The undeniable reality of the ‘war on terror’, radicalisation and sanity : WestminsterResearch

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Chapter title	The undeniable reality of the ‘war on terror’, radicalisation and sanity
Authors	Ahmed, S.
Editors	Bhui, K. and Bhugra, D.
Abstract	This chapter explores the relationship between ‘structure, mental health (agency-emotions-trauma) and radicalisation’. It uses Cohen’s States of Denial as a Freudian meta narrative to explore how denial operates to protect individual’s sanity against the atrocities and suffering in the world. It demonstrates how the denials of injustice, suffering and erosion of human rights in the ‘war on terror’ are exposed by Islamists and form part of their counter narrative to the ‘war on terror’. The chapter contends that this exposure of harmful realities leads to overwhelming emotions that individuals struggle to regulate, and it is the need for support, understanding and compassion in dealing with such emotions that leads individuals to seek out extremist groups. It is argued that public services must support emotional resilience, and the absence of these services represents a continuing academic and policy neglect of how societal structures and institutions impact individuals’ beliefs and emotions and form part of their experience of victimisation.
Keywords	War on terror
	sanity
	denial
	emotions
	radicalisation
	trauma
Book title	Terrorism, Violent Radicalisation, and Mental Health
Year	2021
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Published	04 Mar 2021
ISBN	9780198845706

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The undeniable reality of the ‘war on terror’, radicalisation and sanity

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