Radicalization and Space. Empirical evidence from a multi-perspective study in Germany

• In Event: WG-PLACE 4: Perspectives on Crime and Criminal Behaviour

Abstract

The issue of extremism remains a persistent threat and has been examined from a variety of perspectives, with factors such as poverty, peer pressure, and online interactions often cited as root causes. However, the influence of the physical environment, particularly neighborhoods, has received less attention, despite a long tradition of studying neighborhood effects. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the relationship between neighborhoods and radicalization. Conducted in three German cities, the research employed a multi-method approach that included 60 qualitative interviews, three years of ethnographic observation, and surveys with nearly 2,100 participants in each city. The findings shed light on how neighborhoods contribute to vulnerability to radicalization, the protective role of local nonprofit organizations, and how extremist groups integrate into different spatial contexts.

Authors

• Sebastian Kurtenbach, FH Münster

• Armin Küchler, Bielefeld University/ FH Münster