Converging Patterns in Pathways in and out of Violent Extremism Insights from Former Canadian Right-Wing Extremists

In recent years, research on pathways in and out of violent extremism has grown at a staggering rate. Yet much of what is known about these oftentimes “mysterious” processes does not necessarily shed light on the specific aspects of right-wing extremism, and especially not from a Canadian perspectiv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPerspectives on terrorism (Lowell) Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 73 - 89
Main Authors Bérubé, Maxime, Scrivens, Ryan, Venkatesh, Vivek, Gaudette, Tiana
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Terrorism Research Initiative 01.12.2019
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Summary:In recent years, research on pathways in and out of violent extremism has grown at a staggering rate. Yet much of what is known about these oftentimes “mysterious” processes does not necessarily shed light on the specific aspects of right-wing extremism, and especially not from a Canadian perspective. In an effort to bridge this gap, we use a life-course criminology approach to draw from the voices of former extremists to gain insights into their respective trajectories in and out of violent extremism. A total of 10 life course interviews were conducted with former Canadian members of violent right-wing extremist groups. Analyses of these data suggest that even if there is no single trajectory in and out of violent extremism, there are still converging patterns such as the attraction for common pull factors and a profound dedication to the right-wing cause. Our analyses also demonstrate that the emotional toll of leaving the movement is often characterized by exhaustion, isolation and regrets.
ISSN:2334-3745