The sociology of violent extremism : theoretical and sociological approaches / edited by Suraj Lakhani, Amarnath Amarasingam.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lakhani, Suraj, Author.

Contributor:

Amarnath Amarasingam, editor.

Series:

Causes and consequences of terrorism series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Radicalization.

Radicalism.

Extremists.

Political violence.

Terrorism.

Extremists--Psychology.

Social psychology.

Counterculture.

radicalism.

terrorism.

social psychology.

Extreme behavior (Psychology).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 289 pages) : illustrations (chiefly color).

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2025]

Summary:

"The Sociology of Violent Extremism is an essential collection addressing key challenges in studying violent extremism. Since 9/11, terrorism literature has expanded, aiming to understand, prevent, and predict evolving threats. However, early research often lacked academic rigor and empirical depth. As the field has developed, more thorough studies have appeared, but the focus is often reactive, centred on recent attacks and ideological waves, and tends to remain isolated from other disciplines. The urgent need for policy relevance has limited deep theoretical exploration. Despite these challenges, valuable contributions have come from criminology, psychology, sociology, social psychology, and communications theory. Yet, sociological theory is still underused in terrorism studies. The Sociology of Violent Extremism highlights the importance of a sociological approach to understanding violent extremism. It promotes using established theoretical frameworks to gain deeper insights into the social dynamics of these phenomena. This book features interdisciplinary case studies and theoretical developments, showing the value of sociological perspectives in addressing current issues in violent extremism. The book aims to provide researchers with a theoretical "toolbox" that can be deployed in their own work, encouraging the use of sociological theories to improve the understanding of violent extremism and develop effective countermeasures. It emphasizes viewing violent extremism as a result of complex social processes embedded in societal structures"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

An existentialist approach to violent extremism / Maja Touzari Greenwood

What's in the group? Social identity, fused identities, role transitions and exiting violent extremism / Daniel Koehler

Digital games as cultural assets of influence / Rachel Kowert and Alex Newhouse

The role of emotions in the radicalisation process / Mary-Ann Cherry and Sandy Schumann

Undercover : a theoretical framework on women gender passing in pro-Islamic state online spaces / Meili Criezis

Expressed sentiment in online channels : communication and emotion in the Buffalo and Bratislava attacks / Marc-AndreÌ Argentino, Kurt Braddock and Erin Saltman

Microsociology and violent extremism : the 2014 Lindt CafeÌ Siege / Chris Winter

''You think that you'd get laid if it wasn't for advancements in technology'? : a sociological analysis of subordinate masculinity in involuntary celibate communities / Jade Hutchinson, Kenton Bell and Bharath Ganesh

Far-right extremism and the sociology of race and racism / Aaron Winter

Interrogating insurgent ideologies through framing theory : the case of the North Caucasus insurgency / Mark Youngman

The hero with a thousand faces : applying the 'hero's journey' to Jihadist propaganda / Ashton Kingdon and Craig Webber

Using Bourdieu's theoretical toolkit

of habitus, capital and field

to advance understanding of radical milieus / Joel Busher.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on July 23, 2025).

Other Format:

Print version: Sociology of violent extremism.

ISBN:

9780197690161

0197690165

9780197690147

0197690149

9780197690154

0197690157

OCLC:

1518563758

Publisher Number:

CIPO000232535

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license