DISENGAGING FROM TERRORISM: A NORTHERN IRISH EXPERIENCE

This article explores the disengagement and deradicalization experiences of Northern Irish loyalist paramilitaries from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Red Hand Commando (RHC). Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to develop an understanding of how the former combatants interpr...

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Main Author: Neil Ferguson
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Daniel Koehler 2016-03-01
Series:Journal for Deradicalization
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.sfu.ca/jd/index.php/jd/article/view/41
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author Neil Ferguson
author_facet Neil Ferguson
author_sort Neil Ferguson
collection DOAJ
description This article explores the disengagement and deradicalization experiences of Northern Irish loyalist paramilitaries from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Red Hand Commando (RHC). Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to develop an understanding of how the former combatants interpreted and made sense of their disengagement from violence extremism in Northern Ireland after the Belfast Agreement. The analysis of the interviews focusses around push and pull factors which either promote or hinder their ability to move away from violent extremism. The results find a resonance with recent research exploring disengagement and deradicalization processes with terror groupings across the globe and the ideological spectrum. The findings are discussed in relation to a number of topics, including the role of prison, barriers to disengagement, continued commitment and radicalization after desistence from violent extremism, the role of life changes in promoting disengagement and how organizational pressures contain and influence individual disengagement.
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spelling doaj.art-2ff7e59805094652b2bf652e8ea5a40c2022-12-21T23:56:49ZdeuDaniel KoehlerJournal for Deradicalization2363-98492363-98492016-03-01Spring6123DISENGAGING FROM TERRORISM: A NORTHERN IRISH EXPERIENCENeil Ferguson0Liverpool Hope UniversityThis article explores the disengagement and deradicalization experiences of Northern Irish loyalist paramilitaries from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Red Hand Commando (RHC). Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to develop an understanding of how the former combatants interpreted and made sense of their disengagement from violence extremism in Northern Ireland after the Belfast Agreement. The analysis of the interviews focusses around push and pull factors which either promote or hinder their ability to move away from violent extremism. The results find a resonance with recent research exploring disengagement and deradicalization processes with terror groupings across the globe and the ideological spectrum. The findings are discussed in relation to a number of topics, including the role of prison, barriers to disengagement, continued commitment and radicalization after desistence from violent extremism, the role of life changes in promoting disengagement and how organizational pressures contain and influence individual disengagement.http://journals.sfu.ca/jd/index.php/jd/article/view/41DisengagementDeradicalizationIrelandIRAExtremismRadicalizationCVE
spellingShingle Neil Ferguson
DISENGAGING FROM TERRORISM: A NORTHERN IRISH EXPERIENCE
Journal for Deradicalization
Disengagement
Deradicalization
Ireland
IRA
Extremism
Radicalization
CVE
title DISENGAGING FROM TERRORISM: A NORTHERN IRISH EXPERIENCE
title_full DISENGAGING FROM TERRORISM: A NORTHERN IRISH EXPERIENCE
title_fullStr DISENGAGING FROM TERRORISM: A NORTHERN IRISH EXPERIENCE
title_full_unstemmed DISENGAGING FROM TERRORISM: A NORTHERN IRISH EXPERIENCE
title_short DISENGAGING FROM TERRORISM: A NORTHERN IRISH EXPERIENCE
title_sort disengaging from terrorism a northern irish experience
topic Disengagement
Deradicalization
Ireland
IRA
Extremism
Radicalization
CVE
url http://journals.sfu.ca/jd/index.php/jd/article/view/41
work_keys_str_mv AT neilferguson disengagingfromterrorismanorthernirishexperience