Social Movement De-Radicalisation and the Decline of Terrorism ─ The Morphogenesis of the Irish Republican Movement

The book provides an explanation of how movements which use terrorism decline by drawing on social movement theories, using the case of Irish Republicanism as an example which can be applied to other movements.

Given the focus of the book on the social level, a number of inter-related themes are touched upon. The first of which is the debate on whether disengagement or de-radicalisation are necessary to bring about a durable end to terrorism. Differently from other books, it is argued here that changing attitudes toward behaviour, rather than changing ideology, can constitute a form of de-radicalisation. It also shows how ideologies and social norms which might make attitudes toward terrorism seem appealing can be challenged in the long-term. Fundamental to this argument is that the disengagement of groups such as the Provisional IRA does not need to involve them renouncing support for violence totally as long as the disengagement process occurs at the societal level too. De-radicalisation of former combatants is important for the decline of movements as this can set norms against the next generation becoming involved in terrorism. One section of the book discusses how former combatants have sought to discourage young people from participating in armed violence by de-legitimising and de-glamourising it, and how this battle for the next generation is crucial for de-radicalising terrorist movements. Another section outlines the role which former combatants have played in preventing terrorism and political violence at the community level, and how the development of networks in Belfast helped to encourage further disengagement.

The fundamental aim of the book is to provide theoretical and conceptual insights into how terrorism can not only come to an end, but can be prevented from emerging to be a significant threat again within a society. It shows how ending campaigns of terrorism are not solely the role of the government, but for a wide range of actors in society.

This book will be of much interest to students of terrorism and political violence, social movement theory, British and Irish Politics, war and conflict studies, security studies and IR in general.