SYDNEY, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Young people committing or threatening violence without a clear ideological, religious or political motive are posing an emerging extremism threat, researchers in Australia have warned.
A review led by University of Queensland (UQ) criminologist Professor Adrian Cherney examined the rise of what is known as Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE), and the significant challenges it poses for traditional interventions, according to a UQ statement released on Monday.
"Acts of violent extremism have historically been underpinned by ideological radicalization, but we're now seeing cases in which the violence itself appears to be the primary attraction," said Cherney, lead author of the review published in the Journal for Deradicalization.
Unlike traditional violent extremism driven by political or religious goals, NVE can focus on spectacle, notoriety and creating chaos and collapse, fueled by harmful online communities and subcultures that normalize and celebrate violence, he said, adding that NVE can be a way to "gain validation, status or acceptance in those groups."
Social isolation, a search for identity and belonging, along with emotional drivers such as loneliness, hostility and contempt, can make vulnerable young people susceptible, while many cases involve trauma, abuse, bullying or family dysfunction, Cherney said.
The review found NVE poses challenges for existing tools and models used to counter extremism and identify people at risk, as those frameworks can require evidence of extremist ideology before intervention.
The researchers recommended considering behavioral warning signs, online signaling and a fascination with violence alongside traditional indicators of radicalization, and called for greater integration among youth justice, child protection, education and law enforcement to assess risks and provide appropriate interventions. ■
