Book chapter 361 views
Online Radicalization During the Covid Pandemic
Joe Whittaker 
Exploring Trends and Research in Countering and Preventing Extremism & Violent Extremism, Pages: 30 - 41
Swansea University Author:
Joe Whittaker
Abstract
There has been widespread concern within media and policy circles over the effects of the pandemic on radicalization. This is often articulated as a fear that more time spent online will lead to greater exposure to extreme and harmful content, which in turn, may increase the chances of individuals t...
| Published in: | Exploring Trends and Research in Countering and Preventing Extremism & Violent Extremism |
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| Published: |
Abu Dhabi
Hedayah
2023
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| Online Access: |
https://hedayah.com/resources/exploring-trends-and-research-in-countering-and-preventing-extremism-violent-extremism/ |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65069 |
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| Abstract: |
There has been widespread concern within media and policy circles over the effects of the pandemic on radicalization. This is often articulated as a fear that more time spent online will lead to greater exposure to extreme and harmful content, which in turn, may increase the chances of individuals turning to violent extremism. Combined with the high levels of stress, uncertainty, and socioeconomic upheaval, at first glance, this seems like a legitimate concern. This chapter will explore this claim, ultimately arguing that we do not yet know enough to make firm judgments as to whether the pandemic will cause an increase in violent extremism. Moreover, despite a clear adoption of COVID narratives as part of extremist messaging and increased engagement with such content during the lockdown periods, there are reasons to be skeptical that this will necessarily lead to more violence. Rather, existing knowledge highlights the complexity of the radicalization process and the importance of face-to- face interactions; CVE experts should not just assume that it will be exacerbated by more engagement with radical content online, particularly if it comes at the expense of offline encounters. As such, this chapter is relevant not simply to the ramifications of the COVID pandemic, but also the wider topic of online radicalization, investigating the relationship between engaging in radical content and violent outcomes. |
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| Item Description: |
https://hedayah.com/resources/exploring-trends-and-research-in-countering-and-preventing-extremism-violent-extremism/ |
| College: |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Start Page: |
30 |
| End Page: |
41 |