Risk and Protective Factors for Islamist and Right-wing Extremist Attitudes Among Adolescents: Recent Evidence From Germany

• In Event: EXTR6 Right-wing and jihadist extremist attitudes; comparative approaches

Abstract

Radicalization, as the process of how people become extremists, often starts early in life. Risk and protective factors for extremism are well researched, but the question remains as to what extent the younger generation reproduces extremist attitudes and what factors play a role, particularly during adolescence. Based on Beelmann's (2020) radicalization model and meta-studies, a large number of potential risk and protective factors were included in the study. The database consists of a sample of 7,779 seventh-graders from Lower Saxony, Germany and was conducted by the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony in 2022. This random sample was used to examine extremist attitudes as well as risk and protective factors for both Islamist and right-wing extremist attitudes. Preliminary results indicate that, among Muslims, parents’ receipt of social assistance, feeling marginalized as a Muslim, authoritarianism, and a lack of self-esteem are related to Islamist attitudes. For right-wing attitudes, the strongest relationship is found for authoritarianism, lack of law-abidingness and poor school grades.

Authors

• Carl Philipp Schröder, Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony

• Yvonne Krieg, Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony

• Leonie Dreißigacker, Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony