Kuper: Putin, Trump radicalising to violence
Source: ft.com
TL;DR
- Radicalisation Shift: Simon Kuper argues that focus has moved from young people becoming terrorists via online echo chambers to powerful figures like Putin and Trump radicalising towards violence.[[1]](https://www.ft.com/simon-kuper)[[2]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96)
- Key Figures Named: Putin, Donald Trump, and Elon Musk serve as recent case studies of this radicalisation process.[[3]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
- Security Implication: The piece highlights how terrorism fears peaked 20 years ago with "radicalisation" as the buzzword for confused youth turning violent online.[[2]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96)
The story at a glance
Simon Kuper's FT Magazine column examines how the concept of "radicalisation" has evolved. Twenty years ago, amid peak terrorism fears, it described young people entering online echo chambers and becoming terrorists. Now, according to Kuper, it better fits powerful individuals like Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Elon Musk moving towards violence. The article appears now as Kuper analyses current political figures' behaviour in FT's Life & Arts section.[[1]](https://www.ft.com/simon-kuper)[[4]](https://x.com/KuperSimon)
Key points
- Published April 23, 2026, in FT Magazine under Life & Arts by Simon Kuper, a regular columnist on politics and society.[[1]](https://www.ft.com/simon-kuper)
- Opens with 2006 context: terrorism fears at peak, "radicalisation" as security buzzword for stories of confused young people.[[2]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96)
- Describes past narrative: youth going online into echo chambers where all agreed, emerging as terrorists.[[3]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
- Kuper's thesis: today's radicalisation involves powerful people like Putin, Trump, and Musk as case studies towards violence.[[3]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
Details and context
The article contrasts early 2000s security discourse, post-major attacks, when radicalisation meant vulnerable youth in online bubbles leading to terrorism. Kuper, known for blending politics, culture, and sports analysis, flips this to critique elite figures.[[3]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
No full text is publicly available due to paywall, but previews and Kuper's promotion confirm the core argument without detailed evidence or mechanisms explained in visible snippets.[[2]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96)
It fits Kuper's recent FT work on leaders like Trump and global trends, such as AI risks or longevity, often opinion-oriented rather than reporting new events.[[1]](https://www.ft.com/simon-kuper)
Key quotes
“We used to talk about young people being 'radicalised' in online echo chambers, and turning into terrorists.” — Simon Kuper, promoting the article on X.[[4]](https://x.com/KuperSimon)
Why it matters
Powerful individuals radicalising can normalise violence from the top, shifting public discourse from grassroots threats to elite actions. For readers and decision-makers, it warns that leaders' echo chambers may drive policy towards aggression, affecting global stability. Watch if Kuper provides evidence on Putin, Trump, or Musk in future pieces, though full details remain paywalled.
FAQ
Q: What was radicalisation 20 years ago according to the article?
A: It was the buzzword for confused young people going online into echo chambers and turning into terrorists amid peak terrorism fears.[[2]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96)
Q: Who does Kuper say are now radicalising into violence?
A: Putin, Donald Trump, and Elon Musk as recent case studies of powerful individuals.[[3]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
Q: Where was the article published?
A: In FT Magazine under Life & Arts by Simon Kuper on April 23, 2026.[[1]](https://www.ft.com/simon-kuper)
Q: Why the shift in radicalisation focus per Kuper?
A: From young online recruits to elites like Putin and Trump, reflecting current politics of violence.[[3]](https://www.ft.com/content/cfe7310a-bc20-4f25-8ea5-b55431f64d96?syn-25a6b1a6=1)