The term radicalization is wide spread today, but the search for what exactly radicalization is, and how to
de-radicalize those who are considered violent extremists or terrorists is still a challenge for the academic and
professional community. In this paper, the key terms and literature focusing on radicalization will be explored in
more detail. Political violence encompasses a wide range of political action - persuasive politics, pressure politics
and violent politics - by those with state power, as well as by non-state militant actors. With this in mind, it should
also be recognized that radicalization is not necessarily a one-sided phenomenon, as it is equally important to
explore the role of state actors and their potential for radicalization. There are a number of factors that can lead to radicalization, as well as factors that may influence de-radicalization. It is a complex phenomenon, where particularly vulnerable category are young people with incomplete education, mostly from unstable social
environments, who are easily susceptible to manipulation. Stimulated by political, economic or socio-cultural
factors, these individuals find themselves and identify with the ideologies of extreme and radical structures. In the past, this problem of security has been of interest primarily to the intelligence services, which by their nature deal with the consequences, but not with the causes of radicalization. However, experience has indicated that repression is not the only solution. The growing trend of this phenomenon and the challenge of early prevention have emphasized the need for increasingly inclusive community engagement. Considering the complexity of radicalization and violent extremism leading to terrorism, these phenomena are among the top security priorities of contemporary democratic states. Nevertheless, without a clear definition of radicalization, intelligence security agencies will not be able to cope successfully and have a realistic perception of the driving force that lead the
individual to extremism and terrorism
