What is it about?
Social Identity Theory explains how people form group identities and how these identities shape their thoughts and actions. This paper explores how researchers have used this theory to better understand radicalization—the process that can lead people to join extremist or violent groups. By examining past studies, the paper highlights important trends, gaps in knowledge, and opportunities for future research.
Featured Image
Photo by Pawel Janiak on Unsplash
Why is it important?
One key finding is that researchers have focused on nine major themes since the 1970s, such as how group identities relate to terrorism, political extremism (both right and left-wing), immigration, and social mobilization. Another finding shows that while the United States has led much of this research, collaboration with scholars worldwide has been crucial for expanding the field. Lastly, emerging areas like the role of social media, the unique experiences of women and young people in radicalization, and effective ways to prevent it are gaining attention. Radicalization and violent extremism are intricate challenges that benefit from a collaborative and multidisciplinary perspective. By incorporating insights from social psychology, international relations, political science, religion, sociology, and even sports science, we can better understand these issues. However, since so many fields contribute to this research, it is crucial to bring together what we have learned to spot patterns, trends, and where we might need to dig deeper – the ultimate goal of this paper. This research helps map out what we know about radicalization and offers guidance for policymakers and practitioners working to create safer communities.
Perspectives
Writing this paper was a deeply rewarding experience, not just as a researcher but also as someone passionate about fostering global collaboration and inclusivity. I aimed to create a resource that is both academically valuable and practical for other academics, social science students and practitioners in the field of radicalization prevention. Specifically for students, this work offers a comprehensive map of the field, pointing to key documents, researchers, universities, and countries actively contributing to radicalization studies—potentially serving as a guide for choosing graduate programs or collaborations. I hope it helps! As someone involved in international research groups, I found it especially fulfilling to highlight the critical role of global teamwork in addressing complex challenges like radicalization. This process underscored for me how essential diverse perspectives are in crafting more effective, inclusive solutions to this issue. I hope this paper not only informs but also inspires others to seek cross-disciplinary and international partnerships in their work.
Michelle Blaya Burgo
Claremont Graduate University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A bibliometric analysis of social identity theory in radicalization research., Peace and Conflict Journal of Peace Psychology, December 2024, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/pac0000779.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
