Deradicalizing by not intending to deradicalize: building resilience against extremism in U.K. and U.S. prisons

Wilkinson, Matthew L. N. 2026. Deradicalizing by not intending to deradicalize: building resilience against extremism in U.K. and U.S. prisons. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 10.1080/1057610X.2026.2724923

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Abstract

What is the most effective way to deradicalize? Despite decades of investment in counterterrorism, this question remains unresolved. This article introduces a novel Extremism Resilience–Risk Index integrating strengths-based and risk-based approaches to countering extremism. Drawing on original empirical evidence from trials of the PRIMO program in a U.S. and a U.K. prison, it argues that interventions strengthening resilience to extremist worldviews through engagement with religious traditions can generate deradicalizing effects without explicitly intending to do so. By promoting healthy attitudes to rehabilitation and enhancing religious understanding, the program strengthened resilience against the “us-versus-them” extremist worldviews that underpin terrorist offending.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Global Humanities Schools > History, Archaeology and Religion
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	1057-610X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	3 September 2026
Date of Acceptance:	23 August 2026
Last Modified:	03 Sep 2026 15:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189382

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