Extremist Ideology Research Articles

The Impact of Judicial Selection Method on State Supreme Court Justice Ideology

Among political institutions in the United States, state courts are surprisingly susceptible to ideological extremism because of the non-uniform ways judges are selected. In this paper we examine the effect of selection methods on the ideological composition of state supreme courts. We theorize that methods involving partisan politics lead to more ideological justices and that, among that subset, Republican affiliated justices will be the most extreme. We test our expectations using a dataset of over 600 state supreme court selections between 1961–2011. Using a contemporary matching algorithm designed to maximize causal identification, we find support for our hypotheses. Our results speak to the consequences of federalism in court composition and offer an insight into how polarization manifests in the judiciary.

The Role of Religious Education in Dealing with the Issue of Radicalization among Students

Radicalization has become a serious threat in the world of education, especially among students who are in the developing stage of self-identity search, where curiosity and emotional instability make them vulnerable to the influence of radical ideology. Religious education, in this context, plays a central role in shaping students' character by instilling values of moderation, tolerance, and respect for diversity. This study aims to explore the role of religious education in preventing radicalization, using a descriptive qualitative method with data collection techniques through in-depth observation and interviews involving teachers, students, principals, and parents. The focus of the research is on the implementation of religious moderation values in schools as an effort to build students' critical attitudes towards extremist ideologies. The results of the study show that inclusive, interactive, and collaborative teaching approaches in religious education, both in the classroom and by involving the external community, play an important role in fostering tolerant characters and being able to reject radical narratives. The study highlights the importance of collaboration between schools and families, as well as the need for digital literacy education to strengthen students' resilience to exposure to extremist content on social media. The implications of this study include the need to integrate materials relevant to actual issues in the religious education curriculum, as well as the development of community-based educational programs that involve families and communities as additional bulwarks of protection for students.

Understanding the rise in violent extremism in Pakistan through the lens of securitization theory

ABSTRACT Over the last three decades, the phenomenon of violent extremism, primarily religious and ethno-nationalist extremism, has emerged as one of the biggest security challenges for Pakistan. With continuous technological innovations and advancements, the nature of violent extremism is constantly evolving, and now more than ever, it is threatening Pakistan’s social fabric, causing domestic disharmony and leading to unrest and terrorism. More importantly, it adversely affects the state’s foreign relations. This study aims to comprehensively examine the complex interplay of factors contributing to violent extremism in Pakistan. By investigating both the root causes and the ensuing effects through the Securitization paradigm’s lens, this research seeks to develop effective policy strategies to combat this growing threat. The securitization paradigm is crucial for understanding how extremist ideologies are constructed as existential threats, shaping societal responses and informing counter-extremism measures. The paper follows a mixed approach based on descriptive and critical analytical qualitative research methods.

‘No es la democracia que míster superman quiere imponernos desde Washington’: An analysis of populist attitudes on democracy from Latin American legislators

AbstractIn studies on Populism, extensive discussion has mounted around whether the phenomenon represents a threat to democracy or a corrective force. In line with this concern, we examine whether the populist attitudes held by legislators are related to their opinions on the functioning of and satisfaction with three central aspects of governance: (I) democracy itself; (II) its institutions; and (III) the separation of powers. Using the ideational approach and survey information collected for the PELA‐USAL database, we first measure the populist attitudes of legislators in 12 Latin American countries. We then test through multivariate analysis two theoretical arguments: (1) that populism is relatively hostile to democracy and its institutions; and (2) that ideological extremism and the situation of the legislator in the government/opposition dynamic serve as moderators (enhancers) of that hostility. The results suggest that the populist attitudes of these legislators are indeed significantly connected to lower levels of trust and satisfaction with democracy and its institutions and that populism in combination with ideological extremism sharpens that critical perspective, while a legislator's affiliation with the ruling party or coalition in government tends to temper it.

Analyzing violent attacker texts: examining ideologies through machine learning-assisted topic modeling

ABSTRACT The rise in extremist violence is a global concern, prompting advancements in threat assessment. This study applies machine learning to dissect publicly available texts from violent attackers with white supremacist, incel, and political extremist ideologies, as well as from those driven by personal grievances. Through natural language processing, the research identifies specific linguistic patterns and themes inherent to each group and explores the intersections among them. It uncovers shared narratives of disenfranchisement and aggression alongside unique ideological signifiers. Additionally, it identifies themes unique to each group, offering a clear thematic distinction between ideologies. These insights contribute to a more accurate identification of radicalization indicators, supporting the development of intervention strategies tailored to the ideological nuances of each group. Enhanced threat assessment tools informed by this research can improve the precision of prevention efforts by law enforcement and mental health professionals, reflecting the complex realities of extremist motivations and actions.

Morocco’s Distinctive Islam at a Crossroads: The State’s Support for Sufism

In the aftermath of the 2003 Casablanca bombings, the Moroccan state emphasized, through official public discourse, the components that constitute “official Moroccan Islam” to combat extremist ideologies. These religious elements include Mālikism in jurisprudence, Ashʿarism in theology, and the Sufism of Imam Al-Junayd (d. 298/910), all balanced by the pledge of allegiance to King Mohammed VI (a descendant of the Sharifian lineage), the constitutionally designated Commander of the Faithful and sole religious leader. Since the reform policy initiated in 2004, the Moroccan state has constructed a narrative on the distinctiveness of Moroccan Islam—moderate and tolerant—and promoted it among its own citizens and beyond its borders. However, while the Moroccan state claims to have a unique form of Islam, controversial arguments have been raised questioning the nature of the state’s purported Islam. Other criticisms include investigating the state’s endorsement of Sufism and its broader policy of institutionalization. Yet, this article argues that the state supports any form of Islam, not necessarily Sufism, that aligns with its religious and political leadership. Like other Arab and Muslim states, Morocco’s religious policy is impacted by the global context, where Salafism is now perceived as a threat to established worldviews. In addition, this article argues that Morocco’s support for Sufi Islam is based not merely on its perceived political passivity, but because it complements the state’s policies and gains advantages from this support. It concludes that the official narrative of Moroccan Islam, which emphasizes a Sufi-oriented approach to counter extremism, is open to question, particularly given that Salafism was the state’s preferred form of Islam in post-colonial Morocco. This highlights the complex and often conflicting relationship between political actors and religious leaders in shaping Morocco’s religious discourse.

Affective Polarization Among Radical‐Right Supporters: Dislike Differentiation and Democratic Support

Partisan affective polarization describes the extent to which different partisans like or dislike each other. In Europe, affective dislike is strongest towards the radical-right, as mainstream voters tend to hold particularly negative affect towards radical-right supporters. This is an important pattern given the recent high levels of support for radical-right parties, for example in the Netherlands, France, and Italy. However, the perspective of radical-right supporters themselves has been largely neglected in existing work. To remedy this, we examine how radical-right supporters feel towards supporters of mainstream parties. We develop a new concept, dislike differentiation, which refers to the extent to which radical-right supporters differentiate in the dislike they harbor towards mainstream parties. We use two new studies that sampled 2,628 radical-right supporters in nine European polities. We find that some supporters reject all mainstream parties, whereas others follow more typical patterns of political competition along ideological lines. Dislike differentiation among radical-right supporters is linked to key socio-political phenomena, including party attachment, ideological extremism, satisfaction with democracy, and political tolerance. By creating a novel typology combining out-party dislike and dislike differentiation, we show that anti-system radical-right supporters, characterized by high out-party dislike and low dislike differentiation, are the least supportive of democracy. By centering our analysis on those voters that receive and radiate the highest levels of negative affect, we advance knowledge on what fosters polarized attitudes and intolerance in Europe’s multiparty systems in times when the electoral popularity of the radical-right is surging.

Unveiling Extremism: Leveraging Digital Data Mining Strategies

In the theoretical exploration of "Unveiling Extremism: Leveraging Digital Data Mining Strategies," the intricate web of extremist behavior is dissected through the lens of digital data mining. By utilizing advanced computational techniques, this study delves into the depths of online platforms, analyzing patterns, sentiments, and interactions to uncover the underlying mechanisms of extremism. The focus lies not only on identifying extremist content but also on understanding the processes that lead individuals towards radicalization. Through theoretical modeling and simulation, this research seeks to map out the pathways of radicalization, shedding light on the factors that contribute to the formation and spread of extremist ideologies. Moreover, the study examines the efficacy of various digital data mining strategies in detecting and countering extremism, proposing innovative approaches to enhance the effectiveness of online monitoring and intervention. Ultimately, this theoretical exploration serves as a foundation for developing proactive measures to combat extremism in the digital age, offering insights that can inform policy-making, intervention programs, and the design of online platforms.

How Does Political Polarization Impact Legislative Gridlock And Policy-Making Processes

Contemporary governance is characterized by a trend toward political polarization resulting in legislative gridlock and policy-making processes. The relationship between polarization and stagnation in the U.S. Congress is explored, focusing on how far ideological extremes have contributed to the breakdown of policymaking and articulation. Social Identity Theory, Elite Theory, Agenda Setting Theory, Rational Choice Theory, and Cultural Theory are all theoretical frameworks that offer insight into how polarization comes about. When a band of congressional members increasingly espouse radical positions, there is virtually no bipartisan cooperation and a corresponding decline in legislative productivity. The result is a stalemate, and while that in and of itself doesn't stop necessity from arising, it does prevent the consideration of pressing matters, namely (but not limited to) the federal minimum wage, which has repeatedly failed to increase despite the broad agreement on its necessity. The challenges of policy implementation in the polarized environment of resourced allocation disputes and judicial challenges also further complicate governance. In the end, the polarization and legislative deadlock that is cyclical, calls us to strategic interventions that increase the effectiveness of policymaking and return American democracy to functioning

Prevention of extremism and terrorism in schools: experience of the republic of Dagestan

The article presents the results of the study of preventive anti-terrorist educational work among students of general education schools of the Republic of Dagestan. It is noted that this work with school youth is carried out systematically and comprehensively with the participation of not only teachers, but also external subjects of preventive influence on adolescents from among representatives of law enforcement agencies, various ministries and departments authorised in the field of youth, information and state national policy, cultural and art figures, representatives of the official Muslim clergy, athletes, deputies, veterans of the Special Military Operation and other public opinion leaders. It was revealed that the main format of this work is a thematic preventive conversation with schoolchildren, that requires certain pedagogical skills and competencies. Using a formalised expert survey of school teachers and a series of research interviews, an assessment of the effectiveness of this activity was identified, as well as problems that hinder the improvement of the quality of anti-extremist educational work with Dagestani youth. Noting the importance and usefulness of this work, the interviewed teachers point to a number of problems and factors that reduce its effectiveness. The workload of teachers with "paperwork", frequent demands for various kinds of reports on the work done, formalism, holding events without taking into account the age and individual characteristics of students, incompetence, lack of understanding and support from the parent community, weak interest in such events from both teachers and schoolchildren and a number of other factors hinder the improvement of the quality of anti-terrorist educational work with Dagestani youth. It seems that the prevention of extremism and terrorism is part of the general educational impact of the comprehensive school institution on a child, raising him to be a moral, law-abiding and patriotic citizen. To improve the quality of this work, it is important to raise the authority of school teachers at the state level, since a teacher without authority is a bad educator for teenagers not only in the area of countering the spread of the ideology of extremism and terrorism, but also in the matter of spiritual, moral and patriotic education in general.

Purposive motivation in an Unlikely place: A study of party activists in Ukraine

This study examines the motivations of party activists in Ukraine, a country known for clientelistic and oligarch-led political parties. It investigates whether these parties attract individuals seeking purposive incentives and explores factors associated with such motivation. Data were collected from surveys of approximately 200 party activists across three major Ukrainian cities during the 2019 Parliamentary Elections. The analysis reveals that purposive motivation is more prevalent among party activists than previously thought. Older activists and formal party members demonstrate higher levels of purposive motivation compared to their younger and non-member counterparts, while the study finds no positive correlation between ideological extremism and purposive motivation. These findings challenge the conventional assumption of party activists as hired “mercenarie” in volatile party systems and extend the scope of party membership and activism research beyond established Western democracies.

Confronting Extremism and Radicalisation in Afghanistan: Educative Approach

Extremism and radicalisation are not a new phenomenon in Afghanistan. Since the end of Soviet occupation in 1989, Afghanistan underwent several phases of challenges, either in the form of political instability, economic crisis, civil war, or foreign intervention due to geopolitical interests. One of the most challenging problems that Afghanistan has been facing is the threat of extremism and radicalisation resulting from multivariate factors. Extremist ideologies such as Salafi-jihadism, the presence of radical ideologues, and foreign intervention inside Afghanistan has intensified the challenge of extremism and radicalisation. In light of this reality, this article seeks to analyse how the government of Afghanistan deals with the problem of extremism and radicalisation in their midst through an educative approach or educational programs that they implement in higher learning institutions. Specifically, this article seeks to examine to what extent the implementation of a nation-building module known as ‘The Islamic Moral System Module (I.M.S.M.) has been effective in mitigating the problem of extremism, radicalisation and, at the same time, nation-building in post-war Afghanistan. Using mixed methods, the article looks into the implementation of IMSM on undergraduate students at Balkh University in Afghanistan between 2017 and 2020. The implementation of the IMSM module indicates that the educative approach produced positive results in nation-building. However, the educative approach needs to be tailored according to the nature of the challenge and context of the historical background of the country.

Measuring receptivity to misinformation at scale on a social media platform.

Measuring the impact of online misinformation is challenging. Traditional measures, such as user views or shares on social media, are incomplete because not everyone who is exposed to misinformation is equally likely to believe it. To address this issue, we developed a method that combines survey data with observational Twitter data to probabilistically estimate the number of users both exposed to and likely to believe a specific news story. As a proof of concept, we applied this method to 139 viral news articles and find that although false news reaches an audience with diverse political views, users who are both exposed and receptive to believing false news tend to have more extreme ideologies. These receptive users are also more likely to encounter misinformation earlier than those who are unlikely to believe it. This mismatch between overall user exposure and receptive user exposure underscores the limitation of relying solely on exposure or interaction data to measure the impact of misinformation, as well as the challenge of implementing effective interventions. To demonstrate how our approach can address this challenge, we then conducted data-driven simulations of common interventions used by social media platforms. We find that these interventions are only modestly effective at reducing exposure among users likely to believe misinformation, and their effectiveness quickly diminishes unless implemented soon after misinformation's initial spread. Our paper provides a more precise estimate of misinformation's impact by focusing on the exposure of users likely to believe it, offering insights for effective mitigation strategies on social media.

Values of Coexistence in Islamic Civilization: The Relationship with Others and the Challenge of Extremism

This study employs a descriptive-analytical method to emphasize the genuineness and importance of peaceful coexistence values among religions and cultures in Islamic civilization. It specifically focuses on the interaction with others, living together, acknowledging, respecting, and collaborating with them in different aspects of shared humanity. This research examines the language of extremism by studying and analyzing it, seeing it as the primary obstacle to the principles of civic coexistence and tolerance. The research findings indicate that the key factor that sets apart the principles of peaceful coexistence among individuals, irrespective of their religious and racial backgrounds, and that necessitates the acceptance of others in Islamic ideology, is the perception of such acceptance as legitimate obligations. An individual is recognized as a Muslim only when they openly acknowledge their adherence to the Islamic faith. Through the analysis of holy writings and the Prophet's biography, the researcher concludes that any radical and divisive rhetoric that promotes the rejection of peaceful coexistence cannot be regarded as Islamic speech, and does not accurately reflect Islam and Muslims. Instead, it is an extreme rhetoric that only represents its advocates, a rhetoric that Islam disavows, just as it disavows other forms of hate speech. The research urges the official religious authorities in Arab and Islamic countries to take on the legitimate, ethical, and scientific duty of freeing religious matters from ideological manipulation and restoring the correct approach to interpreting religious texts, while avoiding extremist ideological exploitation. This proposal advocates for the promotion of harmony, resolution of misunderstandings, fostering love and unity, prevention of excommunication, defamation, and conflict. It suggests the establishment of educational programs focused on promoting peace and coexistence values, as well as encouraging research in the field of tolerance education and acceptance of others. The objective is to cultivate an intellectual atmosphere in our universities that prioritizes wisdom, reason, logic, and evidence over emotional slogans. This will result in universities producing graduates who possess values of tolerance and coexistence, equipped to challenge and dismantle hateful and extremist ideologies by exposing their flaws and removing the religious facade from their harmful ideas.

Shaping the ‘Other’: Foucauldian Insights Into Feminine Resistance in ‘Timbuktu’

This exploration delves into the complex portrayal of feminine resistance in Abderrahmane Sissako's 2014 film "Timbuktu," framed within a Foucauldian perspective. Set against the backdrop of the jihadist occupation of Timbuktu, Mali, the film immerses viewers in a world where traditional village life collides with extremist ideologies, resulting in a complex interplay of power and resistance. The narrative unfolds with subtle undercurrents of oppression, as the occupying jihadists enforce their rigid interpretation of Sharia law on the local populace. Focusing on the character of Satima, the wife of the protagonist Kidane and Zabou, the shamanes, this analysis delves into different feminine resistance to conformity, driven either by honour or justice to challenge the oppressive norms imposed by the jihadists. Drawing inspiration from Michel Foucault's discourse on power and resistance, this exploration reveals a rather multidirectional/multidimensional nature of feminine resistance. Satima's refusal to comply with the sexual advances of Abdelkerim and Zabou’s enchantments and audacity vis-à-vis the jihadists provide insights into the transformative potential of marginalized voices. The film ultimately confronts the idea that some situations remain beyond an individual's control, echoing an Old Testament-like sense of fate. Through an extraordinary long-take shot that captures the aftermath, the film underscores the limitations of power, even for those who seek to shape the "Other." This article thus invites a deeper examination of "Timbuktu," and feminine empowerment and agency in African cinema, shedding light on how resistance surpasses the confines of oppression, offering a gripping narrative of resilience in the face of extremism.

Ideological extremism, left-right orientations, and invalid voting in two-round presidential elections in Latin America

ABSTRACT Ideology is one of the most studied factors affecting voting behavior in modern mass democracies. Despite that, literature on invalid voting has focused on other explanatory factors at the aggregate and individual levels. This article argues that ideology is a relevant explanatory factor affecting invalid voting at the individual level and advances two hypotheses. Specifically, voters with known preferences on the left-right dimension and those further from the center will be less prone to cast an invalid ballot in presidential elections. I test these hypotheses in the first and second rounds of nine presidential elections in four Latin American countries between 2002 and 2019. Additionally, the hypotheses were tested for voters caught in the runoff dilemma, i.e. those who did not vote for one of the two candidates who advanced to the second round. Using the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems data, the analysis confirms that left-right orientations and ideological extremism are negatively associated with the probability of casting an invalid vote. The article’s findings help expand our knowledge about how some specific features of ideology affect voting behavior, thus contributing to the literature on ideological and invalid voting.

“A Future for White Children”: Examining Family Ideologies of White Extremist Groups at the Intersection of Race and Gender

Many White Americans believe that racism, racial violence, and hate groups are relics of the past, and yet we have witnessed the resurgence of White extremist groups and overt racism in recent years. This resurgence requires an examination of White extremist ideologies, particularly as they center traditional family values in justifying their extremism. In this study, we utilize a content analysis of the websites of six White extremist organizations to examine ideologies surrounding the family at the intersection of race and gender. Furthermore, we question why these ideologies take shape as they do and the potential implications of espousing family values with a rise in White extremism. Our study addresses the gender gap in existing White extremist research and highlights the need for an intersectional approach in understanding how ideologies differ between a White extremist group specifically for women and those under the leadership of men.

К ВОПРОСУ О ПРОФИЛАКТИКЕ РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЯ ДЕСТРУКТИВНОЙ ИДЕОЛОГИИ, ПОСЯГАЮЩЕЙ НА ТРАДИЦИОННЫЕ РОССИЙСКИЕ ДУХОВНО-НРАВСТВЕННЫЕ ЦЕННОСТИ

The article provides a brief analysis of the concept of ideology, destructive ideology, including the ideology of extremism. The opinions of Russian scientists, including the author's, on the role of the Internet in spreading destructive ideology are presented, including certain ways to combat the ideol-ogy of extremism through virtual space. The risks contributing to the spread of destructive ideology both from outside and inside the state are identified. The most priority goals and objectives on the part of the state have been identified, correcting the policy of countering extremism in connection with the tragic events at Crocus City Hall, as well as during the Special Military Operation.

The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISK): an assessment of current operations

ABSTRACT The rise of the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISK) from 2015 to the present began largely unnoticed as an insurgency in Afghanistan and has recently been observed as a growing terrorist threat around the globe. This assessment examines the historical precedent, evolution, and strategic objectives of ISK by way of delving into its origins in the jihadist extremist template, and into its operations by area, which increasingly are those outside of its immediate provincial boundaries, expanding into regional and beyond. Tied to its kinetic operations is a robust and modern media capability and strategy that is serving to elevate the status of the group, enable it a global networked capacity, and draw recruits and other resources. While remaining tied to the hierarchy of IS central, ISK is free to perpetuate extremist ideology and brutal tactics as envisioned by early IS originator Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The upward cycle of, and battlefield momentum gained by ISK in both the physical world and online presents both a challenge and an urgent necessity for counter-terrorism strategies in both temporal realms.

Extremist Ideologies: Youth and Schools

Extremist Ideologies: Youth and Schools