From Exclusion to Extremism : The Role of Significance Loss and Identity in the Radicalization Process

Sammanfattning: The present thesis aims to examine the causal role of social exclusion within theradicalization process and further to explore moderating and mediating factors. In recent years there has been a move away from trying to understand who is at risk of becoming an extremist, to exploring what makes someone at risk. Feelings of exclusion, discrimination and marginalization have all been linked to participation in extremist activities. Yet to date there continues to be very little empirical data exploring the pathway of exclusion to extremism. This thesis plans to establish a causal link between exclusion and radicalization and explore the moderating and mediating factors that can impact this mechanism.Paper I found that social exclusion triggers a desire for recognition and thisfunctions as a pathway to radicalization. Four experiments were conducted andfound that exclusion was a driver of radical ideology in individuals sensitive torejection. Further, the findings of these studies revealed that this effect wasconsistent across different social and political issues.Paper II revealed that the pathway of social exclusion on radical activism arisesvia shifts in ingroup identity. Specifically, the source of exclusion impacted ingroup identity shifts and in turn activism intentions. An online experiment revealed that exclusion by an outgroup (not ingroup) led to increased participation and this effect was fully mediated by ingroup identity. This finding was replicated using an online survey that operationalized exclusion via a measure of perceived discrimination. This demonstrated perceived discrimination by an outgroup, led to increased ingroup identity and in turn increased engagement. As such this study highlighted the impact of group-based exclusion and how this impacts identity levels and activism engagement.Paper III investigated the link between identity and exclusion one step further byadding need-threat to the mediation pathway. A quasi-experimental study revealed that exclusion led to threatened fundamental needs. This in turn drove individuals to identify with a radical group and be more willing to endorse and participate in extremist actions.The findings of the thesis highlight the vulnerability of individuals experiencingsocial exclusion and discrimination in relation to radicalization risk. Theexplanatory pathways described in the thesis help explain this mechanism and thus provide empirical data that can help shape informed counter-extremism strategies.