Risk Factors for Radicalization and Recruitment to Terrorism in Western Countries: A Systematic Review

• In Event: Evidence-Based Crime Policy II

Abstract

In recent years, policy makers have increasingly taken a risk factor approach to developing counter violent extremism (CVE) policies and interventions. It has become accepted wisdom that by engaging risk factors believed to increase propensity for radicalization and recruitment to terrorism, CVE will be more effective. One part of this approach has been the development of a number of risk assessment tools and risk factor sets upon which policies and interventions are being constructed. However, it has been pointed out in the literature that the risk factors that make up these tools and guide CVE are often not evidence-based. One of the reasons for this is due to a large body of conflicting evidence with regards to what are the social, economic, and psychological risk factors that lead to an increased propensity for radicalization and recruitment and which factors are most significant. This systematic review contributes to addressing this important gap in the literature by synthesizing the evidence relating to the social, economic, and psychological risk factors that lead to radicalization and recruitment to terrorism in middle and high-income countries and, through meta-analysis, attempts to determine which risk factors are the most significant and important for CVE development.

Authors

• Yael Litmanovitz, Hebrew University

• Badi Hasisi, Hebrew University

• David Weisburd, Hebrew University and George Mason University

• Michael Wolfowicz, Hebrew University