Online environments and prior criminal activity are the two dominant radicalization pathways

Evidence

Some studies, for instance, posit that online radicalization is becoming the most prevalent pathway to radicalization, with the internet serving as the most common vehicle for radicalization across ideological groups. The internet is not only increasing the reach of radicalization but also appears to be shortening the timeline for radicalization. Traditionally, the radicalization process may take years, but “recent evidence … suggests that online environments may be speeding up radicalization processes, reducing them to several months in many cases.” Another common pathway to radicalization appears to be engaging in criminal activity. A substantial percentage of radicalized individuals in the PIRUS data and in the groups of former radicalized individuals interviewed in other studies engaged in crime prior to radicalization (in PIRUS, a mean of 39 percent across groups). This suggests that crime can serve as a gateway to radicalization—or at least indicate a proclivity for violent behavior. — Ryan Andrew Brown, Todd C. Helmus, Rajeev Ramchand, Alina I. Palimaru, Sarah Weilant, Ashley L. Rhoades, and Liisa Hiatt (RAND Corporation), Violent Extremism in America, 177

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Online environments are compressing radicalization from years to months — Ryan Andrew Brown, Todd C. Helmus, Rajeev Ramchand, Alina I. Palimaru, Sarah Weilant, Ashley L. Rhoades, and Liisa Hiatt (RAND Corporation), Violent Extremism in America:…, 177; Ordinary, otherwise unremarkable people can become radicalized through online research — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 3; Radicalization factors are non-deterministic and heterogeneous across individuals — Ryan Andrew Brown, Todd C. Helmus, Rajeev Ramchand, Alina I. Palimaru, Sarah Weilant, Ashley L. Rhoades, and Liisa Hiatt (RAND Corporation), Violent Extremism in America:…, 226 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Online environments are compressing radicalization from years to months #expands (0.85) — Ryan Andrew Brown, Todd C. Helmus, Rajeev Ramchand, Alina I. Palimaru, Sarah Weilant, Ashley L. Rhoades, and Liisa Hiatt (RAND Corporation), Violent Extremism in America, 177
• Algorithmic-radicalization narratives may overstate causation since most frustrated users stay moderate #complicates (0.85) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 387
• Ordinary, otherwise unremarkable people can become radicalized through online research #expands (0.82) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 3
• Online radicalization recruits people by speaking persuasively to their personal anxieties #expands (0.78) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 384
• Radicalization factors are non-deterministic and heterogeneous across individuals #qualifies (0.75) — Ryan Andrew Brown, Todd C. Helmus, Rajeev Ramchand, Alina I. Palimaru, Sarah Weilant, Ashley L. Rhoades, and Liisa Hiatt (RAND Corporation), Violent Extremism in America, 226
• Internet radicalization recruits people toward suicide martyrdom #exemplifies (0.72)