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                            Library & Multimedia
 Loners, Colleagues, or Peers? Assessing the Social Organization of Radicalization
NCJ Number
              304913
Journal

*American Journal of Criminal Justice* Volume: 44 Dated: 2019 Pages: 83-105
Author(s)
          Thomas J. Holt;
                        Joshua D. Freilich;
                        Steven M. Chermak;
                        Colleen Mills;
                        Jason Silva
Date Published

2019
Length
              22 pages
Annotation
              This study explores the utility of a sociological model of social organization developed by Best and Luckenbill (1994) to classify the radicalization processes of terrorists (i.e., extremist perpetrators who engaged in ideologically motivated acts of violence) who are usually categorized as loner or lone wolf attackers.
Abstract
              There are several organizational frameworks used to define or classify violent acts performed by individuals who may or may not have ties to extremist groups, but these studies largely ignore the role of social relationships in radicalization and the extent to which they inform our knowledge of terror. To address this gap, we apply the Best and Luckenbill model of social organization using a qualitative analysis of three case studies of four lone actor or small cell terrorists. The findings demonstrate lone actors are not always true loners in the context of radicalization, and the ways that the Internet and social ties foster the radicalization processes of terror. (Publisher Abstract Provided)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2014-ZA-BX-0004


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)


  
  
        
  Award
        An Assessment of Extremist Groups Use of Web Forums, Social Media, and Technology to Enculturate and Radicalize Individuals to Violence
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2019
    
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