The Concept of Extremism: Causes and Consequences

the international and political journal

Authors

  • Assistant lecturer Dr. Dima Abdullah

Keywords:

Concept of Extremism, Causes of Extremism, Results, Terrorism, Violence, Arab Societies.

Abstract

This research seeks to identify the nature of extremism in its various forms (religious, political, and social), its results, and ways to confront it. To this end, we adopted the descriptive inductive approach, and the study concluded with a set of conclusions.

Extremism as a psychological and social phenomenon is a very dangerous problem as it is linked to personality tension, disorder, and imbalance, and to rejection and rebellion against everything that exists in society. The spread of this phenomenon gives it more danger, as it affects youth, who are considered one of the most important components of the renaissance and progress of society. Following a method of arbitrariness and oppression with children makes them revolt against that authority, and even against all symbols of other authorities in society, and extremist aggressive tendencies are launched as an expression of their discontent and rejection of that oppression and domination. Accordingly, extremism results from the individual's feeling of frustration and what it includes of a feeling of tension and distress due to the failure to satisfy his various psychological needs. As an explanation for this, incorrect thinking is one of the most important factors that contribute to the emergence of extremist behavior, which causes its owner severe psychological disturbances and conflicts.

The identity crisis that young people suffer from also poses a real danger, as it is one of the factors that contribute to the emergence of extremism. Accordingly, extremism stems from several influences, including psychological, environmental, educational, political, and economic, which have contributed at the procedural level to the growth of the phenomenon of extremism. This calls for concerted efforts at the local level through political and intellectual work aimed at restricting extremism and its sources, in addition to legal frameworks capable of containing and deterring it in all its forms.

 

Additional Files

Published

2025-04-04

How to Cite

أ.م.د. ديمة عبدالله أحمد. (2025). The Concept of Extremism: Causes and Consequences: the international and political journal . The International and Political Journal, 61, 129–153. Retrieved from https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/387