If one is interested in studying the nature of terrorism, extremism, fundamentalism etc., one should always avoid the following question when interviewing respondents: “Have you encountered any radicals lately?” You will probably get certain answers but it is arguable whether it is what you’re looking for. The reason for this: people assume they understand what radicalism means but it depends on one’s interpretation. Because what is radicalism? Can you define or recognize it?

Political perspective

On a political level we can already recognize this interpretation dilemma with regard to terrorism. There is no universal or internationally accepted definition on terrorism. The reason for this is arbitrary and allegedly unknown, nonetheless the returning component in many definitions is ideology. To illustrate: when a group executes an attack on predominantly innocent people, but with reference to for instance the ruling elite, their attack is usually justified by a certain embraced ideology. Allied states of the victimized country are quick to condemn the attack and label it as a terrorist attack. Regarding the innocent deaths and injuries, the condemnation of an atrocity by allied states is normal and utterly justified. When it comes to terrorism, however, it is their interpretation of terrorism. Understandably, they interpret it as such because it frightens the particular political power and it may even threaten their ideal political form of government in particular. Counter attacks will follow, which will consequently be labeled as terrorist attacks too. This time by the initial attackers and their allies. And who can blame them? These counter attacks are manifestly based on an ideology too: protection of the victims’ ideal form of government for example. It becomes a slippery slope when one condemns not merely an attack but also the entire ideology behind it. One should always be aware that it is often the devilish interpretation of an ideology that motivates the attackers. The ideology itself might not be so manifestly wrong as one sometimes think.

Terminological perspective

An illustrative example can be given when focusing on for instance Jihad. Jihad is not an ideology per se, it is a means to establish a certain ideology. However, the connotation of Jihad is predominantly negative and related to violence and linked to many terrorist attacks. It is often translated as the “Holy War”, which can be true but this is rather shortsighted. It is an ongoing discussion what it literally means, but a more accepted translation is “struggle”. The “Greater Jihad” is an individual religious struggle to live as a good Muslim, meaning that one will not fall for particular temptations the world has to offer. This is in sharp contrast to the dominant interpretation with its violent elements. Hence, Jihad can be morally wrong but it is not evidently so. Again, it entirely depends on the interpretation.

Conclusion

Back to the introduction; these negative interpretations of Jihad continue to run in the minds of many of the respondents. Moreover, it is not unlikely that they illustrate a radicalized person based on someone’s appearance, rather than their thoughts or statements. To be clear, I don’t pretend to know what should be done to overcome the interpretation dilemmas. Quite the contrary. All the illustrative definitions and assumptions I formulated are also based on a certain interpretation of the sources I used. I just used them to make my point. But what I am certain of – and what not every respondent understands – is that not every person with a beard or a djellaba is a radical Muslim.