Countering radicalization in the West: Defining Christian radicalization and positioning it in the current British prevention scheme

Abstract

This thesis makes a notable contribution to the field of Christian radicalization in Europe, and in the United Kingdom, in particular. The first thematic thread engages the readership with an elaborate qualitative analysis of the currently available definitions and models of radicalization in intergovernmental policy documents and secondary academic sources. Although radicalization was portrayed as a generic concept, it has been treated as an extension of the War on Terror in Western domestic arenas, specifically against Muslim citizens. The second thematic thread exposes that the ample arsenal of prevention strategies countering radicalization in Western contexts was based on Islamic radicalization and thus was somehow deficient in capturing other types of deviance. Moreover, a proposition of a new agent-centered typological model of prevention is made. For the third thematic thread, the author provides fresh insights on the early onset of Christian radicalization, in general, and provides examples from the United Kingdom where possible. Moreover, there is a wholesome presentation of the modern reiteration of Christian radicalization in the United Kingdom. One case study, the Christian far-right political party Britain First, was carefully reviewed through critical analysis of their official web page, including audiovisual materials. The exploration revealed overlapping ideas with the far-right alongside nationalistic sentiments and the superficial adoption of Christian narratives in addition to the flirtation with religious insignia. The fourth thematic thread focuses on the capability of the existing British prevention landscape to detect Christian radicalization. The last part of the thesis argues that the main obstacle to identifying and policing this type of extremism is the cultural proximity between the frontline practitioners entrusted with the task and Christian radicals.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Islamic Studies