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Youth Radicalization: Website Analysis Paul Baramadat and Scot Wortley.

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Presentation on theme: "Youth Radicalization: Website Analysis Paul Baramadat and Scot Wortley."— Presentation transcript:

1 Youth Radicalization: Website Analysis Paul Baramadat and Scot Wortley

2 The Kids Today: Cause for Optimism More educated than previous generations. Vast majority pursue the traditional goals (school, job, family, etc.). This generation has high cultural capital – could help Canada compete in the global economy. Overall crime rates has not risen Little evidence of widespread radicalization.

3 The Kids Today: Cause for Concern Increasing economic polarization. Increasing neighbourhood segregation. Some racial/ethnic groups falling behind. Social alienation/disengagement increasing among some racial/ethnic groups. Serious violence increasing among a small segment of the youth population (issue of street gangs). Potential for radicalization?

4 Roots of Radicalization Importation Model: Radical people and ideas are imported from other countries. Canada bears no responsibility. Strain Model: Immigration and settlement is an extremely difficult process. Some immigrant groups (racial and religious minorities) suffer economic and social marginalization. These conditions create the social context for radicalization.

5 Content Analysis of Religious Websites: A Pilot Project Considerable public concern that young peoples extensive use of the Internet may be a possible source of religious radicalization. Conducted a preliminary content analysis of major religious websites regularly accessed by Canadian youth. This analysis is designed to address two research questions: 1) To what extent do religious websites contain radical or violent content?; and 2) Do the websites for some religious traditions contain more radical content than others.

6 Website Classification Celebration Site: Contains positive information that celebrates the religious tradition. Promotes both religious/social events. No discussion of controversial issues. Complaint Site Level 1: Considerable space devoted to discussions about discrimination and bias. No calls for organization or activism. Complaint Site Level 2: Frames incidents of discrimination or bias as expressions of a broad Canadian hostility toward their group.

7 Website Classification Complaint Site Level 3: Calls for lawful protest against discrimination and bias. Encourages peaceful protest and activism. Complaint Site Level 4: Promotes activism and protest as with Level Three sites. However, also contains warnings or predictions that physical conflict will result if group grievances are not addressed. Complaint Site Level 5: Directly and explicitly promotes direct, aggressive action against Canadian institutions -- or at least condones or celebrates it and frames such action as necessary and virtuous/religiously sanctioned.

8 Websites by Category (N=181)

9 Website Type, by Religion Site Type ChristianJewishMuslimHinduSikh Celebration 36%50%47%90%55% Complaint 1 27%35%17%10%18% Complaint 2 14%3%20%0%9% Complaint 3 16%7%16%0%18% Complaint 4 4%3%0% Complaint 5 3% 0% Sample Size 8040 1011


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