The Sociology of Violent Extremism: Theoretical and Sociological Approaches

Since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001, the terrorism literature has expanded into prevention and prediction of evolving threats. Earlier research often lacked academic rigor and empirical depth, and some newer research centered on recent attacks, ideological waves, and exists in isolation from related research in violent terrorism. Criminology, psychology, sociology, social psychology, and communications theory all offer valuable contributions, though sociological theory is still underused in terrorism studies.

The Sociology of Violent Extremism highlights the importance of a sociological approach to understanding violent extremism. It promotes established theoretical frameworks as pathways to deeper insights into the social dynamics of these phenomena. This book features interdisciplinary case studies and theoretical developments, showing the value of sociological perspectives in addressing current issues in violent extremism. The book aims to provide researchers with a theoretical ＂toolbox＂ that can be deployed in their own work, encouraging the use of sociological theories to improve the understanding of violent extremism and develop effective countermeasures. It emphasizes viewing violent extremism as a result of complex social processes embedded in societal structures.

Suraj Lakhani is an academic at the University of Sussex. Alongside this, he holds the roles of Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, Research Fellow at VOX-Pol, and Ambassador for Women in Games. Suraj is also part of: the Steering Board of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN), the Leadership Team at VOX-Pol; the Christchurch Call New Technologies Working Group; the Gaming Community of Practice Working Group at the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), the European Working Group on Radicalization, Extremism, and Terrorism at the European Society of Criminology; and the UK Home Office’s Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) Research Network. His research interests include video-gaming and violent extremism, violent extremism and the internet, radicalisation, and counter-terrorism policy. He has published numerous peer reviewed journal articles in internationally recognised academic publications, reports for international organisations such as the European Commission, and has several book chapters in edited collections.

Amarnath Amarasingam is an Associate Professor in the School of Religion, and is cross-appointed to the Department of Political Studies, at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. He works in the areas of social/extremist movements, radicalization and terrorism, conspiracy theories, online communities, diaspora politics, post-war reconstruction, and the sociology of religion. He is the author of Pain, Pride, and Politics: Sri Lankan Tamil Activism in Canada, and the co-editor of Stress Tested: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Canadian National Security and Sri Lanka: The Struggle for Peace in the Aftermath of War. He has also published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, has presented papers at over 100 national and international conferences, and has written for The New York Times, TheWashington Post, Politico, The Atlantic, and Foreign Affairs. He has been interviewed on CNN, PBS Newshour, CBC, BBC, and a variety of other media outlets.