Youth Radicalization: Website Analysis Paul Baramadat and Scot Wortley

The Kids Today: Cause for Optimism More educated than previous generations. Vast majority pursue the traditional goals (school, job, family, etc.). This generation has high cultural capital – could help Canada compete in the global economy. Overall crime rates has not risen Little evidence of widespread radicalization.

The Kids Today: Cause for Concern Increasing economic polarization. Increasing neighbourhood segregation. Some racial/ethnic groups falling behind. Social alienation/disengagement increasing among some racial/ethnic groups. Serious violence increasing among a small segment of the youth population (issue of street gangs). Potential for radicalization?

Roots of Radicalization Importation Model: Radical people and ideas are imported from other countries. Canada bears no responsibility. Strain Model: Immigration and settlement is an extremely difficult process. Some immigrant groups (racial and religious minorities) suffer economic and social marginalization. These conditions create the social context for radicalization.

Content Analysis of Religious Websites: A Pilot Project Considerable public concern that young peoples extensive use of the Internet may be a possible source of religious radicalization. Conducted a preliminary content analysis of major religious websites regularly accessed by Canadian youth. This analysis is designed to address two research questions: 1) To what extent do religious websites contain radical or violent content?; and 2) Do the websites for some religious traditions contain more radical content than others.

Website Classification Celebration Site: Contains positive information that celebrates the religious tradition. Promotes both religious/social events. No discussion of controversial issues. Complaint Site Level 1: Considerable space devoted to discussions about discrimination and bias. No calls for organization or activism. Complaint Site Level 2: Frames incidents of discrimination or bias as expressions of a broad Canadian hostility toward their group.

Website Classification Complaint Site Level 3: Calls for lawful protest against discrimination and bias. Encourages peaceful protest and activism. Complaint Site Level 4: Promotes activism and protest as with Level Three sites. However, also contains warnings or predictions that physical conflict will result if group grievances are not addressed. Complaint Site Level 5: Directly and explicitly promotes direct, aggressive action against Canadian institutions -- or at least condones or celebrates it and frames such action as necessary and virtuous/religiously sanctioned.

Websites by Category (N=181)

Website Type, by Religion Site Type ChristianJewishMuslimHinduSikh Celebration 36%50%47%90%55% Complaint 1 27%35%17%10%18% Complaint 2 14%3%20%0%9% Complaint 3 16%7%16%0%18% Complaint 4 4%3%0% Complaint 5 3% 0% Sample Size