Rethinking Approaches to Violent Extremism

Abstract

This issue of African Security journal provides the reader with fresh ways of examining conflict. In each of the four essays presented here, the authors’ challenge is to reconsider the nature of violent extremism, the strategies being used by both perpetrators of violence and states and agencies countering said violence, and what ought to be the ultimate goal of bringing an end to such violence. The first paper is based on collaborative research by four scholars, Eka Ikpe, Damilola Adegoke, Funmi Olonisakin, and Fola Aina. The result of this collaboration is an in-depth examination of the linkages between socioeconomic concerns and one of the most significant conflicts in the world, viz., the Boko Haram-led insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria. A lot has been written about this violent jihadi-inspired insurgency. But this paper, titled “Understanding vulnerability to violent extremism: Evidence from Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria” offers a nuanced perspective on this conflict by centering the focus of the analysis on the extent to which women and youth constituencies intersect with vulnerability to violent extremism. Based on an impressive and sophisticated accumulation of quantitative analysis of new and original genderand age-disaggregated survey data (utilizing over 80% of female respondents), the authors conclude that while poverty can influence vulnerability to violent extremism, women, and youth constituencies, who usually fall into that category of the target population, tend to interact in particular ways with structural factors. Indeed, based on their research, certain youth constituencies exhibit lower propensities toward violence. In some respects, the results of this research challenge the perceived wisdom within violent extremism studies that understanding and addressing root causes of conflict is important for the resolution of these conflicts and for the implementation of longer-term peace and reconstruction measures. While that hypothesis still holds true, there may be some wisdom in examining certain tributary causes that stem from different vulnerable sectors in a society, as the evidence from Northeastern Nigeria seems to indicate. How states, regional bodies, or international agencies deal with extremist violence depend in large part on the strategies adopted by violent extremists. In this issue’s second essay, titled “Competitive Control? ‘Hearts and Minds’ and the Population Control Strategy of the Islamic State West Africa Province,” Edward Stoddard, points to a strategy adopted by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to make the argument that violent extremist groups can, and do, adopt different strategies of control over AFRICAN SECURITY 2023, VOL. 16, NO. 1, 1–4 https://doi.org/10.1080/19392206.2023.2196800