Publication

This publication provides a concept that endeavors to capture the central characteristics of the types of violent extremism carried out by today. This is that violent extremism is a violent type of mobilisation that aims to elevate the status of one group, while excluding or dominating its ‘others’ based on markers, such as gender, religion, culture and ethnicity. Further, in carrying out such action, organisations destroy existing political and cultural institutions, and supplant them with alternative governance structures that work according to the principles of a totalitarian and intolerant ideology. The text’s authors also address 1) the differences between radicalization, terrorism, insurgency and violent extremism; 2) the distinct attributes that make violent extremism a unique phenomenon, 3) organization’s that lie on the boundaries of what qualifies as violent extremism, and more.