Sexually and socially frustrated ‘Incels’ have committed acts of violent extremism in North America and pose increasing threat to Australia and other industrialized settings. We consider policy responses to a form of misogynist violence that targets men and women indiscriminately. Provocatively, the authors advocate securitizing Incel, considering how securitization needs not only emerge from supportive framings in the media and public discourse, but can also be an active agent in creating them. The authors argue that the best response is to try to understand and engage the antagonized other prior to radicalisation, and that this can be successfully enacted through ‘routine’ rather than 'exceptional’ types of governance. However, securitization remains a necessary first step in unlocking the resources and political will for tackling the threat that Incel poses.
2020