This proposed project aims to address critical knowledge gaps in the current understanding of violent extremism and radicalization among large groups online, delivering a Radicalization Index Tool.

The applicant proposes a two year study to employ interdisciplinary methodology (semantics analysis, social network analysis, qualitative research) to examine similarities and differences in online activities of several types of groups that support or commit ideologically motivated violence to further political, social, or religious goals.

The project proposes to better understand how online groups evolve structurally as they increase their support or commitment to ideologically motivated violence and the drivers of large group this process of increasing support or commitment in the online space.

Through an examination of online language, structure, idea generation and diffusion, this project will produce an empirically-based assessment of a given community’s trajectory in terms of increasing support for and commitment to ideologically motivated violence to further political, social, or religious goals.

This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law. CA/NCF