Exploring the pathway from radicalisation to disengagement : comparison of dissonances experienced by a Jihadi foreign fighter and a right-wing extremist

Eser Davolio, Miryam; Villiger, Carole

doi:10.18753/2297-8224-141

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-19008

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Exploring the pathway from radicalisation to disengagement : comparison of dissonances experienced by a Jihadi foreign fighter and a right-wing extremist
Authors:	Eser Davolio, Miryam Villiger, Carole
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.18753/2297-8224-141 10.21256/zhaw-19008
Published in:	Sozialpolitik.ch
Volume(Issue):	2019
Issue:	2
Page(s):	1
Pages to:	19
Issue Date:	Dec-2019
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Universität Fribourg
ISSN:	2297-8224
Language:	English
Subjects:	Jihadist radicalisation; Right-wing extremism; Cognitive dissonance; Disengagement
Subject (DDC):	150: Psychology 303: Social processes
Abstract:	The aim of our article is to analyse the disengagement process of a Swiss returnee from Syria and the emergence of dissonances during his involvement with the Islamic State (IS) and to compare this evolution to the pathway of a right-wing extremist willing to leave the violent extremist group Blood & Honour. Although the contexts of these extremist groups are very different, a number of elements – as the ideology based on hate, the groups’ internal pressure and the affinity for violence – are quite similar. The disengagement process of both extremists is analysed by means of reconstructive methods and the theory of cognitive dissonance (Festinger 1957), as well as by the current state of research on disengagement processes. This serves as a theoretical framework. The findings show that comparing their pathway to defection reveals a number of parallels: the experiences within the extremist groups, especially violent acts against group members, increased their dissonances and provided a trigger to an opening process and ultimately the attempt to opt out of the group.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/19008
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	Social Work
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Diversity and Social Integration (IVGT)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Aktualisierte Bestandesaufnahme und Entwicklungen dschihadistischer Radikalisierung in der Schweiz
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Soziale Arbeit

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Eser Davolio, M., & Villiger, C. (2019). Exploring the pathway from radicalisation to disengagement : comparison of dissonances experienced by a Jihadi foreign fighter and a right-wing extremist. Sozialpolitik.ch, 2019(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.18753/2297-8224-141

Eser Davolio, M. and Villiger, C. (2019) ‘Exploring the pathway from radicalisation to disengagement : comparison of dissonances experienced by a Jihadi foreign fighter and a right-wing extremist’, Sozialpolitik.ch, 2019(2), pp. 1–19. Available at: https://doi.org/10.18753/2297-8224-141.

M. Eser Davolio and C. Villiger, “Exploring the pathway from radicalisation to disengagement : comparison of dissonances experienced by a Jihadi foreign fighter and a right-wing extremist,” Sozialpolitik.ch, vol. 2019, no. 2, pp. 1–19, Dec. 2019, doi: 10.18753/2297-8224-141.

ESER DAVOLIO, Miryam und Carole VILLIGER, 2019. Exploring the pathway from radicalisation to disengagement : comparison of dissonances experienced by a Jihadi foreign fighter and a right-wing extremist. Sozialpolitik.ch. Dezember 2019. Bd. 2019, Nr. 2, S. 1–19. DOI 10.18753/2297-8224-141

Eser Davolio, Miryam, and Carole Villiger. 2019. “Exploring the Pathway from Radicalisation to Disengagement : Comparison of Dissonances Experienced by a Jihadi Foreign Fighter and a Right-Wing Extremist.” Sozialpolitik.ch 2019 (2): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.18753/2297-8224-141.

Eser Davolio, Miryam, and Carole Villiger. “Exploring the Pathway from Radicalisation to Disengagement : Comparison of Dissonances Experienced by a Jihadi Foreign Fighter and a Right-Wing Extremist.” Sozialpolitik.ch, vol. 2019, no. 2, Dec. 2019, pp. 1–19, https://doi.org/10.18753/2297-8224-141.