Campusalam

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A number of factors are said to fuel extremism, including:

- Anger over foreign policy or domestic policies of the government
- A sense of grievance or victimisation from treatment by the media
- Social exclusion and economic marginalisation
- Experience of prejudice and hostility from outside the community: Islamophobia or discrimination
- Generational tensions, leading to a failure of guidance and leadership or conflicts of identity
- Spiritual or religious rootlessness, a lack of education and sound religious teaching and leadership
- Emotional, psychological and social needs unmet by other forms of activity; needs such as self-esteem, respect, a sense of belonging, meaning or purpose in life, serving a higher cause or purpose

Some experienced practitioners within the Muslim community suggest that certain conditions need to be met for a potential towards violent extremism to occur in an individual. They must have a particular understanding of Islam, and the commitment to put it into practice. Further, one looks for contact with a radicalising agent and the propensity to commit non-terrorist criminal or violent acts (perhaps in the form of an existing criminal record). Where all four factors are present to a heightened degree, the vulnerability of that person to recruitment is increased.

The process by which people’s beliefs and behaviour are altered is clearly complex and involves a number of factors. But a starting point to understand it is:

Recruitment on campus happens principally through interpersonal contact (even if aided by recorded media),
located predominantly in extra-mural events
and using Islamic teachings as its medium.

This suggests how best to create an effective strategy to empower students and staff not to be exploited or manipulated. Attention should be focused positively on meeting needs of the university community in three areas above all:

- Increasing awareness and improving skills in social contacts
- Encouraging good management of extra-curricular events on campus
- Supporting a reliable and sound understanding of Islamic teachings

Campusalam provides substantial material to support you in each of these three areas.

Social contact and extremism
Counter-terrorist practitioners caution that recruiters to violent extremism have become increasingly sophisticated in their ‘talent-spotting’, selection, grooming and recruitment of vulnerable individuals. A ‘talent-spotting’ process often takes place in which individuals identify potential recruits at events on the campus. An extended period of contact may ensue; ‘vetting’ and ‘screening’ take place. An unusual degree of interest may be shown in the targeted person’s background. The targeted person may be invited to attend other groups or events off campus.

Extra-curricular events
There are several reasons why extra-curricular events are more susceptible to attendance by individuals seeking potentially ‘radical’ Muslims - whether those individuals are ‘terrorist recruiters’ or the media in search of a scandalous story!

- Oversight and control. Classes and other formal events are usually under the control and of staff members, and university policies and regulations can be applied. The control over conduct and activity within more casual events is more congenial to those with ulterior motives.
- Access. It is more difficult to gain access to areas or gatherings which are only open to enrolled students.
- Talent-spotting. It is difficult to ‘judge the form’ of a potential recruit or contact in the back row of a sociology lecture.