Militant Extremist Mindset in Post-conflict Regions of the Balkans

Authors

  • Lazar Stankov The University of Sydney & The University of Southern Queensland
  • Goran Knežević University of Belgrade
  • Boban Petrović Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research, Belgrade
  • Janko Međedović Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research, Belgrade
  • Ljiljana B. Lazarević University of Belgrade

Keywords:

Militant Extremist Mindset (MEM), Ethos of Conflict (EOC), Intergroup Conflict, Radicalization

Abstract

This study explores the structure of Militant Extremist Mindset (MEM) within a sample of participants living in areas with enhanced risk of intergroup conflict. We were also interested in comparing members of three different ethnic groups (Serbs, Albanians, and Bosniaks) on MEM measures. A short version of the MEM scale was created for future use. We found that the factorial structure of MEM was replicated in the sample composed of people from both sides of a conflict. Ethnic groups did not differ significantly on the Grudge component of MEM. Group differences were pronounced on the Pro-violence and Utopianism factors. Albanians scored higher than Bosniaks and Serbs on these two dimensions. However, significant differences were obtained on the Ethos of Conflict (EOC) factor when groups of Serbs living within and outside areas of recent conflict were compared.

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Published

2019-06-21

Issue

No. 19 (2019): Summer

Section

Articles

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