Rotten trees, bad apples? Understanding the intergenerational transmission of extremism

Abstract

This dissertation examines the intergenerational transmission of extremism, focusing on how right-wing extremist and jihadist parents convey their violent worldviews to their children. While parental influence on values and beliefs is well documented, little is known about whether extremist ideologies are similarly passed down. Using intelligence data from the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), interviews with practitioners and (former) extremists, court rulings, and existing literature, this study investigates the scope, mechanisms, and consequences of extremist transmission.

Findings suggest that extremist parents may indeed raise their children with these worldviews, and that such practices may occur in the Netherlands as well. The analysis shows that transmission processes unfold through three dimensions: ideological socialization mechanisms, everyday parenting practices, and narratives of parenthood. Yet transmission is not inevitable - some children resist extremist ideas, and parenthood itself may serve as a turning point towards disengagement.

The dissertation concludes that extremist transmission is best understood within broader family dynamics and everyday child–parent interactions. It underscores the need for systemic, family-centered interventions that acknowledge both risks and resilience within extremist households.