What is ‘salad bar’ extremism, and is a new rehab playbook needed to tackle this form of radicalisation?
Singapore's Internal Security Department is addressing a rise in 'salad bar' extremism, where individuals adopt a patchwork of conflicting ideologies to justify violence. Experts suggest that traditional rehabilitation methods are becoming less effective against this complex, non-linear form of radicalization.
Why it matters
Understanding this shift is critical for national security agencies globally as they adapt counter-terrorism strategies to address increasingly fragmented and unpredictable extremist narratives.
In the last 10 months, the Internal Security Department (ISD) has handled at least three instances of “salad bar” extremism under the Internal Security Act.
Those radicalised by "salad bar" extremism, or CoVE, assemble their own patchwork of ideologies, including conflicting ones such as pro-ISIS and far-right narratives (Illustration: CNA/Clara Ho)
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