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What role do subcultures play in the radicalisation of Islamist, right-wing and left-wing groups? How are the norms of subcultures adopted by radicalised individuals and reflected in their lifestyle, identity and choices? Violent radicalisation is often portrayed as a deviant behaviour resulting from social and political dissociation. At the same time Islamist, right-wing and left-wing terrorist groups have all found sections of the population to sympathise with their aims and provide them with moral and logistical support. Through comprehensive systematic research, rigorous analysis of the empirical data and a range of interviews with active and former radicals Daniela Pisoiu construct a theoretical framework to explain the transition to radicalisation and political violence in Germany. Her conclusions provide us with a wider understanding of the role of subcultures in violent radicalisation and demonstrates that, far from a marginal and abnormal phenomenon, this radicalisation is a matter of traceable long term and holistic socialisation.
About the author
Daniela I. Pisoiu completed her PhD study at the University of St Andrews - School of International Relations and the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence on the topic of Islamist radicalisation processes in Germany, France and Austria and acted as tutor within the Certificate in Terrorism Studies Programme. Between 2005 and 2006 she was a Fulbright junior scholar at the University of Cincinnati, where she also carried out a research project on the integration and marginalisation of Muslim minorities in several European countries, having been awarded a graduate enrichment award from the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center. Before that she obtained a Diploma and Master degrees from the Diplomatic Academy and University of Vienna in the areas of EU Studies and International Relations. She also specialised in legal aspects of human and civil rights at the University of Geneva and the Babes-Bolyai University in Romania. She is Fellow at the IFSH and Researcher at the University of Hamburg, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences.
Summary
What role do subcultures play in the radicalisation of Islamist, right-wing and left-wing groups? How are the norms of subcultures adopted by radicalised individuals and reflected in their lifestyle, identity and choices? Violent radicalisation is often portrayed as a deviant behaviour resulting from social and political dissociation. At the same time Islamist, right-wing and left-wing terrorist groups have all found sections of the population to sympathise with their aims and provide them with moral and logistical support. Through comprehensive systematic research, rigorous analysis of the empirical data and a range of interviews with active and former radicals Daniela Pisoiu construct a theoretical framework to explain the transition to radicalisation and political violence in Germany. Her conclusions provide us with a wider understanding of the role of subcultures in violent radicalisation and demonstrates that, far from a marginal and abnormal phenomenon, this radicalisation is a matter of traceable long term and holistic socialisation.
