RADICALIZATION BEYOND TERRORISM: A NEW PREVENTIVE APPROACH

This paper provides an overview of the main research findings of the EU-funded project PROPHETS – https://www.prophets-h2020.eu.

In our research we will analyze how the introduction to the virtual world and to new technologies has radically changed social relationships, the way that crimes are committed and, consequently, how they are prevented. Indeed, the introduction of the cyber world changed the way individuals become radicalized, the way criminals commit crimes and how MSs and international organizations changed their legislation for preventing the commission of crimes.  As a consequence, several challenges arise from the different forms of prevention and investigation in the cyber space, which presents a very different environment in comparison to traditional territorial jurisdictions.

Furthermore, the complex interaction of multi-variable factors, which may lead to violence, will be analyzed, building on the understanding that violence is not just the product of one side’s ideology or individual vulnerabilities. Thus, the micro-meso-macro dynamics will be introduced as key factors towards radicalization process.

Finally, the concept of radicalization beyond terrorism will be introduced, highlighting that radicalization can be analyzed beyond terrorism and that new relational paradigms are necessary to address the phenomenon in a comprehensive way.