Abstract
The concepts of radicalisation and de-radicalisation are primarily defined by the assumption they make that there is a causal relationship between ideas and action. However, the causal role of ideas in informing behaviour has been strongly contested and has thus far eluded and undermined radicalisation and de-radicalisation conceptually and practically. The following article provides a theoretical basis for identifying the causal relationship between ideas and action through Margaret Archer’s critical realist ontology. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Northern Ireland, the article identifies processes of ideational causal reproduction and morphogenesis in the Provisional Irish Republican Army’s thinking on armed struggle during its transition away from armed violence. It argues that the adoption of the Armalite and Ballot Box strategy in the 1980s introduced a contradiction in the movement’s ideology and that the movement was pressured to address this contradiction through three corrective cycles throughout the peace-process, subsequently softening its position on armed struggle.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 513-528 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Journal of Critical Realism |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 1 Oct 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Oct 2019 |
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The causal role of ideology and Cultural Systems in radicalisation and de-radicalisation. / Clubb, Gordon; McDaid, Shaun.
In: Journal of Critical Realism, Vol. 18, No. 5, 20.10.2019, p. 513-528.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - The causal role of ideology and Cultural Systems in radicalisation and de-radicalisation
AU - Clubb, Gordon
AU - McDaid, Shaun
PY - 2019/10/20
Y1 - 2019/10/20
N2 - The concepts of radicalisation and de-radicalisation are primarily defined by the assumption they make that there is a causal relationship between ideas and action. However, the causal role of ideas in informing behaviour has been strongly contested and has thus far eluded and undermined radicalisation and de-radicalisation conceptually and practically. The following article provides a theoretical basis for identifying the causal relationship between ideas and action through Margaret Archer’s critical realist ontology. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Northern Ireland, the article identifies processes of ideational causal reproduction and morphogenesis in the Provisional Irish Republican Army’s thinking on armed struggle during its transition away from armed violence. It argues that the adoption of the Armalite and Ballot Box strategy in the 1980s introduced a contradiction in the movement’s ideology and that the movement was pressured to address this contradiction through three corrective cycles throughout the peace-process, subsequently softening its position on armed struggle.
AB - The concepts of radicalisation and de-radicalisation are primarily defined by the assumption they make that there is a causal relationship between ideas and action. However, the causal role of ideas in informing behaviour has been strongly contested and has thus far eluded and undermined radicalisation and de-radicalisation conceptually and practically. The following article provides a theoretical basis for identifying the causal relationship between ideas and action through Margaret Archer’s critical realist ontology. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Northern Ireland, the article identifies processes of ideational causal reproduction and morphogenesis in the Provisional Irish Republican Army’s thinking on armed struggle during its transition away from armed violence. It argues that the adoption of the Armalite and Ballot Box strategy in the 1980s introduced a contradiction in the movement’s ideology and that the movement was pressured to address this contradiction through three corrective cycles throughout the peace-process, subsequently softening its position on armed struggle.
KW - Radicalisation
KW - de-radicalisation
KW - terrorism
KW - ideology
KW - causality
KW - Archer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074027320&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14767430.2019.1667655
DO - 10.1080/14767430.2019.1667655
M3 - Article
VL - 18
SP - 513
EP - 528
JO - Journal of Critical Realism
JF - Journal of Critical Realism
SN - 1476-7430
IS - 5
ER -