Far-right violent radicalization profiles of youth in the Netherlands

Abstract

Objective: Far-right violent radicalization has been on the rise in Europe, with youth being more at risk. Previous research on the topic has mostly been variable-centered and conducted in adults. To better tailor prevention efforts based on the needs of different subgroups of youth, a person-centered study was conducted to explore the presence of far-right violent radicalization profiles in a sample of Dutch youth (N = 1,167, age range: 15–26 years old). Person-centered analyses can capture diversity in youth’s far-right violent radicalization tendencies. Method: Data collection took place online and in educational settings. To detect possible profiles, latent profiles analyses were conducted based on participants’ far-right nativistic and violent radical attitudes. Associations between profile membership, demographic variables, and radicalization risk factors (i.e., perceived injustice, governmental illegitimacy, aggression, lack of intergroup contact, perceived group threat, superiority) were tested. Results: The four detected profiles were named as follows: Far-right violent radical (n = 75), violent experimenter (n = 287), low-violence (n = 386), and no-violence (n = 419). An association with profile membership was found for certain background characteristics (e.g., younger age, being male) and all risk factors. Conclusions: For prevention purposes, it is important to understand risk factors associated with far-right violent radical attitude profiles. Current findings demonstrate the importance of considering youth’s behavioral problems and their societal experiences in terms of injustice, governmental illegitimacy, and feelings of superiority.