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Comparing past and present radicalisation

Differences in past and present violent radicalisation.
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If we compare present radicalisation in Europe, for instance, with the past the leftist radicalisation, the main difference is, of course, that the new radicals join a religious cause, the Jihad, where the objective to support, to recreate a global Muslim community, the Ummah. But, in some sense, you have common points. Jihad has replaced revolution, and the Ummah has replaced the universal working class. The other difference is the strategy of recruitment. The new radicals are mainly recruiting amongst second generation Muslim immigrants in Europe and converts. We have about 2/3 of second generation, 1/3 are converts. And this is the same percentage since the last 25 years. So we have a very special feat. And I would say limited “reservoire” of radicalisation.

In this brief interview Professor Olivier Roy provides some pointers on how radicalisation has changed in Europe over the past decades, with the Jihad replacing the revolution as a central concept to be achieved.

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Religion, Radicalisation, Resilience

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