Abstract
This chapter takes stock of what we do and do not know from primary sources about individuals’ disengagement from violent extremism. It points to three broad patterns: doubts related to the binary nature of the extremist world view, disappointment with peers or leaders, and changing personal priorities. The chapter shows how, for example, first-hand exposure to extremist violence or being condemned by mainstream society can either reinforce radicalization or expedite disengagement and argues that one-size-fits-all counterterrorism measures should be supplanted by a differentiated approach to violent extremists to increase their chances of voluntary disengagement.
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Notes
- 1.
See Schmid and Price (2011) for a (not exhaustive) bibliography. See also the introduction to this volume.
- 2.
Oxford Dictionaries, https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/disengagement. Accessed on September 17, 2016.
- 3.
Two excellent articles on exit have not been included as they do not contain new primary sources: Moghadam (2012); Reinares (2011b).
In addition, the review identified a report by P. Neumann, that tracks the narratives of defectors from the Islamic State , including nine westerners. The accounts of these defectors resonate with the broader themes identified in this review, but the 9 defectors have not been counted in the tally of exit /disengagement interviews as it is unclear whether they have actually disengaged from violent extremism and as they have not all been interviewed in person.
Neumann (2015). The review excludes autobiographies by former extremists as they represent subjective perspectives with an inherent risk of bias. Otherwise interesting autobiographies include (Collier and Horowitz 1989: 275–365; Hussein 2007; Lindahl and Mattson 2000; O’Doherty 2008).
- 4.
This section builds and expands on a 4-page section of a previously published article. Dalgaard-Nielsen, (2013: 102–106).
- 5.
A coding of individual disengagers against different reasons for exit was attempted, but ultimately dropped as many case studies are not detailed enough to permit for accurate coding. One study in the pool of case studies, which compares the experience of 14 disengagers from across militant Islamism, right wing extremism, and separatist terrorism , does assign values and rank the, frequently multiple, exit reasons stated by the interviewees. It indicates that group and leadership failure are the most common triggers, followed by a sense of burnout , disillusionment with the radical ideology including the use of violence , pulled towards other roles etc. Barrelle (2015: 8).
- 6.
These similar narrative structures are evident in propaganda from across different forms of extremism. See for example Inspire Magazine (2011); Pierce (alias A. Macdonald) (1978); Varon (2004). They are also evident if one compares for example the narratives that cut across the issues of the Islamic States magazine Dabiq, available on http://www.clarionproject.org/news/islamic-state-isis-isil-propaganda-magazine-dabiq# with the manifesto of the convicted right wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik available on https://info.publicintelligence.net/AndersBehringBreivikManifesto.pdf
- 7.
The conclusion that similar themes are at work across from ideologically different extremisms finds support in those case studies from the overall pool that comprise and compare a smaller number of disengagers from several different types of violent extremism. Barrelle (2015: 8); Bull and Cooke (2013: 90 and 94); Demant et al. (2008: 154); Horgan (2009: xxi).
- 8.
For one of the original text on governance networks see Koppenjan and Klijn (2004).
- 9.
“Forebyggelse af radikalisering og ekstremisme. Regeringens handlingsplan.” The Ministry of Children, Gender Equality, Integration and Social Affairs, 2014, http://www.sm.dk.; Ny evaluering af handlingsplanen, 2014, https://www.nyidanmark.dk/da-dk/nyheder/pressemeddelelser/integrationsministeriet/2011/juni/ny_evaluering_af_handlingsplanen_en_faelles_og_tryg_fremtid.htm.; Vidino and Brandon (2012).
- 10.
For a discussion of these policy documents, see Dalgaard-Nielsen and Schack (2016: 1–2).
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Dalgaard-Nielsen, A. (2018). Patterns of Disengagement from Violent Extremism: A Stocktaking of Current Knowledge and Implications for Counterterrorism. In: Steiner, K., Önnerfors, A. (eds) Expressions of Radicalization. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65566-6_10
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