Religious radicalism and extremism in the context of instrumentalization of political violence

Although violence is a subject handled by different disciplines, it is accepted as a phenomenon that changes according to time and society. For this reason, violence is considered as a concept that draws attention to dangers in every area where it occurs. Therefore, the fact that the concept of violence, which has a high probability of negative results, is useful in deception and intimidation and is quite negative, has found its place in the political arena, causing violence to be instrumentalized in line with its aims. In this context, the situation emphasized in the study is that political violence is not always the goal and is a tool as it is generally observed. Political violence suggests itself not only as a result, but as a method to rule, divide and harm in the way it is aimed to be achieved. As a method, religious phenomena are used today, with the effect of globalization, in creating the target of violence. Individuals or organizations that go to extremes in religion and display serious attitudes and behaviors in their belief in their own righteousness have resorted to violent demonstrations many times in order to mobilize the masses and keep their beliefs alive in the political arena. Therefore, the aim of the thesis has been determined as to prevent the use of violence as a tool in actions in line with the manipulation of individuals by revealing the goals and reasons for the demonstrations of violence. In this context, the hypothesis of the thesis is based on the idea that the establishment of violence in the political arena is not seen as an end or a result, but rather as a tool. In the thesis, the reasons and results of this instrumentalization are researched and presented with the analysis method based on documents. First of all, it was aimed to define and understand the concept of political violence, thus, it was aimed to open the way to the phenomenon of religious radicalism and extremism and to reveal the methods in which the concept found its place in this field. Finally, recommendations to stay in front of religious radicalism and extremism are listed and the situation is presented with examples from the world.