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Homegrown terrorism and transformative learning: an interdisciplinary approach to understanding radicalization
Place of publication | Year of publication | Collation: 
United Kingdom | 2010 |
Author: 
Alex S. Wilnera & Claire-Jehanne Dobouloz
Region: 
Global

Since 2001, a preponderance of terrorist activity in Europe, North America and Australia has involved radicalized Westerners inspired by Al Qaeda. Described as ‘homegrown terrorism’, perpetrators are citizens and residents born, raised, and educated within the countries they attack. While most scholars and policy-makers agree that radicalization plays a central role in persuading Westerners to embrace terrorism, little research properly investigates the internal and cognitive processes inherent to radicalization. Transformative learning theory, developed from the sciences in education, health and rehabilitation, provides an unconventional and interdisciplinary way to understand the radicalization process. The theory suggests that sustained behavioural change can occur when critical reflection and the development of novel personal belief systems are provoked by specific triggering factors. 

Resource Type: 
Research papers / journal articles
Theme: 
Civic / Citizenship / Democracy
Preventing violent extremism / genocide
Transformative initiatives / Transformative pedagogies
Level of education: 
Lifelong learning
Other
Keywords: 
preventing violent extremism
educational policy
teacher education
learning to live together