Defining and illustrating “extremism” using the largest investigation into Islam in prison

Wilkinson, Matthew and Quraishi, Muzammil 2024. Defining and illustrating “extremism” using the largest investigation into Islam in prison. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 47 (1) , pp. 1-35. 10.1080/1057610X.2023.2247620

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Abstract

In the context of a damaging absence of clarity, we define “Islamist Extremism” as: the absolutely divided and antagonistic Worldview of the “Us”-true-Muslim “in-group” who must strive to live in an “Islamic” State versus “Them”-non-Muslim’ and “wrong”-Muslim “out-groups” who are stripped of their human status due to their opposition to “true Islam.” We illustrate this definition of “Extremism” - including showing how Islamist Extremism is different from Mainstream Islam - using fresh empirical data from the largest ever study of Islam and Muslims in prison. We proceed to show how this definition of “Extremism” can be used as the basis for understanding processes of radicalization and de-radicalization in and outside prison. We then extrapolate from the case of Islamist Extremism in prison to suggest a working definition of “Extremism” more generally as: any absolutely divided “Us” versus “Them” Worldview by which a “chosen” in-group strips “condemned” out-groups of their basic human qualities, properties and rights and thereby sets them up for harm.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	History, Archaeology and Religion
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	1057-610X
Funders:	The Dawes Trust
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 September 2023
Date of Acceptance:	21 July 2023
Last Modified:	16 Jan 2024 15:20
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/162213

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