Relating to Radicalism : Family and Upbringing Experiences in Radicalization and De-radicalization

This dissertation focuses on what happens in families when radicalization and de-radicalization take place and gives insight into the processes that these young people and their family members go through. What factors lead young people to radicalize and what influence does family have on radicalization and de-radicalization? Understanding radicalization in the context of a family’s experiences could contribute to our knowledge on how to prevent radicalization. To obtain knowledge about the radicalization process and the potential role parents play within it, an empirical explorative study was conducted. In-depth interviews were conducted with people who pursue extreme -left, -right, and -religious ideals, former radicals, and their family members who experienced the radicalization process from up-close. This research found that the radicalization process toward different extreme ideologies shows similar characteristics. For example, all participants seem to have been driven by injustices that they have seen in the world and personal problems, regardless of their ideology. These young people are entangled in a similar developmental process searching for identity and belonging, and they come across a certain ideology during that search. The radicalization process can be characterized as a journey marked by a sequence of transitions from child- to adulthood: a rite of passage into and out of a radical group as young people search for their place in society. Our interviews showed that most young people did not learn about extreme ideals through their parents, but came across these ideologies through peers or media. Although our respondents felt that parents did not influence the radicalization process directly, family climate may indirectly offer a fertile ground for radicalization. It was found that parents often did not react upon the radicalization process of their child because they did not recognize the signals, did not know how to handle them, and did not know whom to turn to for support. Or parents changed their reactions toward extremist ideals during the radicalization process, and responded differently than one would expect from their general parenting style. This research shows that parents may influence de-radicalization by supporting their children and providing them with counterarguments and alternative perspectives. Policy that tries to counter radicalization often aims at helping parents, teachers, and practitioners to recognize and distinguish signs of radicalization in young people. However, it would possibly be more fruitful to help parents discuss different kinds of (extreme) ideologies, as part of the normal upbringing, to guide children in their moral (ideal) development. Parents do not need to have straight answers, but they can talk to their children about complicated issues such as terrorist attacks, discrimination and extremism. Moreover, it is important to listen to their frustrations, show interest in their ideas, discuss injustice and existential questions, and offer counterweight when needed, building their knowledge, values, and attitudes on these topics. As not all parents are able to conduct these kinds of discussions, it is important to include teachers, youth workers, and religious workers to offer the moral authority that these young people need and guide them in their (democratic) development

Relating to Radicalism : Family and Upbringing Experiences in Radicalization and De-radicalization

This dissertation focuses on what happens in families when radicalization and de-radicalization take place and gives insight into the processes that these young people and their family members go through. What factors lead young people to radicalize and what influence does family have on radicalization and de-radicalization? Understanding radicalization in the context of a family’s experiences could contribute to our knowledge on how to prevent radicalization. To obtain knowledge about the radicalization process and the potential role parents play within it, an empirical explorative study was conducted. In-depth interviews were conducted with people who pursue extreme -left, -right, and -religious ideals, former radicals, and their family members who experienced the radicalization process from up-close. This research found that the radicalization process toward different extreme ideologies shows similar characteristics. For example, all participants seem to have been driven by injustices that they have seen in the world and personal problems, regardless of their ideology. These young people are entangled in a similar developmental process searching for identity and belonging, and they come across a certain ideology during that search. The radicalization process can be characterized as a journey marked by a sequence of transitions from child- to adulthood: a rite of passage into and out of a radical group as young people search for their place in society. Our interviews showed that most young people did not learn about extreme ideals through their parents, but came across these ideologies through peers or media. Although our respondents felt that parents did not influence the radicalization process directly, family climate may indirectly offer a fertile ground for radicalization. It was found that parents often did not react upon the radicalization process of their child because they did not recognize the signals, did not know how to handle them, and did not know whom to turn to for support. Or parents changed their reactions toward extremist ideals during the radicalization process, and responded differently than one would expect from their general parenting style. This research shows that parents may influence de-radicalization by supporting their children and providing them with counterarguments and alternative perspectives. Policy that tries to counter radicalization often aims at helping parents, teachers, and practitioners to recognize and distinguish signs of radicalization in young people. However, it would possibly be more fruitful to help parents discuss different kinds of (extreme) ideologies, as part of the normal upbringing, to guide children in their moral (ideal) development. Parents do not need to have straight answers, but they can talk to their children about complicated issues such as terrorist attacks, discrimination and extremism. Moreover, it is important to listen to their frustrations, show interest in their ideas, discuss injustice and existential questions, and offer counterweight when needed, building their knowledge, values, and attitudes on these topics. As not all parents are able to conduct these kinds of discussions, it is important to include teachers, youth workers, and religious workers to offer the moral authority that these young people need and guide them in their (democratic) development

Parental Reactions towards Radicalization in Young People

Radicalization is often studied from a security perspective, but this paper focuses on the topic from a parenting perspective. The aim of the study is to discover how parents respond to the development of extreme ideals. Using 56 in-depth interviews with youngsters and parents of youngster who have strong or extreme ideals, the parental responses towards these ideals are explored. Subsequently, the responses were categorized according to two dimensions (control and support). This study shows how families, when confronted with radicalization, experience significant turmoil and shift to less demanding responses due to feelings of powerlessness, dissociation, and parental uncertainty

Participant Recruitment through Social Media: Lessons Learned from a Qualitative Radicalization Study Using Facebook

Social media are useful facilitators when recruiting hidden populations for research. In our research on youth and radicalization, we were able to find and contact young people with extreme ideals through Facebook. In this article, we discuss our experiences using Facebook as a tool for finding respondents who do not trust researchers. Facebook helped us recruit youths with extreme Islamic and extreme left-wing ideals. We conclude by discussing the benefits and limitations of using Facebook when searching for and approaching populations who are difficult to reach

Transitional journeys into and out of extremism: A biographical approach

This article describes an empirical study into processes of homegrown radicalization and de-radicalization of young people. Researchers in Denmark and the Netherlands set out to answer the question regarding what pathways in and out of extremism (mainly far-right or Islamist) look like “from the inside.” The analysis is informed by grounded theory, based on interviews (N = 34) with “formers” and their family members on their life courses. The study shows that radicalization often concurs with distinct social–emotional developmental challenges that young people face in the transition between youth and adulthood. A practical implication of the marked transitional sequences in these processes is that each type of radical journey may call for a different type of (re)action

Participant Recruitment through Social Media : Lessons Learned from a Qualitative Radicalization Study Using Facebook

Social media are useful facilitators when recruiting hidden populations for research. In our research on youth and radicalization, we were able to find and contact young people with extreme ideals through Facebook. In this article, we discuss our experiences using Facebook as a tool for finding respondents who do not trust researchers. Facebook helped us recruit youths with extreme Islamic and extreme left-wing ideals. We conclude by discussing the benefits and limitations of using Facebook when searching for and approaching populations who are difficult to reach

Parental Reactions towards Radicalization in Young People

Radicalization is often studied from a security perspective, but this paper focuses on the topic from a parenting perspective. The aim of the study is to discover how parents respond to the development of extreme ideals. Using 56 in-depth interviews with youngsters and parents of youngster who have strong or extreme ideals, the parental responses towards these ideals are explored. Subsequently, the responses were categorized according to two dimensions (control and support). This study shows how families, when confronted with radicalization, experience significant turmoil and shift to less demanding responses due to feelings of powerlessness, dissociation, and parental uncertainty

Transitional journeys into and out of extremism: A biographical approach

This article describes an empirical study into processes of homegrown radicalization and de-radicalization of young people. Researchers in Denmark and the Netherlands set out to answer the question regarding what pathways in and out of extremism (mainly far-right or Islamist) look like “from the inside.” The analysis is informed by grounded theory, based on interviews (N = 34) with “formers” and their family members on their life courses. The study shows that radicalization often concurs with distinct social–emotional developmental challenges that young people face in the transition between youth and adulthood. A practical implication of the marked transitional sequences in these processes is that each type of radical journey may call for a different type of (re)action

Vulvar and vaginal neoplasia in women with inflammatory bowel disease

Immunosuppressive drugs are the cornerstone in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however they are associated with an increased risk of extra-intestinal cancer. Whether the risk for female genital tract malignancies, including vulvar and vaginal cancer, is increased is less clear.Our aim was to investigate the risk of these malignancies in IBD-patients.Histopathological data of all IBD patients with a vulvar or vaginal (pre-)cancerous lesion were retrieved from the Dutch nationwide network and registry of histopathology and cytopathology from 1991 to 2015. Medical history was retrieved from patient records. Data from the Central Office for Statistics, the Dutch comprehensive cancer organization, and the IBDSL cohort were obtained to calculate the standardized, and age-adjusted incidence rates.Fifty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. A standardized incidence rate of 1.2(95% CI:0.8-1.7) for vulvar and vaginal carcinoma among adult female IBD was calculated, which did not significantly differ from the general population. The use of immunosuppressive therapy did not increase the occurrence of vulvovaginal malignancy, nor did it influence the recurrence rate. However, immunosuppressive drugs ever-users were on average 11 years younger at the time of their gynaecological diagnosis.Overall, our data do not support intensified screening for vulvar or vaginal malignancies in female IBD patients. (C) 2019 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Cellular mechanisms in basic and clinical gastroenterology and hepatolog