International Conference On Terrorist Rehabilitation

PANEL DISCUSSION VII
Session II
The Radicalization and De-Radicalization Index
Professor Arie Kruglanski, START, University of Maryland,
U.S.A., addressed the notion on the concept of deradicalization
and psychological process as a way to
measure radicalization. The two are interconnected because
the measurement of the outcome in the psychological
process depends on understanding the radicalization
process that has taken place. De-radicalization is the
abandonment of ideological elements that justify violence
and terrorism. It has various degrees for each case on
how a person has been radicalized. Professor Kruglanski
stressed the importance of determining the dimension of
de-radicalization in each degree under certain conditions
if one wants to complete the ideological makeover. The
de-radicalization dimensions will include the ability to
respond to challenges and questions from adversaries.
Professor Kruglanski said that the operational and strategic
levels in the struggle against terrorism have succeeded
in thwarting the operational capability of terrorists. He
emphasized, however, that the ideological aspects as
part of motivation for terrorists in launching attacks have
also become important and that the psychological aspect
marks the distinction between capability and motivation
of militants.
Professor Kruglanski went on to say that the
acknowledgement of the importance of ideology has
facilitated the rise of several programmes in Muslims
nations, including what is called de-radicalization
programmes. Although it has been criticized for being
passive, Professor Kruglanski said that the programmes
have succeeded in releasing several suspected militants
and terrorists. For instance, in Yemen, around 364 prisoners
have been released and there have been success in
convincing several former militants to work as informants.
Professor Kruglanski said that the next question would be
to explore the effectiveness of these programmes. He said
that there is no specific theoretically grounded empirical
research that would identify the indicators of success,
and the impact and differences of the success. Professor
Kruglanski then spoke about the ongoing research that
he is conducting with fellow University of Maryland
Professor Michele Gelfand. In that research they used
psychological basics to examine the success indicators in
de-radicalization processes as part of counter-terrorism.
The research proposed the use of the Longitudinal Quasi
Experiment based on the before-and-after control group
design. The research is conducted through in-depth
interviews with detainees’ leaders and informed by
structured interviews of leading representatives of deradicalization
programmes.
In his research, Professor Kruglanski defined ideology as a
potentially actionable belief system. Ideology is important
because it identifies a goal and a means. It is only by
the conjunction of motivational factors and ideological
legitimization that terrorism is likely to exist. Thus, Professor
Kruglanski said that in terrorist ideology, the goal is defined
as the removal of grievances and terrorism is used for the
removal of the identified culprits of grievances.
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THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TERRORIST REHABILITATION