Fra Rocker Til Akademiker

Abstract

The article is a product of collaboration between a researcher (Line) and a former biker gang member (Peter). Together they explore Peter’s conduct in life during a 10-month period, while he is in a police-gang-exit-program. The article reflects and discusses theethics involved in this kind of subject/subject research, where a former biker gang member and a researcher are engaged in a common research process, being both researchers and subject of investigation at the same time. Through a social practice theoretical moment-movement methodology significant moments are studied in depth, including Peter’s action reasons, (disturbances of) concerns and telos becoming less of a member of the (biker) gang environment and becoming more of a member of academia. The article further explores the struggles to move beyond marginal positions and how collective processes of recognition and reification might help major personal changes. Finally the article discusses possibilities for development within the field of gang exit intervention to improve gang exit processes for other future gang members.

Dehumanization and a psychology of deglobalization: Double binds and movements beyond radicalization and racialized mis-interpellation

“…Collective action and interpellation in a heterogeneous community can be seen as a way of rehumanizing and reinstating the right to belong, countering the sense of powerlessness and dehumanization among ethnically minoritized citizens by nurturing their membership of a local community. Mørck and Khawaja (2022) illustrated how access to and feelings of belonging to a community can be an important gateway to new meanings, practices, and positions, which can help move a person at risk of radicalization beyond polarization and marginalization by fostering feelings and relations of trust, hope, and belonging. This must be embraced as a way of moving from dehumanization, racialization, and double bind to rehumanization, recognition, and social justice.…”

“…This must be embraced as a way of moving from dehumanization, racialization, and double bind to rehumanization, recognition, and social justice. In our research on gang exit processes (Khawaja & Mørck, 2021;Mørck & Khawaja, 2022), we followed a former gang leader as he moved beyond severe double bind situations through religious dedication and access to participation, recognition, and belonging as part of a Muslim boundary community. As such, we have also explored boundary communities in other parts of contemporary Denmark where being Muslim is considered legitimate and ascribed positive value and where-even as a former gang member-one can transform oneself and move partially beyond the subhuman category that the intersection of (former) gang member and (now) devout Muslim often represents in the Danish context.…”

“…Mørck and Khawaja (2022) illustrated how access to and feelings of belonging to a community can be an important gateway to new meanings, practices, and positions, which can help move a person at risk of radicalization beyond polarization and marginalization by fostering feelings and relations of trust, hope, and belonging. This must be embraced as a way of moving from dehumanization, racialization, and double bind to rehumanization, recognition, and social justice.…”

“…As such, we have also explored boundary communities in other parts of contemporary Denmark where being Muslim is considered legitimate and ascribed positive value and where—even as a former gang member—one can transform oneself and move partially beyond the subhuman category that the intersection of (former) gang member and (now) devout Muslim often represents in the Danish context. However, it is crucial to underline that it is not possible to move beyond double binds through individual struggle, but only through collective counter-hegemonic community-building practices (Mørck, 2011; Mørck & Khawaja, 2022).…”

Livsførelseslisten

“…Disse såkaldte "alternativer til exit" er ligeledes udforsket som exitprocesser, hvor vi åbent undersøger betydningen af forskellige indsatser, faellesskaber, miljøer, aktører og andet i forhold til, hvordan de forskellige forhold er med til at bevaege personerne i forskellige retninger i deres liv. Disse studier (fx Mørck, 2014Mørck, , 2016Mørck & Hansen, 2015) anlaegger overvejende et brugerperspektiv, hvor exitprocesserne / bevaegelserne og etableringen af en ny identitet følges over lang tid. I lighed med indevaerende artikel inddrager Mørck (2014Mørck ( , 2016, samt Mørck & Hansen (2015) også perspektiver fra nogle af de betydningsfulde andre, personer såvel som de interessefaellesskaber, der hjaelper de unge maend i etableringen af et nyt liv.…”