This paper examines radicalization through the lens of contemporary psychoanalysis and social theory, challenging the dominant view of radicalization as a singular pathological transformation from a “normal” to an “abnormal” state. Instead, it conceptualizes radicalization as a psychosocial process embedded in subjective identity structures and broader historical conditions. Drawing on…

Despite the increasing need for tertiary prevention programme interventions, knowledge is lacking on which methods used in programmes work and which do not. Through semi-structured interviews with twelve practitioners and combination of grounded theory and reflexive thematic analysis, this article explores: how do tertiary prevention intervention providers measure the progress…

The question of what roles, if any, former extremists can or should play in PVE efforts is one that has received increased attention in recent years. This article contributes to that conversation by collecting input from preventing violent extremism (PVE) experts we brought together in June 2023 for a full-day…

Each year, the goal of Hedayah’s Annual International Research Conference is to gather leading experts to share new research, methodologies, best practices, and findings for the benefit of the broader community of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in fields related to countering extremism and violent extremism. In 2023, the Research Conference…

To what extent can climate change adaptation be incorporated into counterterrorism strategies in the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) region? As part of the Lake Chad region counterterrorism strategy, we explore how climate change adaptation can be used to prevent local population recruitment into violent extremism. Over the years, the Lake…

This policy brief seeks to identify recommendations for governments, regulators and other international policymaking entities to design effective policies for preventing and countering violent extremism policies in gaming spaces, to enforce standards, and to support the development of capacity to moderate online harms.

After more than 20 years of research, it is well established that states used counter-terrorism measures (CTMs) to close civic spaces for civil society under the pretext of curbing terrorism. However, the specific mechanisms by which these occur, or the responses of civil society organizations (CSOs), remain hard to grasp….

In an increasingly digital world, gaming and gaming-adjacent platforms have emerged as vital social spaces, attracting more than 3 billion active users globally. These platforms, which range from immersive video games to forums and livestreaming sites, offer unique opportunities to build communities, foster creativity and promote education. However, they also…

This article considers how ideology motivates lone actor terrorists to use violence. A significant body of literature in terrorism studies sees ideology as a much less important driver of terrorist action than other phenomena such as personal crisis and status seeking. Yet these studies often reach this conclusion without first…

Vigilantism is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria. As a state with various “alternatively governed” spaces the country has leant on vigilantes of differing forms as a source of authority where the state has been ineffective. Albeit proving controversial, their successes cannot be unrecognized. This article explores the public’s perception…