As a man without a faithful atom in his body I am fascinated by the phenomenon of radicalisation; the alchemical process by which law-abiding, and often well-educated young Australians are transformed into passionate supporters of an international cadre whose beliefs send shivers down respectable spines. Unsurprisingly, those who embrace such an ideology keep their sympathies secret from their neighbours, their co-workers and even their own families, sometimes maintaining a façade of quiet respectability for years before acknowledging the values they’ve chosen to live by.