GLOBAL SECURITY
Extremism and the perspective challenge
When confronted by terrorism , particularly violent , deadly assaults far from any conflict epicentres such as in the Middle East , perspective can be a rare component when police or governments respond . Keeping citizens safe is the primary objective and this inevitably means finding , neutralising and punishing the perpetrators and the perceived architects of the violence .
In recent years , terrorist attacks by individuals or small groups in the name of Islam or right-wing ideologies have invariably led to authorities determining that radicalisation is at the root of what are often suicidal attacks .
However , for one of Britain ’ s leading specialists in political violence , especially jihadism , it is just a bit too simplistic .
“ In fact , there is very little evidence to support this premise ,” says Dr Tom Smith , Principal Lecturer in International Relations and Terrorism for the University of Portsmouth .
Dr Smith is based at the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell , where he is Academic Director and leads the Portsmouth Military Education Team .
“ We are given the picture of some nasty guy in the back room of a mosque stroking his beard , coaching some young person , but there is no evidence that this happens , no scientific evidence that radicalisation , as we portray it , is even possible ,” he says .
“ To think you can somehow turn people into automatons to go and commit these actions doesn ’ t hold up – yet that ’ s the policy we have grounded all our response structures around . People have agency of their own , many reject these ‘ evil ideologies ’, some – as uncomfortable as it may be to swallow – have their own personal reasons for violence – but this is very different from ‘ radicalisation ’ being the cause .”
For Dr Smith , managing and controlling extremism , be it jihadist or ultra rightwing in nature , needs perspective and nuance if it is to be better understood and not to be driven underground and rendered an even greater risk .
He says the jihadist groups he has studied around the world prey on those looking to vent a wide variety of grievances such as historic maltreatment , geopolitical pressures or oppressive regimes .
Communication pressure valve
“ To this extent we need to acknowledge that some of their grievances are valid and we need that perspective if we are going to keep these groups visible and low-risk . We need to give them nonviolent political means to communicate with us . Terrorism at a fundamental level is a communicative act , a show of rage often for those without a traditional voice or platform .”
Screen grab from an ISIS propaganda video in which a young Canadian man tells of his conversion to Islam and joining a brotherhood .
He points to different jihadist groups ’ use of the internet and the production of propaganda videos that are popular among followers and supporters but regarded by some in authority as dangerous sources of radicalisation .
Dr Smith , who has immersed himself in the evolution of jihadist communications from the days of leaflets through to a sophisticated use of social media , has a different view .
“ These little three-minute trailer type videos have a particular format … an underlying message in support of someone , such as the Mujahideen when they were fighting Americans in Afghanistan , perhaps interspersed with stock footage of conflict in , say Iraq or Syria , usually a song or musical performance over the top , or a Muslim hymn . Sometimes there ’ s a little bit of scripture from the Koran .
“ Basically it ’ s a compilation of elements that articulate underlying grievances and they hit a sweet spot for followers … ‘ yeah , us Muslims are getting kicked everywhere . We have to do something about it ’. That gets shared online , all over the world , because they articulate a sense of
40 ISSUE 04 / 2022