Panel 4B: Pathways
Chair: Dr Joe Whittaker (Swansea University)
The role of on-and offline radicalization and social media use in Cameroon Gazbiah Sans (PVE Works)
Abstract: Cameroon has experienced terrorism at the hands of Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa and al-Shabaab. This presentation explores observed trends in Cameroon that contribute to online and offline radicalization. It uses practical solutions to address radicalization to PVE.
Pathways to Violent Extremism: Perspectives from the United Kingdom and Nigeria Dr Irekpitan Okukpon (University of Bradford)
Abstract: Violent extremism (VE) in sub-Saharan Africa has been the subject of various debates, counter-insurgency measures and human rights concerns in the past two decades. In Nigeria, the activities of the Boko Haram sect has exacerbated insecurity and underdevelopment, and brought to the fore the susceptibility of young persons to recruitment by the sect. This recruitment is aggravated by various social and economic factors, which make young people particularly vulnerable to recruitment into VE rather than being disengaged. Against this backdrop, VE in the UK is widely promoted by the Islamic State (ISIL), which poses one of the country’s biggest security threats. ISIL activities have extended to online recruitment and radicalisation, a phenomenon which is fundamentally different from existing factors in Nigeria. This paper examines the evolution of violent extremism – online and offline, in both countries, with a view to establishing a dichotomy in the VE ideology in both jurisdictions. The paper discusses the impact of socio-economic, cultural and political factors as key drivers for the propagation of online VE in both jurisdictions, including the effectiveness of existing policy instruments and strategies to deter the recruitment of young persons to VE through online social media platforms. The paper concludes by setting out effective strategies and recommendations for the disengagement of young persons from VE in both jurisdictions. Down the Rabbit hole: Understanding the Older Adult Terrorist Richelle Scott (Manchester Metropolitan University) Dr Rachel Worthington (Manchester Metropolitan University & University of Central Lancashire) Abstract: The use of online platforms may be a contributing factor to the rise in lone actor attacks (Weimann, 2012) encouraging ideological and extremist debate, promoting the access of radicalising materials, and aiding in the planning of attacks (Ellis et al., 2016; Zemen et al., 2017; Kenyon et al., 2021; Mølmen and Ravndal, 2023). Media coverage may also shape how people perceive such acts and subsequent sympathy for violent extremism (Norris et al., 2004). However, much of the research to date explores internet usage in young people with little known about the nature and function of use of social media and online platforms to facilitate lone actor terrorism in older adults. 30 ABC (antecedent, behaviour, and consequences) models were formulated to explain 10 older adult terrorist (60 years old and older), 10 adults (26-59 years old) and 10 young adult (18-25 years old) terrorist behaviours. Ways in which internet usage was used to access and share materials will be discussed across the different age groups in terms of social isolation, ideology, length of planning, how they related to other attackers and the risk of death for the older adults in this sample. The role of social media in these attacks will be discussed alongside recommendations for policy and future research.
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