Institute of Medical Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, after getting clearance from the ethics committee. Patients with a complex elbow injury (instability or dislocation associated with fracture), age 18 years to 60 years, who were treated surgically between May 2016 and May 2021, who agreed to participate in the study and signed the free and informed consent with a minimum follow-up of 6 months.Results: 34 cases made up the study group. There were 23 male and 11 female patients, aged between 18 years and 60 years, who were followed up for an average of 38.56 months (range 6 months to 5 years) and were clinically and radiologically, retro prospectively, and prospectively evaluated. The dominant side was involved in 24 patients and the non-dominant in the other 10 patients. According to Mason's classification, 44.1% were type 3 followed by type 2 (32.4%) and type 1 (14.7%). According to Regan- Moore's classification, 23.5% were in type 1 and 3. Mean flexion-extension arc and mean supination-pronation arc in excised were 115.63 degrees and 101.25 degrees in radical group and mean flexion-extension arc and mean supination-pronation arc in excised were 132.75 degrees and 121.2 degrees in coronoid group. Mean flexion-extension arc and mean supination-pronation arc in 26-35 age group were 116.5 degrees and 97.5 degrees and mean flexion-extension arc and mean supination-pronation arc in dominant were 120.42 degrees and 107.92 degrees in coronoid group. There were no malunion, infection, ulnar neuropathy and neural deficit were observed. Mild pain was present in 47.1% cases.Conclusion: Although our number of patients and mean duration of follow-up are less than many other studies, we have achieved comparable results in view of both subjective and objective parameters of follow-up such as the mean arc of flexion-extension, supination-pronation, mean Q-DASH score, MEPI score.

The relevance of studying the problems of religious radicalism in Kazakhstan

This article deals with the threat of religious radicalism today. Particularly, focuses on the spread of radicalism of false religious movements in the territory of Kazakhstan in the early years of independence, after our country proclaimed itself a secular state, on the influence on people’s minds, its negative impact on the country’s integrity, and the origin of radical groups. It analyzes the reasons of the propaganda and spread of the ideology of Islamic radical groups. Also, it provides an analysis of a terrible event known as Bloody January that happened in Kazakhstan last year; and discusses the reasons why radicalization based on Salafi Jihadist ideology often spreads among marginalized young people, and the causes they follow extremist movements.

Reclaiming the Revolutionary

Reclaiming the Revolutionary

ПОГЛЯДИ АМЕРИКАНСЬКОГО ПОЛІТИКУМУ НА РОСІЙСЬКО-УКРАЇНСЬКІ ВІДНОСИНИ НАПРИКІНЦІ 2021 – 23.02.2022

Background. United States as a global superpower and one of the world’s most developed centers of economy, technology and culture plays the key role on the international stage. Its influence on the global politics in the face of modern crisis makes it very important to understand American political elite’s plans and actions to have a better picture of the Washington’s stance on the current world development. That’s why the topicality of this article is that it examines the very rhetoric of the American political elites, especially Democratic and Republican parties, including their radical (left- and right-wing) groups as well as their own reaction and actions in the face of a global crisis of such kind – a threat of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine during late 2021 – early 2022. Understanding of those different political view plays a substantial role in any analysis of US actions on the world stage before and after the Russian 2022 aggression. The aim of the article is to analyze the American politicians’ views on the Russia-Ukraine relations at the end of 2021 – February 23,.2022. Methods. The authors use a method of synthesis as a general scientific method to create a broad picture of the American politicians’ views on the researched subject as a whole, using particular political groups and individual politicians’ stance on the Russian threat to Ukraine during the described period. Other methods (special historical ones) are also used, including historical-genetic method to trace the evolution of the aforementioned views under internal and external challenges. Another method – comparative one – helps us compare the difference in understanding of a Russian threat between different US political groups (especially the radical ones - Progressive Caucus and Freedom Caucus). Results. This article clarifies the positions and stance as well as their evolution of the prominent US parties (Democratic and Republican), the President and ex-politicians on the subject of the Russian military threat to Ukraine in the researched period. Conclusion. Despite the originally weak and diplomatic stance of the US political spectrum regarding the Russian potential invasion plans, attempts of peaceful resolution of the situation have failed, and so Washington started to support Ukraine militarily even before 23.02.2022, despite the radical politicians’ reluctance to do so.

Proton-transfer regulated magnetic coupling characteristics in Blatter-based diradicals

We computationally design Blatter-based diradicals by adding a radical group as an additional spin source and explore their magnetic spin coupling characteristics and proton-transfer regulation.

Conjugated coupler curvature enhances magnetic spin coupling in π-diradicals

This work computationally evidences that the functionalized buckybowls as the couplers can considerably enhance the magnetic spin coupling interaction in π-diradicals through curving the coupler to reduce its aromaticity and increase spin polarization of radical groups.

Upaya Pemerintah Malaysia Menanggulangi Masalah Terorisme

This paper aims to explain the counter-terrorism efforts carried out by the Malaysian government. As is well known, Southeast Asia is a region which is the basis for the development of radical groups that lead to acts of terrorism. Malaysia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that has experienced various acts of terrorism in line with the development of radical groups in the country. There are around 13 (thirteen) radical groups developing in Malaysia. Indeed this is a threat to security and defense. So that the Malaysian government seeks to overcome various acts of terrorism. By using qualitative methods and the concept of deradicalization, this study found that the Malaysian government's counterterrorism efforts were carried out through the implementation of deradicalization programs and cooperation with countries in the Southeast Asian region.

New insights into the photocatalytic mechanism of pristine ZnO nanocrystals: From experiments to DFT calculations

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been regarded as a promising photocatalytic candidate for the purification of wastewaters containing organic contaminants. In this study, six ZnO nanocrystals with the shapes of granule, flake, rod, porous flake, nanosheet-assembled flower, and nanorod-assembled flower were designed and synthesized to investigate the relationship between their photocatalytic activities and morphological features. All these different morphological samples had high-degree of crystallization and belonged to the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. The morphology had little effect on the light absorption threshold and band gap of these samples, but showed great effect on their adsorption performance, photocatalytic activity, and separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. The main reactive radicals generated during the photocatalytic process were O2–, OH, and holes. The theoretical calculations revealed that the polar crystal plane could facilitate the separation of charge carriers. The adsorption and distortion energies for O2 adsorbed onto different crystal planes were found to be much higher than those for H2O. These findings theoretically confirmed why O2– was the dominant group of reactive radicals.

The use of ethoxylated surfactants in flotation concentration of potash ores

This paper studies the use of ethoxylated surfactants (alkylphenols and alkylamines) as flotation collectors for water-insoluble silicatecarbonate impurities contained in potash ores, which form fine slime particles during ore grinding. The highest collector efficiency in flotation desliming of potash ores is achieved with 35 to 45 hydroxyethyl groups in the hydrocarbon radical of the collector. The paper studies the performance of cardanol polyethylene glycol ether, regarded as an alternative slime collector to oxyethylated alkylphenols and alkylamines (currently used at potash flotation plants). It has been shown that in the case of slime flotation in saturated solutions of potassium and sodium chlorides, both when using oxyethylated alkylamines and alkylphenols, as well as alkylcardanol, the best desliming performance is achieved when the hydrocarbon radical of the collector contains 40 ethylene oxide groups. Oxyethylated cardanol is a 100 % undissolved substance, non-flammable and highly soluble in water, with the melting point at around 45 °C. Studies using standard test objects of phyto- and zooplankton have established that the KE-40 flotation agent is not hazardous to the environment. This paper provides industrial use results for this new slime collector obtained in flotation concentration of sylvinite ores of the Verkhnekamskoe deposit. KE-40 enables efficient and selective flotation desliming of potash ores with different contents of water-insoluble silicate-carbonate and anhydrite impurities. It has been adopted for industrial use as an alternative slime collector by Uralkali PJSC.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Coated Au Nanoclusters with High Stability and Quantum Yields of Fluorescence for Application in pH Sensing

Metal nanoclusters (NCs) have become one of the most promising of the fluorescent nanomaterials. However, it is particularly challenging to prepare NCs with a high quantum yield (QY). Recently, an innovative approach was revealed to improve the QY by using an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property of specific gold nanoclusters (AuNCs). In this study, an assembly was formed between poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and adenosine 5′-monophosphate-capped gold nanoclusters (AuNCs@AMP) to improve the QY of AuNCs from 14.2% to 35.4% with an obvious luminescent, aggregate-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) property. The intrinsic formative mechanism was explored in depth, which indicated that a suspended particulate was formed with AuNCs at a low concentration of PVA, pushing the AuNCs to a less polar environment and greatly enhancing the metal–metal interaction between them, leading to a blueshift. When more PVA was present in the solution, abundant hydrogen bond interactions between the amino groups in AMP and the hydroxide radical groups in PVA restricted the intramolecular rotation and vibration of capping ligands and reduced the non-radiative relaxation of the corresponding excited states. Therefore, immensely dynamic interactions of the assembly populate the radiative decay pathways and accelerate the effective electron transfer, subsequently leading to a higher luminescent intensity. Meanwhile, luminescent enhancement membranes were prepared with extremely stabilized optical properties (monitored for at least 20 months) based on the assembly and applied as a novel fluorescent probe of pH-responsiveness. This study is beneficial for the design principles of highly luminescent AuNC materials with excellent stability and understanding the AIEE mechanism.

The Hadith Interpretations of Radical-Terrorist Groups

Radical groups were known to deconstruct the meaning of hadith, especially those related to the themes of the caliphate, jihad, hijrah, faith, and the end of time. They put aside the context of the background of the hadith so that it only clumped up as a text without having a fundamental historical basis. The pattern of understanding applied was also contrary to the principal rules of hadith studies which were well-known among scholars and hadith reviewers. The four radical groups examined in this study were the Ikhwanul Muslimin (IM), Hizb al-Tahrir (HT), Al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Despite having different characteristics of thought and movement, the four radical-terrorist groups had similarities in terms of exploiting the meaning and function of hadith to legitimize their acts of terror. The findings in this study confirmed the views of scholars who argued that understanding of hadith could be reduced by the interests and problems of power politics that were increasingly complex from time to time.

Preventing radicalization leading to violence: Insights from the significance quest theory and its 3N model

AbstractRadicalization leading to violence is a major societal issue all over the globe. In order to prevent its increase and expansion, measures need to be taken at different instances and levels. In the present narrative review, to inform evidence‐based practices, we bring together numerous applied recommendations made by scholars studying the psychological underpinnings of radicalization within the framework of the Significance Quest Theory and its 3N model. The applied recommendations target at least one of the three elements of the 3N model (i.e., need, narrative, and network) in at least one of the three levels of prevention (i.e., primary, secondary, and tertiary). In the discussion, we highlight which of these are still lacking empirical evaluation, which might be problematic and why, and how policymakers, practitioners, and researchers can work together to provide an integrative model of intervention addressing both the need for significance and the influence of radical narratives and groups. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

Intramolecular Proton Transfer Modulation of Magnetic Spin Coupling Interaction in Photochromic Azobenzene Derivatives with an Ortho-Site Hydroxyl as a Modulator.

Proton transfer modulation in an organic diradical is apparently the most conspicuously attractive phenomenon. In this work, we have computationally designed the trans and cis forms of photochromic azobenzene- (AB-) bridged diradicals by considering AB as coupler and two nitroxide (NO) as spin sources and a -OH attaching at the ortho site as modulator. Our object is that through intramolecular proton transfer to protonate the azo-unit (-N═N-) the magnetic coupling characteristics of the designed diradicals can be modulated in their photocontrolled trans and cis forms. The calculated results indicate that PT can significantly regulate the magnetic spin coupling constants, J = -701.3 cm-1 ↔ -286.2 cm-1 for the trans form and -544.1 cm-1 ↔ -328.1 cm-1 for the cis form. In particular, we discover that these designed magnetic molecules can undergo magnetic conversion between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic coupling through PT, besides there is considerable increase in the magnitude of their magnetic coupling constants J, (e.g., -59.97 to 172.4 cm-1) for the trans-mode at the m/m linking site. Moreover, we discover that the nitroxide radicals at different linking positions have a significant impact and remarkably alter the magnetic spin coupling characteristics of AB-based diradicals. Besides, various radical groups are used as spin sources which corroborated our assumptions and tended to the same conclusion. This work offers a novel understanding of the spin interaction mechanism and a viable approach for the rational design of new AB-based magnets which are beneficial for further applications in the future.

Evaluasi Proses Amendemen Undang-Undang Dasar Tahun 1945: Perspektif Habermasian

This article evaluates the amendment process of the 1945 Constitution conducted by the MPR from 1999 to 2002. The theoretical framework used is Jürgen Habermas’s theory of law and democracy. By employing an expositive-critical-reconstructive approach, this article argues the amendment of the 1945 Constitution was inclusive but not participatory because the process was more dominated by the MPR and it did not include the active participation of ordinary citizens, including civil society groups, the mass media, and radical groups in the society. The remedy to this problem is for the MPR to institutionalize ideal conditions of deliberative democracy that grant publicity, transparency, civic participation, and rational communication between the executive body and citizens in every phase of the constitutional amendment process.

Value Triggers in the Media Image of Radical Religious Organizations

The authors examine the process of a value-oriented context implementation by Western media in the coverage of the radical group’s activities. A specifi c form of content analysis as a method was used, expressed in a sentiment analysis of specifi cally selected material based on news publications. The scientifi c novelty of the study is the application of a text tone analyzing method in the little-studied subject of the radical organizations’ media image. In addition, in the context of the Taliban terrorist group formation as a political system in Afghanistan in 2021, it is relevant to research the banned organization media image from the point of political communication view. As a theoretical basis, an actor-oriented approach was used through the prism of the society mediatization theory as well as the theory of value identities. During the study, value-oriented triggers were analyzed in the publications of CNN, Daily News, The New York Times. The choice of these media is due to a reassessment of the foreign policy priorities of the United States of America, being the main antagonist of the banned Taliban organization. Thus, the study is devoted to the main topical issues: is the topic of the Taliban relevant in the US mass media today and what is the media image of the Taliban in the US mass media after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. As a result of the analysis, the authors conclude that despite the change in the US foreign policy strategy and the transformation of its priorities, the topic of the Taliban is not only still relevant in the US mass media but also has a structured system for constructing a negative media image of the Taliban movement, where the Western media highlights the destructive actions and the economic and social consequences incurred as a result of the policies pursued by the Taliban. In further research, the banned radical Taliban group as a media phenomenon should be studied more carefully, as well as the social consequences of the formation of one or another media obsession in the mass media within the framework of this issue. In the future, additional studies of foreign and domestic media are needed to determine the trends in the development of media images of banned radical organizations

Peran Media Lokal dalam Pencegahan Radikalisme Guna Mendukung Kerukunan Beragama di Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT)

Radicalism and terrorism are still common in Indonesia, so all parties have a common obligation to carry out prevention and countermeasures. Even the Press Council issued Press Council Regulation Number 01/Peraturan-DP/IV/2015 concerning Guidelines for Reporting on Terrorism on April 9, 2015. However, it is really not easy for the mass media to report and report on this issue in various situations and interests in Indonesia. Likewise for local media in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This study aims to find out how the role of local journalists in NTT is to perform their functions in preventing radicalism and supporting religious harmony in NTT Province. What obstacles they face in the field, as well as what kind of news construction they have to do in carrying out their duties. Mass media, terrorism and radicalism are theories that continue to develop in line with how the discourse of radicalism is inseparable from the role of mass media coverage in encouraging or inhibiting radicalization and existing acts of violence. The position of the media, both at the local, national and global levels, becomes very important in carrying out counter narration when there are efforts by parties who want to promote the idea of radicalism and terrorism in a region. This research will use the FGD method on 10 journalists from local media in NTT, as an effort to dig deeper into the real conditions in the field. However, nowadays with the strengthening of transnational radical groups, they are trying to do various ways to divide Indonesia, and it is very likely that it will be present in NTT as one of the heart of the province which has been considered very ideal in maintaining religious harmony.

The abortion divide: Exploring the role of exclusion, loss of significance and identity in the radicalization process.

Recently, the abortion issue has entered the spotlight in the USA, leading to potential radical actions. As the majority opinion on the abortion issue vary with state, some individuals will be in the numerical minority within their state, possibly evoking feelings of exclusion. Social exclusion can motivate a radicalization process. The aim of this paper is to explore how individuals in a numerical minority experience feelings of exclusion and significance loss and how this may drive radicalization in the context of the abortion issue. A quasi-experimental design was used and 534 respondents from naturally occurring numerical minority and majority groups based on state abortion opinion participated in an online survey. Results showed that those in the numerical minority experienced exclusion and were more willing to engage in and endorse radical actions compared to those in the majority, regardless of position on the abortion issue. Serial mediation analysis revealed that the pathway between minority group status and engagement and endorsement of extreme actions was fully mediated by need-threat and ingroup identity. Being in the numerical minority is associated with feelings of social exclusion, which may trigger a radicalization process. The results advance our understanding of when and who is vulnerable to radicalization and that social structures that perpetuate marginalization and inequality may contribute to radicalization. Results highlight the need to continue to explore radicalization from a group-based perspective and emphasize exploring mediating factors as a pathway from social experiences to willingness to engage with radical groups.