THEORIZING A NEW SECURITY MODEL OF RADICALIZATION: THE CONICAL MODEL

Abstract

The words radical and radicalization have been used frequently since 2004 after the Madrid and London bombings. In reality, the term ‘radical’ predates to the eighteenth century when it was used in a different context. The current meanings of the terms ‘radical’ and ‘radicalization’ make them distinct categories of analysis from related but different concepts of terrorism and extremism. The current paper is an attempt to explain the origin and evolution of the concept of radicalization to date, delineate the difficulties in theorizing its universal definition, signify its precursors and causes, highlight a few models used for objectively measuring its nature and extent, and finally, to describe and explain a new security model namely The Conical Model of Causal Factors and Behavioural Cues of Radicalization. The proposed model of radicalization is multidimensional in approach. It gives insight into the causes and manifest behaviour associated with radicalization. The model is far- reaching in extent and valid for future practical application in the field of security studies. The Conical Model is a theoretical model with great practical potential. It fills the existing research gap as it holistically explains the process of becoming radicalized, depicts the individual after radicalization and also distinguishes between violent radicalism and non- violent radicalism.