Hold Your Friends Close

Countering Radicalization in Britain and America
Erscheinungsjahr 2022
ISBN: 978-0-19-092032-6
Verlag: Oxford University Press

Buch, Englisch, 304 Seiten, Format (B × H): 164 mm x 237 mm, Gewicht: 567 g

When we think of counterterrorism we often think of coercive measures, including expanded policing powers, extraordinary rendition, increased jail sentences, and no-fly lists. Yet, several countries also use surprisingly "soft" methods to deal with the rising problem of homegrown extremism--from debate training and sports competitions to citizenship education and information campaigns. Given the violent aims of homegrown extremists, why do states opt for this softer approach?

In Hold Your Friends Close, Sarah Logan provides the first exploration of counter-radicalization policy and homegrown extremism through a theoretical and historical lens. Logan contends that unlike traditional counterterrorism, counter-radicalization is generally informed by ideals of citizenship and allegiance to the state as a panacea for the violence of homegrown extremism. Because the radicals these policies target are not loyal to their own state, but rather to the idea of a non-state based political or religious community, winning them back to their "home" state is the primary aim of counter-radicalization efforts.

While there are some basic similarities in approach across countries, there are important divergences too. Logan argues that this stems from different ideas about the nature of citizenship and national belonging. To that end, Logan compares the different approaches of the UK and US, showing how they differ in important ways despite a basic focus on solidifying the target subject's allegiance to their home state. Providing the first detailed policy history of counter-radicalization in the US and the UK, as well as a comprehensive overview of counter-radicalization policies globally, Hold Your Friends Close is an essential read for scholars and policymakers who work on terrorism and its sources.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Logan, Sarah

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Nachrichtendienste, Geheimdienste

Über Autor(innen)

Sarah Logan is a lecturer in International Relations at the Australian National University. Her current research focuses on problems of political community in the information age and the impact of the internet on international politics more broadly. Prior to joining academia, Logan was a researcher with Australia's leading foreign intelligence analysis agency. As a result, her academic work is driven by the theoretical concerns of the discipline of International Relations but is also informed by a deep understanding of the challenges of national security policymaking.