A Clear and Present Danger for the 21st Century

Abstract

This opening chapter of The Three Pillars of Radicalization provides an in-depth analysis of the problem of radicalization and identifies the psychological questions that it raises. It contextualizes the current spread of violent extremism around the globe and discusses the two main approaches to counterterrorism: the hard approach, also referred to as kinetic, which involves military and police operations to defeat extremists on the ground, and the soft approach, which seeks to convince supporters of violent extremism through argumentation and social influence to abandon their aggression-justifying beliefs and/or relinquish their engagement in violence. Noting the insufficiency of military and policing means to stem the present tide of international extremism, the authors emphasize the importance of understanding the psychological bases of radicalization in the effort to effectively counteract it.