Jihadism may be waning, but new forms of violent extremism are emerging

The next wave of violent extremism could also emerge from individuals and organizations threatened by technology and the coming age of automation and artificial intelligence. For all the promises of such new technology, this could also be a dangerous time, as machines replace more humans across industries. Work traditionally provides a framework for personal identity and dignity. The transition away from that will likely be difficult, even traumatic. The millions of people rendered economically superfluous by technology will be angry and vulnerable to ideologies that explain that they are not at fault for their misery and must fight back against the machines and those who profit from them. Individual acts of violence and resistance may merge into movements and organizations.

Along similar lines, the dislocations brought by climate change could fuel extremism. All violent ideologies begin with an explanation of who or what the threat is. In this case, the threat would be the individuals, corporations, organizations and nations rich enough to immunize themselves from rising sea levels, rising temperatures and other environmental impacts of climate change. A violent ideology sparked by climate change’s destructiveness might target the global elite not for their politics, but simply for their ability to avoid the suffering.