Hybridisation, fragmentation, individualisation – extremist ideologies in transition?
The publication series issue #15 examines the structure, dissemination and reception of extremist content on social networks in relation to hybridisation, based on a network analysis of 924 German-language Instagram accounts and a thematic analysis of eight expert interviews from the field of prevention and disengagement work. The accounts were categorised by the project team in a multi-stage process according to content, format and gender read. The interviews were evaluated using thematic analysis in MAXQDA, which enabled the derivation of a category system.
The results illustrate a significant change in ideological anchoring that affects all phenomena: the individualisation, fragmentation and media networking of extremist meaning-making processes are increasing, while clear, closed ideological currents are becoming rarer. This has practical implications, particularly for prevention and disengagement work.