EXPERT: Christer Mattson
Christer Mattson is Director of the Segerstedt Institute at the University of Gothenburg. His research mainly focuses on processes of radicalization to violent extremism and counter measures.
Christer Mattson identifies that while extremism might be deviant, the processes by which people become radicalised are ordinary interactions. He states that those with extremist beliefs that go on to perpetrate crimes often have a preexisting history of violence, including prejudiced family backgrounds. He identifies how labelling and confrontation can radicalise people into hate movements and that gently supporting individuals to reexamine their beliefs is a better approach, with particular ramifications for educators. He describes his work with the Nordic Resistance Movement, and introduces the concept of ‘Liquid Fascism’ which identifies that aspects of the fascist worldview are decentralised and culturally widespread, connected to an ideology of whiteness. He describes how the complexity of modern life leads to conspiracy theories which provide simple explanations.