POL S 333: Terrorism, Radicalization, and Extremism

MW: 10:00-11:20 | SAV 260 | Spring Quarter, 2026

For the full syllabus, click here

Instructor: Jessica Sciarone

Office Hours: Wednesdays, 1:00-3:00

Office: SMI 30

E-mail: Jsciar@uw.edu

TA: Ryan Reynolds                                                    TA: Thomas Bidwell

Sections: AA, AB                                                          Sections: AC, AD

Office Hours: W. 12:00-2:00 in SMI 33                 Office Hours: T. 11:00-1:00 in SMI 43

Email: Deadpool@uw.edu                                        Email: Bidewell@uw.edu

Course Description

This course provides an interdisciplinary examination of terrorism, radicalization, and extremism in domestic and global contexts. We will begin by exploring the historical evolution of terrorism, then, we’ll discuss the contested nature of key concepts, and the pathways through which individuals and groups adopt extremist beliefs or engage in political violence. Through empirical case studies and contemporary debates, we will analyze ideological, psychological, social, and structural drivers of radicalization. Special attention is given to gender dynamics, youth involvement, misogynistic and post-ideological forms of violence, and the rise of domestic and transnational extremist movements. The course also evaluates state and non-state responses, including counterterrorism strategies, deradicalization initiatives, and merging challenges in preventing violent extremism.

Course overview

The course is organized in three blocks:

1. The Problems of Definition: In this block, we’ll examine foundational debates surrounding the definitions of terrorism, radicalization, and extremism. We’ll also explore the historical trajectories of terrorism and analyze gendered and generational dimensions of terrorism.
2. Ideology-Based Extremism: In this block, we’ll talk about major forms of ideological terrorism, including domestic, misogynistic, far-right, left-wing, Islamist, and nihilist movements. We’ll talk about motivations, organizational structures, recruitment strategies, and patterns of violence across ideological categories. We will focus on these and look at the main tenets of these ideologies and the radicalization pathways.
3. Responses to Terrorism: In this final block, we’ll talk about the impact of terrorism on societies, state and non-state counterterrorism responses, deradicalization and rehabilitation programs, and future directions in countering violent extremism.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course:

• Students will be able to define and critically evaluate competing definitions of terrorism, radicalization, and extremism, and explain why these concepts remain contested.
• Students will be able to differentiate between major ideological forms of terrorism and assess how ideology shapes recruitment and organizational behavior.
• Students will be able to apply major theories of radicalization to real-world cases.
• Students will be able to evaluate state and non-state counterterrorism strategies, including surveillance, policing, community-based interventions, and P/CVE (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism) programs.
• Students will be able to identify emerging challenges in countering terrorism, including digital ecosystems, transnational networks, and changing ideological landscapes.

Required Reading

Please see the syllabus (below) for the required readings. We will  draw upon this book: Radicalization to Terrorism: What Everyone Needs to Know by Moskalenko and McCauley. This book is required reading. All other reading materials will be available on the Canvas website.. You are responsible for all assigned readings. There are also supplementary materials, listed below, and these are optional. They may help further your understanding of course material and may be mentioned during lecture. Additionally, you are encouraged to cite them in your final paper.

Aside from that, I expect that you keep track of major current events that are occurring alongside this course. This means that I expect you to do daily reads of a reputable newspaper, such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, or The Guardian.

Lectures may raise important ideas from the readings, but they are not an adequate substitute for reading assignments. Conversely, material presented in lectures is not always covered in the readings. You are expected to have read the text assigned in the schedule below for each lecture. Failure to keep up with the readings will limit your availability to both contribute to discussion sections and learn from the course. Many of the assigned readings are academic articles and may take more time to read than you might otherwise expect. I urge you to stay on schedule. The syllabus tells you what to read and when. The teaching team is here to help you understand the material covered in this course. Please do not hesitate to come visit me in office hours if you have questions, comments, or concerns.

Content Warning

This course addresses topics that some students may find emotionally challenging or distressing. As we move through material involving violence, extremism, and sensitive social issues, please be mindful of your own well-being. If you anticipate difficulty with a particular topic or week, you are encouraged to reach out to me or your TA so we can discuss possible alternatives or accommodations. Your mental health is important, and you are always welcome to speak with us if you need support or guidance as we navigate these subjects together.

Assignments and Assessment

Students are responsible for attending all lectures and completing all of the assigned readings in a timely manner.

Quiz Section (15%)

Students are expected to have read all of the assigned material before section and come

to class prepared to regularly contribute to class discussion. Lectures and sections will

assume that students have read the assigned materials. Participation in section is required to have productive discussions. For this class to be successful, students need to regularly attend section and be ready to discuss the material. If students come to section unprepared, the quality of discussion will be radically diminished. Participation will be evaluated on both the quality and quantity of comments from students. Moreover, participation and performance in activities in section such as small-group discussions, debates, or short written assignments may also be factored into the participation grade. Be aware that participation points are earned through active participation and are not earned by simply attending section.

Opinion Article (5%)

This assignment asks you to write a short op-ed on a topic related to terrorism, radicalization, or extremism. The goal is to practice communicating complex ideas to a general audience. It is important to communicate persuasively, and without using any academic jargon. Think of this as writing from the Conversation or the op-ed section of the NYT or Washington Post.

Your op-ed should:

1. Make a clear argument. You need to take a position on an issue related to the course. This can be explanatory (“Here’s what people misunderstand about X”) or normative (“Here’s what we should do about Y”).
2. Use course concepts. You don’t need to cite theory formally, but your argument should be grounded in ideas we’ve discussed. In the definitions, frameworks, radicalization pathways, or ideological dynamics that are part of the lectures and the readings.
3. Engage with real-world evidence. Use examples, cases, or current events to support your point. You may cite news articles, research reports, or academic sources, but use hyperlinks only, no formal citations.
4. Write for a public audience. You need to be concise and avoid jargon.

Possible topics (feel free to choose your own though!)

• Why governments struggle to define extremism, and why this matters
• How gender shapes pathways into extremist groups
• What Adolescence on Netflix gets wrong about misogyny and radicalization
• What Black Mirror predicts about future forms of extremism
• Why the public misunderstands radicalization
• What policymakers get wrong about youth extremism
• How TikTok’s algorithm amplifies extremist aesthetics without meaning to
• What the rise of ‘alpha male’ podcasts reveals about misogynistic radicalization
• How meme culture normalizes extremist ideas among teens
• Why conspiracy theories are a growing concern
• How extremist groups exploit gaming platforms to recruit and socialize
• Why misogynistic violence should be treated as terrorism
• How climate anxiety is fueling new forms of extremist activism

Technicalities

• 800-1,000 words (12-point font, double spaced)
• No formal citation style required, hyperlinks only
• Start with a strong, clear claim. You need to tell the reader exactly what your argument is, as soon as possible
• Be concise and direct
• Connect to course ideas without sounding too academic
• Bonus credit option: If you submit this op-ed to the NYT and it gets published, you will get 10% added to your final grade.

Midterm Exam (25%)

The midterm exam will take place in class, during our regular scheduled lecture time, on April 29, at 10:00am in SAV 260. You will receive five essay questions and will be required to answer three of your choice. All questions will draw on material from Block I of the course (definitions, history, radicalization, extremism, gender, and youth). No material from later weeks will appear on the midterm. Your answers should demonstrate a clear understanding of key concepts and debates, the ability to apply these course frameworks to examples discussed in class, a well-organized argument with a clear thesis, and you need to use course evidence. You do not need to cite the readings. The exam will cover both lectures and readings. The exam is closed book and closed notes. Students are responsible for bringing their own blue book.

Final Paper (30%)

In this final paper (8-12 pages, 12-point font, double-spaced), we ask you to select one terrorist organization or extremist ideology and analyze it the concepts, frameworks, and explanatory approaches we’ve explored throughout the course. These may include models of radicalization, definitional framework, ideological lenses, or explanations for why individuals and groups adopt extremist or terrorist tactics. To keep things consistent, students must pick a group or ideology from a pre-defined list, posted on Canvas.  

Your paper should include the following components:

1. Why you chose this group (1 paragraph): briefly explain what drew you to this case. This can be your interest, a puzzle, or something that surprised you.
2. Context and background (1-2 paragraphs): provide an overview of the group/ideology where the group/ideology operates, and their main ideological framework.
3. Goals and strategies (1-2 paragraphs): the group’s /ideology’s goals and strategies: outline what they wants, and how it pursues those goals. Be specific about both objectives and tactics
4. Why the group adopted terrorism (Remainder of paper): using course concepts and frameworks, analyze the factors that contributed to the group’s decision to use terrorist tactics. This is the analytical core of the paper, and you should spend most time here.

Research Expectations:

All factual claims need to be supported with academic sources. This includes information about the group, the country, and any conceptual frameworks you apply. Academic sources are scholarly books, peer-reviewed articles, and reputable reports. You are required to submit the case selection to Canvas (ungraded) on May 27, at 11:59pm on Canvas. This needs to include your chosen group/ideology, and a two-sentence description of your chosen group/ideology.

Technicalities:

• 12-point font, Times New Roman
• Double spaced
• At least four academic sources (note: academic sources are peer-reviewed articles or book chapters). You are welcome to use course sources.
• At least three outside sources. These do not have to be academic but can also be news articles from reputable websites (such as the New York Times, Washington Post, BBC) or research reports from Human Rights Watch, CSIS, or Brookings.
• You can use any type of citation style, such as MLA, or APA.

Final Exam (25%)

The final exam will take on June 8, at 8:30 am in SAV 260. You will receive five essay questions and will be required to answer three of your choice. The final exam is cumulative and includes material from all three blocks of the course. While later material will be emphasized, concepts and frameworks from Block I will reappear in questions. Your answers should demonstrate a clear understanding of concepts, theories, and debates across the course, the ability to synthesize material from multiple weeks or blocks and draw connections between these.  The exam will cover both lectures and readings. The exam is closed book and closed notes. Students are responsible for bringing their own blue book.

Grading Breakdown