New Book Release: Rethinking Religion and Radicalization – Exploring Violence, Terrorism, and Extremism Beyond 9/11
We are thrilled to share the release of CRIS Director, Professor Michele Grossman AM’s new book, Rethinking Religion and Radicalization: Terrorism and Violence Twenty Years After 9/11.
This edited collection, co-edited with colleague Hisham Hellyer (Royal United Services Institute) and published by Bloomsbury, emerged from the Horizon 2020 GREASE project, which ran from 2018 to 2022.
This book takes a fresh and much-needed look at how religion intersects with radicalization and violent extremism in today’s world. While the events of 9/11 cemented certain assumptions—particularly about Islam’s role in religiously motivated violence—the landscape of extremism has become far more complex over the past two decades. Yet, much of the discourse around radicalization has remained stagnant. This book challenges those outdated narratives and offers a broader, more nuanced examination of how religion and religiosity are weaponized by various extremist movements.
Rethinking the Role of Religion in Extremism
The book moves beyond the traditional focus on Islamist extremism and explores the diverse ways in which violent actors across different ideologies—Orthodox Christianity, Hindutva, far-right extremism, “conspirituality,” and single-issue movements—instrumentalize religious beliefs and identities. This shift in focus is critical in an era where extremism is evolving rapidly, adapting to social, political, and technological changes.
The book brings together leading scholars from across disciplines and regions to analyze these dynamics, with contributions from members of Alfred Deakin Institute (ADI, Deakin University), AVERT Research Network, and CRIS, including Vivian Gerrand, Lydia Khalil, and Greg Barton, among others. Their insights illuminate how religion is often not the sole or primary driver of radicalization but is instead manipulated within broader ideological frameworks.
A Landmark Contribution to Radicalization Studies
Endorsed by one of the world’s foremost experts on terrorism and radicalization, Professor John Horgan, this book makes an important contribution to the field. His words encapsulate the depth and significance of this collection:
“This superlative collection of essays sheds new light on the complex connections between violent extremism and religion across nations, ideologies, and faiths. Infused with rich, thoughtful engagement from leading scholars, the book is a captivating contribution to our knowledge and understanding of these challenging and urgent issues.”
Open Access and Pre-Orders Available
One of the most exciting aspects of this publication is that it will be Open Access, thanks to the generosity of ADI/Deakin University and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in the UK, where Hisham Hellyer is based. This means that, starting from its official release on April 3, 2025, the book will be freely available for download.
For those eager to dive into the content earlier, Rethinking Religion and Radicalization is available for pre-order now. You can find more details, including a full list of contributors and chapters, on the Bloomsbury website: https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/rethinking-religion-and-radicalization-9781350350076/.
Congratulations to all involved in this critical and vital work.
As we approach the book’s official launch, we look forward to engaging in more discussions about these critical topics. If you’re interested in radicalization, terrorism, or the complex role of religion in extremism, this book offers fresh perspectives that move beyond conventional wisdom.
We hope you’ll check it out!