The logic of extremism

Why do some people become extremists? The common explanation is often that they have psychological problems or have been indoctrinated. But according to philosopher Rik Peels, this is too simplistic a view. To understand radicalisation, he says, we must instead acknowledge that extremists often act rationally according to their own logic – people like us, but with evil ideas.

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Peels does pioneering research on the philosophy of radicalisation and extremism. He studies how extreme beliefs arise and what role ignorance, religion, and fundamentalism play in them. What makes his approach special is that he combines philosophical insights with empirical research from various disciplines such as psychology, sociology, history, and law.

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One of his most important contributions is a new theoretical framework around ‘non-ideal rationality’. This explains how people with limited access to information and conscious rejection of certain sources can arrive at extreme views that make sense to themselves. By distinguishing between reality itself and how extremists perceive that reality, his theory offers a new explanation for radicalisation. A striking example is that people who systematically distrust and shun certain news sources can radicalise step by step without perceiving this as irrational themselves.

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As editor of the 7-volume Extreme Belief and Behaviour book series from Oxford University Press, Peels connects insights into radicalisation from various academic disciplines. One of his most striking findings is that there are important similarities between phenomena that are still too often examined in isolation: conspiracy thinking, religious and secular fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism all appear to be different manifestations of a radicalisation process in which we find similar elements. From his position as a philosopher, he can look at these fields of research in context and draw new connections. Through his international network, he brings together experts from different disciplines – from empirical terrorism experts to theologians – to share knowledge that would otherwise remain separate. This same broad view is also applied as he researches how societies can become more resilient to crises, including the threat of violent extremism.

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In the coming years, Peels wants to investigate how individuals, groups, and institutions can become more resilient against extremism. His main focus is on how to better understand extreme beliefs without condoning them – for example, how schools and universities can deal with pupils and students who are becoming radicalised without limiting open debate. A central question in his research is why some people who hold radicalised beliefs turn to extremist behaviour whilst others do not. By better understanding this complex interplay between beliefs and actions, Peels hopes to contribute to more effective prevention of violent extremism.

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