Weaponized Words: The Strategic Role of Persuasion in Violent Radicalization and Counter-Radicalization

by Kurt Braddock

Overview

Strengthen your understanding of the persuasive mechanisms used by terrorist groups and how they are effective in order to defeat them. Weaponized Words applies existing theories of persuasion to domains unique to this digital era, such as social media, YouTube, websites, and message boards to name but a few. Terrorists deploy a range of communication methods and harness reliable communication theories to create strategic messages that persuade peaceful individuals to join their groups and engage in violence. While explaining how they accomplish this, the book lays out a blueprint for developing counter-messages perfectly designed to conquer such violent extremism and terrorism. Using this basis in persuasion theory, a socio-scientific approach is generated to fight terrorist propaganda and the damage it causes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108686495
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/16/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Kurt Braddock is Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University. He researches the persuasive effects of terrorist propaganda and how that propaganda can be challenged. He has also advised multiple governments, non-governmental organizations, and practitioners on effective counter-messaging strategies.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Part I. The Battlefield: Foundations of Persuasion, Radicalization, Violent Radicalization and Counter-Radicalization: 1. Words are loaded pistols: radicalization and persuasion; 2. The riddle of the Sphinx: lessons from past and current counter-radicalization efforts; Part II. The Weapons: Theories of Persuasion and their Application to Radicalization and Counter-Radicalization Processes: 3. Extremist narratives and counter-narratives; 4. Vaccinating against the enemy: attitudinal inoculation, radicalization, and counter-radicalization; 5. The reasoned action of radicalization and counter-radicalization; 6. Terrorism is theater: emotion in extremist propaganda and counter-propaganda; Part III. The War: Future Challenges and Ways Forward in the Battle over Strategic Influence: 7. The coming persuasion wars: three future challenges in radicalization and counter-radicalization; 8. Fighting back: three future directions for persuasion-based approaches to counter-radicalization.