ABSTRACT
With the understanding that young people most often join violent extremist groups to be part of something, that is, for social rather than ideological reasons, this chapter explores the relationship between youth, radicalisation, and resilience. Young people today face uncertain future employment prospects in an age of inequality, climate emergency, and a pandemic – all factors that may create a conducive environment for radicalisation. Indeed, some level of radicalisation is no doubt a healthy response to such existential threats, depending on its orientation and articulation. Most young people who are recruited by terrorist organisations are led to believe they are mobilising for a ‘just cause’ that seeks to uphold human dignity. Socio-ecological studies of resilience understand resilience to be multisystemic and intersectional rather than simply up to the individual. These approaches to resilience help us to appreciate that youth resilience to violence and extremism is deeply contingent upon the extent to which societal structures can provide sufficient resources, narratives, and opportunities to support the needs and build on the strengths of young people. Drawing on relevant case studies, this chapter explores pathways of pro-social and maladaptive radicalisation/resilience among youth, including the mobilisation of alternative narratives as radical pro-social approaches to addressing, rather than countering, violent extremism.
