Weaponized Words
The Strategic Role of Persuasion in Violent Radicalization and Counter-Radicalization

Discover theories of persuasion that show how terrorist messages promote radicalization and how counter-messages fight terrorist propaganda.

Kurt Braddock (Author)

9781108474528, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 April 2020

302 pages, 13 b/w illus. 5 tables
23.5 x 15.6 x 2 cm, 0.54 kg

'… this book contributes to the understanding of the persuasive communication techniques that have been used by extremist groups, and can be used to defeat them. This book is ideal for researchers and practitioners interested in perusasive communication as an effective counter-radicalisation tool.' Chi Zhang, Behavioural Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression

Strengthen your understanding of the persuasive mechanisms used by terrorist groups and how they are effective in order to defeat them. Weaponized Words applies existing theories of persuasion to domains unique to this digital era, such as social media, YouTube, websites, and message boards to name but a few. Terrorists deploy a range of communication methods and harness reliable communication theories to create strategic messages that persuade peaceful individuals to join their groups and engage in violence. While explaining how they accomplish this, the book lays out a blueprint for developing counter-messages perfectly designed to conquer such violent extremism and terrorism. Using this basis in persuasion theory, a socio-scientific approach is generated to fight terrorist propaganda and the damage it causes.

Introduction
Part I. The Battlefield: Foundations of Persuasion, Radicalization, Violent Radicalization and Counter-Radicalization: 1. Words are loaded pistols: radicalization and persuasion
2. The riddle of the Sphinx: lessons from past and current counter-radicalization efforts
Part II. The Weapons: Theories of Persuasion and their Application to Radicalization and Counter-Radicalization Processes: 3. Extremist narratives and counter-narratives
4. Vaccinating against the enemy: attitudinal inoculation, radicalization, and counter-radicalization
5. The reasoned action of radicalization and counter-radicalization
6. Terrorism is theater: emotion in extremist propaganda and counter-propaganda
Part III. The War: Future Challenges and Ways Forward in the Battle over Strategic Influence: 7. The coming persuasion wars: three future challenges in radicalization and counter-radicalization
8. Fighting back: three future directions for persuasion-based approaches to counter-radicalization.

Subject Areas: Media, information & communication industries [KNT], International relations [JPS], Criminal or forensic psychology [JMK], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Violence in society [JFFE], Social & political philosophy [HPS], Communication studies [GTC], Linguistics [CF]