Selected Topics | Extremism, Fanaticism, and Radicalization: Underlying Principles

Description

The course will provide an overview of theory and empirical findings of three phenomena, fanaticism,
extremism, and radicalization. We will start with historical approaches (e.g., Festinger's work on
When Prophecy Fails and Eric Hoffer's work on the True Believer). We will review more recent
empirical work on how fanaticism, extremism, and radicalization can be observed during everyday life
- in individuals, groups, institutions, different societies, and cultures. Importantly, throughout the
course, we will discuss ongoing work on the underlying principles of these three phenomena. Thereby
we will take the perspectives of international relations, philosophy, political science, and
psychology. The readings will be discussed in class and thereby connections between them will
become obvious. 

Preparation

In-class participation will be assessed by verbal contributions that promote constructive class
discussions. The research papers aim at teaching students to understand the research process, from
the inception of an idea to a finished article. Students will be guided through all the steps of the
6
research process (e.g., generating a research question, conceptualizing, and operationalizing the
respective variables, writing up the method section and discussing the theoretical and applied
implications of their hypothesized findings). The theme of the papers will be based on the class
readings and will be developed by students in group work and in collaboration with the instructor.
Students will receive multiple times feedback on their work (e.g., topic proposal, design, method
section). The final paper will be 8 pages long. It will be due on the date that is assigned by the ZU.
Regular attendance is pivotal and expected. 

Detailed information about the examinations

Grading will be based on in-class participation (50%), and a final research paper (50%).

Second additional field

Please indicate the language of the course here:

English