Understanding the role of parenting in developing radical beliefs: lessons learned from Indonesia

Prior research suggests that family-related factors may be associated with a predisposition towards radicalism. This qualitative study aims to investigate if parents who are former members of an extremist organisation and parents from typical Islamic communities in Indonesia differ in their perceptions about the role of parenting in contributing to preventing their families from radicalisation. Using focus group methodology, the current study (N = 27) compared two groups (Group 1 consisted 7 former extremists and Group 2 consisted of 20 parents from moderate Islamic communities in Indonesia) to assess their beliefs about the role of parenting in the development of radical ideology. Three aspects were investigated: (a) Perceptions about parenting, parenting values and beliefs, (b) Perceptions of radicalisation, including associated factors to radicalisation and extremism, and (c) Parenting roles to develop or prevent children from radicalisation. Implications of the key findings for the prevention of radicalism are discussed in this study