There was a time when taking an oath of loyalty meant swearing allegiance to a king, a country, or an army. Today, it happens in encrypted chat rooms, secret online forums, and even among casual friend groups on social media. The path from activism to radicalisation is often invisible — until it isn’t.

The world watches as terrorist organisations, far-right militias, and ideological cults manipulate people into pledging loyalty to a cause that demands everything from them. But what if I told you that radicalisation doesn’t always begin with an extremist doctrine or violent rhetoric?

It often starts with something small.

A shared frustration. A personal injustice. A harmless joke in an online group. A sense of belonging.

And then comes the pledge.

Not always in the form of a formal oath, but in small moments of commitment. Liking one radical post. Attending one gathering. Retweeting one idea that, a few months ago, seemed extreme. That’s the first step toward ownership of the ideology — and with ownership comes responsibility to act.

The most dangerous oaths are the ones people don’t even realise they’ve taken.

The Digital Oath: The Quiet Radicalisation We Ignore

Not all oaths are spoken.

In today’s hyper-connected world, pledging allegiance to an idea happens in ways we barely notice.

• When someone repeats a conspiracy theory so many times that they stop questioning it.
• When a teenager joins an extremist Discord server, thinking it’s just ‘edgy humor’ but eventually internalises the hate.
• When a group chat turns into a reinforcement bubble, where every outsider is an enemy.

Unlike the days of military initiations and blood oaths, today’s radicalisation process is subtle, prolonged, and digital. The algorithm feeds you more of what you engage with. The echo chamber solidifies your beliefs. The community rewards your loyalty.

And then one day, you don’t just believe it — you belong to it.

That’s when an idea is no longer just an idea. It’s an identity. And once that happens, the person is ready to take real-world action.

From Words to Action: The Tipping Point

Here’s what most people misunderstand about radicalisation — the moment of transformation isn’t always obvious.

Some believe there’s a clear shift from peaceful activism to violent extremism, but reality tells a different story. Most radicals don’t even know they’re being radicalised.

The difference between activism and extremism isn’t in what you believe — it’s in what you’re willing to do for those beliefs.

Let’s take a modern example.

Consider a cyber-activist group that starts as a whistleblower movement exposing corruption. Over time, the group becomes militant, justifying cyber attacks, doxxing, and destruction of reputations in the name of “justice.”

At what point did their mission change?

The members likely didn’t see it happen. It was a slow shift — one radical post at a time, one justified attack after another. But the moment they start enforcing their beliefs by harming others, they’ve crossed the invisible line from activist to extremist.

The same happens in political movements, nationalist groups, and even online fandoms. Any community that rewards loyalty and unquestioned belief can become a radical echo chamber.

The ‘Harmless’ Oath: Everyday Extremism in Our Society

Here’s where it gets uncomfortable.

The idea of oaths and pledges isn’t just confined to terrorists, cults, or fringe groups. We see micro-radicalisation everywhere:

• The workplace loyalty cult — Where employees are pressured to sacrifice personal ethics for corporate gain.
• The social media mob — Where one opinion shift makes you an enemy overnight.
• The political tribalist — Where people see compromise as betrayal, not progress.
• The extremist self-help guru — Who convinces followers to ‘cut off anyone who disagrees with your mindset.’

The modern extremist doesn’t need a flag, a uniform, or a secret society. They just need a group that demands complete loyalty.

And this is how everyday people — good people — find themselves taking oaths they don’t remember making.

Breaking the Oath: How to Counter Silent Radicalisation

If radicalisation starts with small moments of allegiance, then de-radicalisation has to start the same way.

Question the Unquestionable

• If a movement, leader, or ideology discourages you from asking questions, that’s a red flag.
• If loyalty is valued over truth, it’s not a belief system — it’s a cult.

Recognise How Ideology Becomes Identity

• When a person fuses their identity with a belief, they lose the ability to change their mind without losing themselves.
• Encourage fluidity of thought, not rigid dogma.

Watch for Digital Echo Chambers

• Social media feeds us what we engage with — which means a few interactions can reshape someone’s reality.
• Break the cycle. Read opposing views. Challenge narratives. Seek diversity of thought.

Challenge Performative Loyalty

• The need to “prove” allegiance leads to extremes.
• Any group that requires tests of loyalty — whether verbal, written, or action-based — is creating radicals, not free thinkers.

Final Thought: The Most Dangerous Oath is the One We Never Question

Radicalisation doesn’t announce itself. It doesn’t come with flags, uniforms, or dramatic moments of conversion.

It happens quietly, through small agreements, repeated affirmations, and unchallenged beliefs.

We like to think of extremists as “others” — as people unlike us. But the truth is, anyone can fall into an ideology that rewards loyalty over logic.

So, the next time you feel pressure to prove your loyalty, ask yourself:

Is this a belief? Or is it becoming an oath?

Because once you take an oath — once your identity fuses with the cause — it’s no longer just an idea.

It’s a duty.

And duties demand action.

That’s how radicalisation happens. Not with a gun. Not with a manifesto. But with a whispered oath, spoken or unspoken, that seals the fate of an individual long before they realise what they’ve committed to.