Abstract
Most individuals with radical ideologies will not evolve into violent extremists, let alone terrorists. Understanding the dynamics and various pathways into a radical ideology is nonetheless important. However, empirical research on pathways into left-wing radicalization is scarce. In this chapter, we define the concept of left-wing radicalization in relation to extremism and provide an overview of existing research on left-wing radicalization. Drawing on case studies and our own empirical research, we discuss both individual motives for participation in radical left groups and macro-level factors in the political and societal context that impact the growth or demise of radical left groups.
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Krüsselmann, K., Weggemans, D. (2023). Radicalization and Left-Wing Extremism. In: Zúquete, J.P. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Left-Wing Extremism, Volume 1. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30897-0_3
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