A Millennial Challenge: Extremism in Uncertain Times

Abstract

This comment highlights the relevance and importance of the uncertainty-extremism topic, both scientifically and societally, identifies common themes, locates this work in a wider scientific and social context, describes what we now know and what we still do not, acknowledges some limitations, foreshadowing future directions, and discusses some potential policy relevance. Common themes emerge around the importance of social justice as sound anti-extremism policy. Uncertainty and Extremism, this Journal of Social Issues volume, is a disturbing, must-read compilation of millennial, unprecedented insights. Addressing a life-and-death mystery of our era, the tragedy of terrorism nevertheless yields to scientific analysis. We can understand why desperate people blow up thousands of their fellow human beings. This concluding article has several aims: highlighting the relevance and importance of the topic both scientifically and societally, identifying common themes, locating this work in a wider scientific and social context, identifying what we now know and what we still don’t, acknowledging some limitations, foreshadowing future directions, and discussing some potential policy issues.