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As part of the EU Knowledge Hub (EUKH), the digital magazine “The Hub. Insights” is published, among other initiatives, to bring together knowledge on radicalization and extremism in an easily accessible format. The June issue featured articles by experts from the Documentation Center Political Islam (DPI), among others: Alexander Weissenburger addressed the topic “Salafism as a Modern Phenomenon in a Postmodern World” in his article, while DPI author Markus Wagner published the article “The End of Ideologies?”

Salafism as a Modern Phenomenon in a Postmodern World

Background

SSalafism is one of the most dynamic movements within Islam and poses a major challenge for the prevention of radicalization. Even in its legalistic form, it advocates withdrawal from society, restrictive gender norms, and a Manichaean worldview, which is spread through proselytizing (da‘wa). Missionierung verbreitet wird. 

In its most radical form, its followers even advocate terrorist violence. Despite its backward-looking nature, Salafism is a structurally modern phenomenon.

The Origins and Radicalization of Salafism

The end of the 19th century marks the beginning of Salafism as we know it today. The movement focused in particular on reinterpreting Islam based solely on the Quran and the Sunnah of Muhammad, and on living according to the example set by the first generations of Muslims, the so-called “righteous predecessors” (al-ṣalaf al-ṣāliḥ). Initially, the goal was to modernize Islam. After World War I, Salafists looked to the emerging Saudi state and adopted Wahhabism from there, a combination that led to the emergence of Neo-Salafism. Starting in the mid-1950s, members of the Muslim Brotherhood who had fled to Saudi Arabia politicized this movement. With the oil boom of the 1970s, Saudi Arabia exploited Neo-Salafism as a soft-power tool against socialism and republicanism in the Middle East. Through migration, the movement eventually reached Europe in the 1980s.

An Alternative to Modernism

Salafists interpret the Quran literally and promote what they view as “true Islam.” They regard the Quran and the Sunnah of Muhammad as a complete guide for all aspects of life. The traditional five-tiered system used in mainstream Islam to evaluate human actions is reduced in Salafism to a binary system of forbidden (ḥarām) and permitted (ḥalāl).  

Salafism is appealing because it provides a sense of stability in a postmodern world. Its clear distinctions between right and wrong, and between “us” and “them,” particularly appeal to young people who long for security and clarity. It offers them a bulwark against doubt and arbitrariness and gives them a sense of belonging to a chosen community. Salafist radicalization is therefore not merely a product of an individual’s sense of injustice, but also an expression of broader societal developments.

The End of Ideologies

Cross-Ideological Alliances in Europe

In recent years, particularly since October 7, 2023, there has been a noticeable increase in cross-ideological cooperation among extremist groups in Europe. At numerous demonstrations in Western cities, alliances have been observed between the far left and the far right, as well as between supporters of the queer movement and Islamist factions.

Strategies of Islamist Actors on Social Media

A closer look at Islamist actors in Europe reveals how they use social media to refute the accusations of extremism leveled against them. In doing so, they frame these accusations as an expression of “Islamophobia” allegedly stemming from Western-influenced societies, while subtly conveying their ideological positions—such as their fundamental rejection of democratic and pluralistic social models—to the outside world.

Staging as Civil Society Actors

The posts by Islamist influencers are professionally designed and intended to portray the actors involved as civil society initiatives. Core ideological elements, such as the establishment of a caliphate or the introduction of Sharia law, are usually addressed only indirectly. Furthermore, it is evident that they are increasingly adopting the communication and presentation strategies of both the far right and the far left. As a result, various extremist groups are becoming increasingly similar in their self-presentation and are more difficult for outsiders to distinguish from one another.

A Return to Ideological Positions

The developments described above make it challenging for these actors to find a unique selling point that sets them apart from similar groups. This makes it more difficult to retain supporters over the long term. It is therefore likely that extremist actors will once again adopt ideologically clearer positions in the future in order to attract more supporters.

(Note: These are summaries of articles from the June 2026 issue.)

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