Radicalization is a process that describes how people gradually turn to positions that are understood by society as abnormal, extreme - radical. The process of radicalization is caused and influenced by a number of factors on an individual, group-specific or societal level.
At the CISS, radicalization is therefore understood as a multifactorial phenomenon that can be researched from different perspectives:
The predominantly political science analysis of radicalization processes at the CISS asks, on the one hand, what role gender concepts (of femininity and masculinity) play in the process of turning to Islamist and right-wing extremist ideologies. On the other hand, we analyse the significance of antifeminism in Islamist and right-wing extremist radicalization processes - and how antifeminism builds a bridge between these two anti-modern ideologies.
Contact: PD Dr. Eva Herschinger
Criminology looks at the process of radicalization by focusing on possible individual, structural and social causes of criminal behavior. Some criminological approaches used to explain radicalization processes are rational choice theory, strain theory and the concept of social construction. These theories also provide a basis for the development of prevention strategies.
Contact: Antonia Krabbe M.A.
In the area of prevention of radicalization, the CISS works together with practitioners in order to feed research findings into practice, but also to develop them with practitioners and thus achieve the greatest possible applicability. See also under Projects of the Research Unit on Gender and Radicalization.
Contact: PD Dr. Eva Herschinger