All in the Brain

Individuals tend to become susceptible to radicalisation and extremism when they suffer social exclusion. An international team of researchers using the most sophisticated neuro-imaging techniques have discovered what most of us found out in the school playground: that human beings are herd animals with a strong urge towards conformity and acceptance by their peers. Conveniently, the new study also proves beyond reasonable doubt that the radicalising effect of "other variables, such as poverty, religious conservatism and even psychosis" is negligible or even nonexistent, since no-one has ever suffered social isolation just because they were poor or heretical or behaved oddly. Thus western policymakers will now have yet another reason to abandon their strenuous efforts at alleviating poverty and improving mental health, in favour of more sensible and moderate measures such as all-out war on nonconformity. It remains as yet unclear what measures will be taken against wealthy parents who isolate their children in exclusive environments which encourage the belief that there is no such thing as society; but for the moment we can at least be thankful for what science can achieve provided it knows its place.