TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding violent extremism
T2 - Risk and protective factors in a jihadi male detainee population in the Netherlands
AU - Thijssen, Gaby
AU - Masthoff, Erik
AU - Sijtsema, Jelle
AU - Bogaerts, Stefan
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - In recent years, the number of detainees confined for terrorism-related offenses has increased worldwide and across Europe. To understand the factors related to terrorism and its underlying motives, this study provides insights into violent extremism by assessing risk- and protective factors based on the Violent Extremism Risk Assessment-2R (VERA-2R) in 121 male jihadist residents in Dutch terrorism wings. Retrospective analyses of primary source data showed that one-third of the target group is strongly connected to ideologies justifying violence. The social context of the study sample was also related to violent extremism, whereas support from family members emerged as the most often observed protective factor. The current findings suggest that including meaningful risk and protective factors of detained male jihadists may benefit risk management strategies in prevention, intervention, and policy practices related to violent extremism.
AB - In recent years, the number of detainees confined for terrorism-related offenses has increased worldwide and across Europe. To understand the factors related to terrorism and its underlying motives, this study provides insights into violent extremism by assessing risk- and protective factors based on the Violent Extremism Risk Assessment-2R (VERA-2R) in 121 male jihadist residents in Dutch terrorism wings. Retrospective analyses of primary source data showed that one-third of the target group is strongly connected to ideologies justifying violence. The social context of the study sample was also related to violent extremism, whereas support from family members emerged as the most often observed protective factor. The current findings suggest that including meaningful risk and protective factors of detained male jihadists may benefit risk management strategies in prevention, intervention, and policy practices related to violent extremism.
KW - VERA-2R
KW - Violent extremism
KW - risk and protective factors
KW - terrorism wings
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144260623&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/14773708221132887
DO - 10.1177/14773708221132887
M3 - Article
SN - 1477-3708
VL - 20
SP - 973
EP - 995
JO - European Journal of Criminology
JF - European Journal of Criminology
IS - 3
ER -