Countering the Self-Radicalisation Threat: A New Paradigm?

The following sections are included: Individuals continue to be seduced by IS ideology and plan or carry out attacks. Since the mid-2000s, violent Islamist circles globally have stressed operational decentralisation to small autonomous cells and lone wolves. Five dimensions (sender, message/messenger, recipient, mechanism, and context) need to be considered in any comprehensive counter strategy. Vulnerable individuals are usually young males whose emotional development is proceeding faster than their mental maturation. They tend to think in relatively unsophisticated black-and-white terms and seek the certainty and clear answers usually provided by skilful extremist ideologues. In societies where governance is poor and security, welfare, and justice are seen to be in deficit, the chances for self- (and group) radicalisation will be higher.