Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1PSIR565Political Radicalization and Violent Extremism3+0+03723.12.2025
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Master's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and International Relations (English) (With Thesis)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course aims to have students understand the concepts of political radicalization, violent extremism and deradicalization, the underlying theories to account for the causes of radicalization, and counter-radicalization and integration programs and activities.
Course Content The course begins with the introduction to political radicalization studies. It provides basic conceptual clarifications on radicalization. The radicalization mechanisms and underlying causes will be discussed subsequently. The second part of the course, following the mid-term exam, focuses on counter-radicalization programs and activities. The topic will be expanded through the relevant literature and case studies.
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture
Discussion based lecture
Case study
Small group work
Group work
Activities within a Student Body or Research Project
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Prof.Dr. Cenker Korhan Demir
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Required: Schmid, Alex P. (2013). “Radicalisation, de-radicalisation, counter-radicalisation: A conceptual discussion and literature review,” ICCT Research Paper 97, pp. 5-19. Required: Borum, Randy (2011). “Radicalization into violent extremism: A review of social science theories,” Journal of Strategic Security 4(4), pp. 7-25. Required: Vergani, Matteo, Muhammad Iqbal, Ekin Ilbahar and Greg Barton (2020). “The Three Ps of Radicalization: Push, Pull and Personal. A Systematic Scoping Review of the Scientific Evidence about Radicalization Into Violent Extremism,” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 43(10), pp. 854-885. Required: Webber, David and Arie Kruglanski (2017). “Psychological Factors in Radicalization: A “3 N” Approach,” pp. 33-46, (in.) Gary LaFree and Joshua D. Freilich (ed.), The Handbook of the Criminology of Terrorism (Maryland: Wiley Blackwell). Required: Koehler, Daniel (2017). Understanding Deradicalization (London: Routledge). Recommended: McCauley, Clark, and Sophia Mosk

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
Veri yok

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 15 3 45
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 15 4 60
Assignments 1 30 30
Mid-terms 1 35 35
Final examination 1 40 40
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 7 210

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Recognize basic concepts and types of political radicalization and violent extremism
2 Understand the mechanisms of political radicalization and violent extremism
3 Interpret the underlying causes of political radicalization
4 Explore the political radicalization and violent extremism through cases
5 Recognize basic concepts and current initiatives on counter-radicalization
6 Explore counter-radicalization programs and activities through cases

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction and Course Overview
2 Conceptual discussion on political radicalization and violent extremism Schmid, Alex P. (2013). “Radicalisation, de-radicalisation, counter-radicalisation: A conceptual discussion and literature review,” ICCT Research Paper 97, pp. 5-19. Bartlett, Jamie and Carl Miller (2012). “The Edge of Violence: Towards Telling the Difference Between Violent and Non-Violent Radicalization,” Terrorism and Political Violence 24(1), pp. 1–21.
3 The mechanisms of political radicalization and violent extremism Borum, Randy (2011). “Radicalization into violent extremism: A review of social science theories,” Journal of Strategic Security 4(4), pp. 7-25. Moghaddam F.M. (2005). ‘The Staircase to Terrorism: A Psychological Exploration,’ American Psychologist 60(2), pp. 161-169. McCauley, Clark, and Sophia Moskalenko (2008). “Mechanisms of political radicalization: Pathways toward terrorism,” Terrorism and Political Violence 20(3), pp. 415-433.
4 From political radicalization to violent extremism: Main issues Hafez, Mohammed and Creighton Mullins (2015). “The radicalization puzzle: a theoretical synthesis of empirical approaches to homegrown extremism,” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 38(11), pp. 958-975. Vergani, Matteo, Muhammad Iqbal, Ekin Ilbahar and Greg Barton (2020). “The Three Ps of Radicalization: Push, Pull and Personal. A Systematic Scoping Review of the Scientific Evidence about Radicalization Into Violent Extremism,” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 43(10), pp. 854-885.
5 Psychological factors on political radicalization and violent extremism Borum, Randy. (2014). “Psychological Vulnerabilities and Propensities for Involvement in Violent Extremism,” Behavioral Sciences and the Law 32, pp. 286-305. Webber, David and Arie Kruglanski (2017). “Psychological Factors in Radicalization: A “3 N” Approach,” pp. 33-46, (in.) Gary LaFree and Joshua D. Freilich (ed.), The Handbook of the Criminology of Terrorism (Maryland: Wiley Blackwell).
6 Communication technologies and political radicalization Conway, Maura (2017). “Determining the Role of the Internet in Violent Extremism and Terrorism: Six Suggestions for Progressing Research,” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 40(1), pp. 77-98. Lakhani, Suraj and Susann Wiedlitzka (2022). ““Press F to Pay Respects”: An Empirical Exploration of the Mechanics of Gamification in Relation to the Christchurch Attack,” Terrorism and Political Violence, DOI: 10.1080/09546553.2022.2064746, ss. 1-19. Frissen, Thomas (2021). “Internet, the Great Radicalizer? Exploring Relationships Between Seeking for Online Extremist Materials and Cognitive Radicalization in Young Adults,” Computers in Human Behavior (114), pp.1-13.
7 The cases of political radicalization and violent extremism Wiktorowicz, Quintan (2006). “Anatomy of the Salafi movement,” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 29(3), pp. 207-239. Alonso, Rogelio. (2006). “Individual motivations for joining terrorist organizations: a comparative qualitative study on members of ETA and IRA,” pp. 187-202, (ed.) Jeff Victoroff, Tangled Roots: Social and Psychological Factors in the Genesis of Terrorism (Amsterdam: IOS Press). Bjørgo, Tore and Jacob A. Ravndal (2019). “Extreme-Right Violence and Terrorism: Concepts, Patterns, and Responses,” International Centre for Counter-Terrorism Policy Brief, pp. 1-20.
8 Mid-Term Exam
9 Risk Assessment of Political Radicalization and Violent Extremism Sarma, Kiran M. (2017). “Risk Assessment and the Prevention of Radicalization from Nonviolence Into Terrorism,” American Psychologist 72(3), pp. 278-288. Knudsen, Rita Augestad (2020). “Measuring radicalisation: Risk assessment conceptualisations and practice in England and Wales,” Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression 12(1), pp. 37-54.
10 Social Network Analysis on Risk Assessment Malm, Aili, Nash, Rebecca ve Moghadam, Ramin (2017). “Social Network Analysis and Terrorism,” pp. 221-231, (iç.) Gary LaFree and Joshua D. Freilich (ed.), The Handbook of the Criminology of Terrorism (Maryland: Wiley Blackwell). Lara-Cabrera, Raúl, Antonio González Pardo, Karim Benouaret, Noura Faci, Djamal Benslimane, ve David Camacho (2017). “Measuring the Radicalisation Risk in Social Networks,” IEEE Access 5, pp. 10892-10900
11 Concepts and Theories on counter-radicalization Koehler, Daniel (2020). “Terminology and Definitions,” pp. 11-25. (in.) Stig Jarle Hansen and Stian Lid (eds.), Routledge Handbook of Deradicalisation and Disengagement (London: Routledge). Koehler, Daniel (2017). “Chapter 3: The theory of Radicalization and Deradicalization,” pp.65-94, (in.) Understanding Deradicalization (London: Routledge).
12 Counter-radicalization Programs and Activities Koehler, Daniel (2017). “Chapter 5: Typology and Actors of Deradicalization and Disengagement Programs,” pp.111-144, (in.) Understanding Deradicalization (London: Routledge). Koehler, Daniel (2017). “Chapter 6: Family Counseling as a Special Case of Deradicalization,” pp.145-163, (in.) Understanding Deradicalization (London: Routledge).
13 Disengagement from Violent Groups and Integration to Society Souleimanov, Emil, A. ve Huseyn Aliyev (2014). “Chapter 2: Conceptualizing Pathways to Individual Insurgent (Dis)engagement,” pp. 25-43, (in.) The Individual Disengagement of Avengers, Nationalists, and Jihadists: Why Ex-militants Choose to Abandon Violence in the North Caucasus (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan). Barrelle, Kate (2015). “Pro-integration: disengagement from and life after extremism, Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression,” 7(2), pp. 129-142.
14 Case studies on radicalization process and counter-radicalization programs
15 Case studies on radicalization process and counter-radicalization programs
16 FINAL EXAM

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11
All 3 2 4 2
C1 5 4
C2 4 4 3 2
C3 3 4 2 4
C4 3 3 2 3
C5 3 3 2
C6 2 3 2 4

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant