Deradicalisation

noun

/ˌdiːˌræd.ɪ.kəl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

Programmes and processes aimed at enabling individuals who have adopted extremist beliefs and behaviours to renounce violent ideologies, disengage from terrorist organisations, and reintegrate into mainstream society; encompasses both disengagement (stopping violent behaviour) and ideological change (abandoning radical beliefs)

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

India's Surrendered Militants Rehabilitation Scheme in the Northeast represents a deradicalisation approach combining financial incentives with vocational training and community reintegration — recognising that sustainable peace requires addressing root causes, not just military suppression.

Synonyms

disengagementrehabilitationcounter-radicalisationreintegration

Antonyms

radicalisationextremist recruitmentterrorist indoctrination

🌱 Word Family

deradicalisation (n), deradicalise (v), deradicalised (adj), radicalisation (antonym/starting point n)

🔡 Root

Latin de- = reversal + Latin radicalis = of the root (radix = root) + -isation = process suffix

📜 Etymology

Formalised as counter-terrorism policy after the 9/11 attacks; Malaysia's Deradicalisation Programme and Singapore's Religious Rehabilitation Group are regional models; India's Naxal surrender-and-rehabilitation policies and J&K deradicalisation efforts represent domestic applications; the term distinguishes between coercive exit from violence and genuine ideological transformation

🧠 Memory Hook

DE + RADICAL + -ISATION: DE = reversal; RADICAL = root; DERADICALISATION = pulling out the ROOT of extremism from someone's core beliefs

🛡️ Internal Security 📖 Seen in: Internal Security — Threats, Cyber Sec...

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