The Radical's Journey: How German Neo-Nazis Voyaged to the Edge and Back

by Arie W. Kruglanski, David Webber, Daniel Koehler

Overview

This volume offers a crucial examination of right-wing extremism, supported by detailed empirical analyses of right-wing militants' experiences within and outside their organizations. The authors delve deeply into the motivations that prompt initial membership in these groups, the elements that make membership appealing, and the factors that ultimately cause members to leave. Interpreting the present empirical data within their psychological theory of radicalization, the authors determine the commonalities and differences between instances of radicalization and derive policy-relevant implications to combat right-wing extremism. In a turbulent global environment where this strain of extremist ideology has gained more mainstream popularity, this book is a critical and timely addition to scholarship on radicalization by leading experts in the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190851095
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2019
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Arie W. Kruglanski is Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland. He is the recipient of several awards including the National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Award, the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the Society of Experimental Social Psychology, and the Donald Campbell Award for Outstanding Contributions to Social Psychology from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. He is Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society, and was a co-founder and presently is a senior investigator at the National Center for the Study of Terrorism and the Response to Terrorism, START. His research interests are in the domains of human judgment and decision making, the motivation-cognition interface, group and intergroup processes, the psychology of human goals, and the social psychological aspects of terrorism.

David Webber is Assistant Professor at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. His research examines the social psychological factors involved in the radicalization and deradicalization processes, and he has worked in the field on CVE program assessment, and the training of CVE practitioners within prisons.

Daniel Koehler is co-founder of the first peer reviewed open access journal on deradicalization, JD Journal for Deradicalization, which he created together with the German Institute on Radicalization and De-Radicalization Studies (GIRDS). His work on terrorism, radicalization, and deradicalization is regularly covered by leading international news outlets such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, Rolling Stone Magazine, the Associated Press, and the London Sunday Times. He is also a Fellow of George Washington University's Program on Extremism at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security and a member of the Editorial Board of the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism in The Hague.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Right-Wing Extremism in Germany
Chapter 3. Deradicalization in Germany
Chapter 4. The N Trilogy
Chapter 5. The Interviews
Chapter 6. Entry into the Extreme Right
Chapter 7. Inside the Extreme Right
Chapter 8. Leaving the Extreme Right
Chapter 9. Leaving the Movement and Life in the Aft
Chapter 10. Epilogue
Index

Editorial Reviews

"A timely, highly interesting contribution to the literature on the rise of right-wing extremism. Grounded in empirical data, especially interviews with former and current radicals, the book offers a compelling analysis of why and how individuals are attracted to right-wing extremism, the ways in which participation in the extremist milieu can satisfy individuals' needs, the factors that drive many to abandon their adherence to the far-right community, and the difficulties of separating from it." — W. Smaldone, Willamette University, Choice

"This is the first systematic study of the 'lifecycle' of German Neo-Nazis, based on extensive interviews with former and current far-right extremists. The way that Kruglanski and his team bring together cutting-edge theory, a deep understanding of the roots of contemporary German far-right extremism, and empirical data is unparalleled. If you read only one book on the German far-right in English, make it this one!"

— Peter Neumann, founding director, International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, King's College London

"Insightful, timely, and written with authority, The Radical's Journey is filled with rare insights into the psychology behind today's rise of White Nationalism that put it into perspective."

— Christian Picciolini, former extremist and author of White American Youth

"This book sets the new standard for evidence-based terrorism research! Based on interviews with former Neo-Nazis, it shows how they joined, stayed, and eventually left this movement. A must read for all people interested in radical movements!"

— Marc Sageman, author of Turning to Political Violence, Understanding Terror Networks, and Leaderless Jihad

"An important volume for policymakers and practitioners. Based on semi-structured interviews with 43 former German right-wing extremists, this book offers comprehensive insight into the three phases of radicalization, extremist activities, and the disengagement of German right-wing extremists. We now have an in-depth psychological analysis of the extremist's journey into extremism and back to mainstream society."

— Preben Bertelsen, Professor of Societal and Personality Psychology, Aarhus University

"In this book, Kruglanski, Webber, and Koehler once again show a depth of knowledge and sensitivity to the psychology of violent extremism. The book offers a new perspective on radicalization and deradicalization, presenting a solid theoretical model with real life story illustrations of German formerNeo-Nazis. A topic that is taboo for many is broken down into terms of basic human needs, motives, and relations, making it approachable and laying the foundations of effective prevention and intervention programs. A must-read for researchers, practitioners, teachers, social workers, and for anyone searching for insights on how to help find a way out of violence and hate."

— Robert Örell, Director, Exit Sweden, and co-chair, RAN Exit, the EU Commission

From the Publisher