Exploring Subcultural Trajectories: Racist Skinhead Disengagement, Desistance, and Countercultural Value Persistence

Desistance, Disengagement, and Deradicalization: A Cross-Field Comparison

“…This is also reflected in the prevalence of identity in empirical writings, which reaches almost 50%. In essence, extremist identities have been described both as malleable and as resistant (Ferguson & McAuley, 2020; Madfis & Vysotsky, 2020). On one hand, research revealed that individuals can, and often do, stop identifying with the extremist movement (Barrelle, 2014; K.…”

“…Leaving extremism, however, does not necessarily entail a clean break with those identities. In fact, identity change in the context of violent extremism rarely takes the shape of a complete and utter changeover, but is rather associated with incomplete or partial shifts (Madfis & Vysotsky, 2020; Simi et al, 2017). Some authors would even argue that an extremist identity can never be fully erased or discarded (Simi et al, 2017; Ferguson & McAuley, 2020).…”

“…Extremist re-integration therefore frequently takes place in a climate of mutual distrust, shared suspicion, and correspondingly low expectations (Weggemans & de Graaf, 2015; Weeks, 2018). In addition, reintegration comes in degrees, and some disengaging individuals remain considerably counter-cultural or hostile in their views toward society (Barrelle, 2014; Madfis & Vysotsky, 2020; Weggemans & de Graaf, 2015). This also touches upon the fact that, unlike regular offenders, former extremists need to find a way to function in a society they sought to radically change (Barrelle, 2014; Corner & Gill, 2020).…”