Article published in:
The Discourse of Terrorism
Edited by Encarnación Hidalgo-Tenorio and Juan L. Castro
[Pragmatics and Society 13:3] 2022
► pp. 361–382

Urban environments favorable to radical narratives

The case of El Puche

| University of Córdoba
| New York University Abu Dhabi
| Marbella International University Centre
| University of Granada
This paper aims to study the process of violent radicalization in El Puche, a marginal neighborhood of Spain with a high percentage of disenfranchised Muslims. Particularly, we explore whether this neighborhood exhibits the factors proposed by the 3N model of radicalization: needs, networks, and narratives. We present two studies in which we analyze these factors. In the first study, we compare needs and networks between Muslims (N = 47) and Christians (N = 45). In the second study, we analyze the interrelation of these factors in a sample of Muslims (N = 111). We found that people’s association with radical networks mediates the relationship between the quest for significance and radical narratives. We conclude that need, network, and narrative are interconnected, and illustrate some of the dynamics that foster social exclusion and radicalization, leading to supporting violence in this type of urban environments.
Keywords: 3N model of Radicalization, relative deprivation, social network, narratives of terror, legitimation of terrorism, deprived context
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1The process of radicalization
    • 1.2Radicalization in urban environments
    • 1.3The case of El Puche
      • 1.3.1Geographical and demographic dimensions
      • 1.3.2Policies and institutions
      • 1.3.3Economics
      • 1.3.4Socio-cultural background
      • 1.3.5Urban vs. rural life and welfare
      • 1.3.6Criminality rate
    • 1.4The present research
  • 2.Study 1
    • 2.1Method
      • 2.1.1Participants
      • 2.1.2Instruments
      • 2.1.3Procedure
    • 2.2Results
      • 2.2.1The quest for significance
      • 2.2.2The social network
    • 2.3Discussion
  • 3.Study 2
    • 3.1Method
      • 3.1.1Participants
      • 3.1.2Instruments
      • 3.1.3Procedure
    • 3.2Results
    • 3.3Discussion
  • 4.General discussion
  • References
Published online: 21 July 2022
https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.21016.lob
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