Networked radicalisation: An exploration of network social dynamics to illuminate radicalisation processes.

Prof. David Bright¹, Prof Chad  Whelan, Dr Johan Koskinen, Dr David Kernot, Mr Callum Jones, Dr Giovanni Sadewo, Mr Shandon Harris-Hogan

¹Deakin University
²Deakin University
³University of Melbourne
⁴Defence Science Technology Group
⁵University of Melbourne
⁶Swinburne University
⁷Victoria University

We report results of a longitudinal statistical analysis of network data on individuals in a sample of radicalised individualised in Australia. The data covers a time-period from 2004 to February 2020 and includes 235 individuals and14 organisations. We analysed the determinants of (a) the formation of new ties between people, (b) people joining organisations, and (c) becoming radicalised. Results demonstrate that there is radicalisation ‘contagion,’ and radicalisation spreads through all types of ties except ‘family’ ties. This suggests that when an individual’s non-familial contacts become radicalised, the risk of that person also radicalising is increased. Radicalised actors do not appear to form connections to other radicalised individuals who were not previously known to them. In contrast, radicalised actors become associates with other radicalised actors. However, where an actor is not radicalised, being associated with a radicalised actor presents an increased risk of radicalisation. Radicalised actors appear to join organisations that already have many other radicalised actors as members.

Biography:

Professor David Bright is a criminologist and forensic psychologist. His research interests include criminal networks, organised crime, terrorism, drugs and crime, and desistance from crime. He is an internationally recognised expert in the use of social network analysis and related approaches to study organised criminal groups and terrorist groups. Professor Bright has been Chief Investigator on five consecutive ARC funded projects in addition to receiving funding from other industry and government sources