Grant Helm’s scientific contributions

This article explores the results of a study on media participation on Twitter in 2018/2019 perceived as contributing to far right and Islamist radical ideologies, in 7 European countries. By combining online ethnography and big data approaches, we see that online far right extremism in Europe is active and ranks are growing, while Islamist extremism has been incapacitated in sharing controversial forms of expression. We describe how the far right uses Twitter as a means for political activism, while Islamist extremists offer lifestyle information, related to local branches of faith, using Twitter as a storefront that reroutes users to other platforms. We consider resources for action, notably on the far right. World leaders influence followers online and support a global conversation between users that paves the way to a far right European milieu thriving on Twitter. To conclude, we delve into the notions of radicalisation and political participation to emphasise the asymmetry between the two forms of media participation in respect to academic discourses and big tech and States' practises.

EUROPEANPOLICYBRIEF-DIALOGUE ABOUT RADICALISATION AND EQUALITY P a g e | 1 Understanding the nature of social media participation on Twitter in relation to (self-)radicalisation helps decision makers design counter-strategies and actions. DARE researchers investigated 'right-wing extremist' and 'Islamist extremist' discourse on Twitter between 2010 and 2019 in seven European countries. The research documented that, despite wide variation across individual accounts and limited evidence of overt calls to extremist action, online extremism exists. As a result of the lack of call to action, many online contributions fall under the radar of law enforcement or social media's own standards to remove hateful content from their platforms. For these types of accounts, the challenge is to balance freedom of speech and the removal of extremist content. ➢ The Twitter accounts analysed are far more likely to be against something than for something. This generalised negative attitude is more salient among the right-wing extremist accounts studied than among the Islamist extremist accounts. Right-wing extremism Islamic extremism Negativity not only pertains to immigration or Islam, but to a wide range of salient issues in national and European politics (e.g. cost of living, climate change). Accounts discuss political issues in the West and Western involvement in the Middle East negatively but talk about religious affairs and the Muslim community in a positive manner. ➢ There is an excessive focus on depicting collective identity under threat, with violations and injustices described as structural rather than incidental. Right-wing extremism Islamic extremism Perceived threats pertain to immigration, 'Islamisation', and the gradual devaluation and disappearance of national culture and identity. This is reflected in an obsession with crimes committed by immigrants and Jihadist terrorist attacks. Discourse is framed around the discrimination of and injustice towards Muslims in European countries and around the world. ➢ The state, the education system and the media are perceived as a single entity that contributes to or fails to address the threats. Right-wing extremism Islamic extremism Failures are seen as due to dilution of national political authority; EU membership; and political correctness in media and education that blindly promote equality regardless of differences. Together, this appears as a concerted effort by left-wing politicians, mainstream media, and the education system to cover the true extent of the threat posed by immigration and Islam. The application of double standards is seen as meaning Muslims are judged more harshly and excluded from opportunities, despite claims that they enjoy equal rights.

The reports presented here concern the role of the Internet and social media in processes of self-radicalisation. The term self-radicalisation refers to a type of radicalisation process that designates the radicalising individual as the instigator of the process. The DARE study investigates self-radicalisation specifically in relation to the role of participatory media in the process. In line with the dual focus of the DARE project as a whole, this study is concerned with the role of participatory media in the self-radicalisation of people identifying as supporters of i) radical Islamist and ii) anti-Islam(ist) or wider far right groups. The findings of this work are presented through an introduction and 7 National Reports covering: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom. A cross-national report and a policy brief building on these reports are also available.

The reports presented here concern the role of the Internet and social media in processes of self-radicalisation. The term self-radicalisation refers to a type of radicalisation process that designates the radicalising individual as the instigator of the process. The DARE study investigates self-radicalisation specifically in relation to the role of participatory media in the process. In line with the dual focus of the DARE project as a whole, this study is concerned with the role of participatory media in the self-radicalisation of people identifying as supporters of i) radical Islamist and ii) anti-Islam(ist) or wider far right groups. The findings of this work are presented through an introduction and 7 National Reports covering: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom. A cross-national report and a policy brief building on these reports are also available.