France has learned in recent years to respond to various forms of extremism. Islamist terrorism remains the biggest threat to security, far-right networks are closely monitored, and left-wing violence is also a focus of authorities. Now another form of radicalization is emerging: so-called manosphere extremism.
This is still a relatively small phenomenon. But the handling for the first time by French anti-terrorist justice of an attack plot likely inspired by the so-called Incel ideology marks a turning point. The question is no longer whether this form of radicalization exists, but how seriously it must be taken.
The term “Incel” means “involuntary celibate,” i.e. men who are involuntarily abstinent. In the digital echo chambers of this movement, personal frustrations and ideological interpretive patterns mingle. Women are made responsible, social developments are interpreted as an attack on masculine identity. From an individual disappointment arises a politicized worldview which, in its most radical forms, legitimizes violence.
The mechanisms are known. As with other extremist movements, radicalization often happens online. Digital communities mutually reinforce grievances, create a sense of collective victimhood, and foster a growing estrangement from social institutions. Violence is frequently idealized; former authors of attacks become symbolic figures.
However, it would be wrong to automatically regard every anti-feminist or misogynistic expression as a terrorist threat. Not every radical opinion leads to violence. Security authorities face the challenge of distinguishing between socially problematic attitudes and a genuine terrorist threat.
That is precisely why sobriety is necessary. The history of counterterrorism shows that new threats are often underestimated at first. At the same time, there is a risk of overreaction. An overexcited public debate can create the impression that a numerically limited phenomenon is more significant than it actually is.
Particular attention should be paid to the fact that many of the people affected are very young. Teenagers and young adults often operate in digital spaces where algorithms favor extreme content and can reinforce social isolation. The fight against this phenomenon will therefore not be solely the responsibility of the police and intelligence services. Schools, families, social work and digital platforms also have a responsibility.
France thus faces a challenge that goes far beyond the traditional fight against terrorism. It is a question of how open societies manage new forms of online radicalization before hatred turns into violence.
The manosphere does not currently pose a threat of the same magnitude as Islamist terrorism or organized far-right networks. However, early warning signs are visible. A resilient democracy should neither dramatize nor ignore these developments. Vigilance without alarmism remains the appropriate path.
Author: P. Tiko