PREVENTING
RADICALIZATION: A
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
December 2015
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
December 2015
Study by the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC)
This document was funded primarily by the Comité interministériel de prévention de la délinquance
(CIPD) of France
Supervision: Daniel Cauchy
Coordination, research and writing: Pablo Madriaza and Anne-Sophie Ponsot
Writing assistants: Fanny Valendru, Jeremy Galvan and Arber Fetiu
Collection and analysis of legislative measures: Alexandra Frederick
Interns: Blavasky Nzimbu-Makamu, Juan Roldan, Nicolas Benzacar, Claudio Modica and Jeremy
Lacour
Linguistic review: Roxane Martel-Perron and Céline Monnier
Keywords: radicalization, radicalization prevention, best practices
International Centre for the Prevention of Crime
465 Rue St-Jean, Suite 803
Montreal, Quebec
Canada
H2Y 2R6
www.cipc-icpc.org
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The ICPC would like to thank the Dentons Canada LLP law firm and the University of Ottawa’s
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs which, under the direction of ICPC president,
Chantal Bernier, contributed the time of their professionals to help us inventory relevant legislative
measures.
We wish to thank David Morin, professor at the École de politique appliquée de l’Université de
Sherbrooke and research director at the Centre interuniversitaire de recherche sur les relations
internationales du Canada et du Québec (CIRRICQ), as well as Stéphane Leman-Langlois, professor
at Université Laval, incumbent of the Canada Research Chair in Surveillance and the Social
Construction of Risk and director of the anti-terrorism research team/équipe de recherche sur le
terrorisme et l’anti-terrorisme (ERTA), both members of the board of directors of the Quebec
Observatory on Radicalization and Violent Extremism, who have helped us enrich the content
of this report.
We would also like to thank the Secrétariat général du Comité interministériel de prévention
de la délinquance (SG-CIPD), particularly Prefect Pierre N'Gahane, whose financial support made
this study possible, and the contribution by Arnaud Colombié, which gave us a better
understanding of measures implemented by the Government of France.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
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ABBREVIATIONS
CIA: Central Intelligence Agency
CIPD: Comité interministériel de prévention de la délinquance [Interministerial committee for the
prevention of delinquency]
CNAPR: Centre national d’assistance et de prévention de la radicalisation [National centre for
radicalization prevention and support]
CONTEST: Counter-Terrorism Strategy
COPPRA: Community Policing and Prevention of Radicalisation
CPOST: Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism
CPTED: Crime Prevention through Environmental Design
CTITF: Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force
DAECH: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
DCLG: Department for Communities and Local Government
ECEGVR: European Commission’s Expert Group on Violent Radicalisation
EDL: English Defence League
ETA: Euskadi Ta Askatasuna [Basque Country and freedom organization]
EUROPOL: European Police Office
FINTRAC: Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
RRG: Religious Rehabilitation Group
ICCT: International Centre for Counter-Terrorism
ICPC: International Centre for the Prevention of Crime
ICSR: International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation
INHESJ: Institut national des hautes études de la sécurité et de la justice [National institute for
advanced studies in security and justice]
JI: Jemaah Islamiyah. An Indonesian Islamist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda.
MCU: Muslim Contact Unit
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
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NGO: Non-governmental organization
NYPD: New York City Police Department
OSCE: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
PEGIDA: Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes [European patriots
against Islamisation of the West]
PET: Politiets Efterretningstjeneste [Danish police intelligence service]
SIPI: Stichting Interculturele Participatie en Integratie [Foundation for intercultural participation and
integration]
START: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
STREET: Strategy to Reach, Empower, and Educate Teenagers
UCLAT: Unité de coordination de la lutte antiterroriste [Anti-terrorism coordination unit]
UN: United Nations
UNODC: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................................. 3
ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................................... 6
FOREWORD..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Preventing radicalization leading to violence – a topic notably absent from security discussions ............ 8
I.
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 10
II.
RADICALIZATION AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM TRENDS ........................................................................ 15
2.1 Terrorism around the world ............................................................................................................ 15
2.1.1
Terrorism in the West .............................................................................................................. 16
2.2 Foreign terrorist fighters ................................................................................................................. 19
2.2.1
Statistics ................................................................................................................................... 19
2.2.2
Geography ............................................................................................................................... 20
2.2.3
Returning ................................................................................................................................. 20
2.2.4
Women in conflict zones ......................................................................................................... 20
2.3 The far right .................................................................................................................................... 21
III.
2.3.1
Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia ............................................................................................. 22
2.3.2
The radical right in the United States ...................................................................................... 22
2.3.3
Women and the radical right ................................................................................................... 23
EXPLAINING RADICALIZATION: FACTORS, CONTEXTS AND TRAJECTORIES ......................................... 24
3.1 Explanatory factors in the radicalization process ............................................................................ 27
3.1.1
Recruitment opportunities or channels ................................................................................... 29
3.1.2
Individual factors ..................................................................................................................... 34
3.1.3
Relational or group factors ...................................................................................................... 39
3.1.4
Community factors .................................................................................................................. 41
3.1.5
Macro and exo-systemic factors .............................................................................................. 42
3.2 Radicalization trajectories ............................................................................................................... 45
3.2.1
The Wiktorowicz model ........................................................................................................... 46
3.2.2
Stahelski’s five stages of social psychological conditioning ..................................................... 48
3.2.3
The Moghaddam model .......................................................................................................... 49
3.2.4
Sage a ’s
3.2.5
NYPD model ............................................................................................................................. 52
odel ..................................................................................................................... 51
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
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3.2.6
IV.
The Danish Security and Intelligence Service [Politiets Efterretningstjeneste] (PET) model ... 54
MEASURES FOR PREVENTING RADICALIZATION AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM ...................................... 58
4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 58
4.1.1
Crime prevention approaches ................................................................................................. 58
4.1.2
Background on counter-radicalization policies ....................................................................... 60
4.2 Typology of measures ..................................................................................................................... 65
V.
4.2.1
Measures, mechanisms and strategies .................................................................................... 65
4.2.2
Description of typology ........................................................................................................... 67
4.2.3
Individual measures ................................................................................................................. 68
4.2.4
Relational environment measures ........................................................................................... 83
4.2.5
Measures targeting the community environment .................................................................. 87
4.2.6
Measures targeting the societal environment ........................................................................ 91
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................... 97
5.1 Issues and challenges ...................................................................................................................... 98
5.1.1
Limited knowledge of the topic ............................................................................................... 98
5.1.2
Persisting evaluation difficulties .............................................................................................. 99
5.1.3
The absence of a gender perspective ...................................................................................... 99
5.1.4
The absence of protective factors and limited use of social prevention in the strict sense .100
5.1.5
The importance of working with the community and two-way social integration ...............100
5.1.6
Familiar tools .........................................................................................................................101
5.1.7
Marginalization and stigmatization of Muslim communities ................................................101
5.1.8
Respect for individual freedoms ............................................................................................102
5.2 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................ 103
VII.
5.2.1
General recommendations ....................................................................................................103
5.2.2
The individual ........................................................................................................................104
5.2.3
The relational environment ...................................................................................................107
5.2.4
The community environment ................................................................................................107
5.2.5
The societal environment ......................................................................................................108
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS CITED .................................................................................................. 110
APPENDICES................................................................................................................................................ 130
A.1 Appendix 1. Methodology ............................................................................................................. 130
A.1.1
Research questions ................................................................................................................130
A.1.2
Research strategy ..................................................................................................................131
A.1.3
Procedure ..............................................................................................................................133
A.2 Appendix 2. Legislative measures ................................................................................................. 136
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
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FOREWORD
Preventing radicalization leading to violence – a topic notably absent from
security discussions
Two divergent themes have emerged from discussions surrounding the tragedy of last November
13 in Paris: first, the highly understandable “declaration of war” by President Hollande, who called
for heightened controls, and second, comments from security experts who understand the
limitations of repression measures and surveillance. We can only hope that a middle ground
emerges, leading to the realization that prevention efforts are the only way to stop a movement
that is proving so trying to the forces of law and order. No response, preventive or repressive, can
claim the ability to neutralize the security risk. However, security is not possible without the
combined effort of both. And yet, we have neglected prevention efforts in favour of repression
measures, thus compromising the basic right to privacy and undermining the effectiveness of the
public safety apparatus. However, the evidence shows that prevention minimizes risk, thereby
complementing the efforts of law enforcement while easing their burden and enhancing
effectiveness. Above all, prevention builds a safer community, something we can all appreciate. And
solutions do exist.
On October 21, 2015 at the City Hall in Paris, under the auspices of the Embassy of Canada and in
the Ambassador’s presence, the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC) presented
the preliminary findings of the first part of its study on the prevention of radicalization. The packed
and high-level audience attested to the level of concern. The timing of this event, with the tragedy
of November 13 barely three weeks away, highlights the need to strengthen prevention efforts in
order to offset the limitations of control measures. The main themes of the ICPC study shed light
on this issue.
ICPC senior analyst Pablo Madriaza and analyst Anne-Sophie Ponsot describe radicalization
prevention as a combination of certain conventional security principles, like surveillance, with social
policies concerning integration and cohesion. They state: [translation] “the social prevention of
radicalization aims to limit the development of risk factors and strengthen factors that protect
against such a process.”
Their study identifies effective and strategic prevention projects, though few in number, operating
in Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East (including Saudi Arabia and the Arab Emirates).
These projects share the same definition of radicalization, target the same individuals and have the
same response structure.
The targeted individuals are usually isolated youth in search of an identity, “politically frustrated”
with a “cognitive openness” to radical discourse following a triggering event in their political, social
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
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or personal environment. They consequently become more susceptible to “radicalization
entrepreneurs,” influential, radicalized individuals in search of followers.
The prevention structure centres on concentric units: the individual, to strengthen his or her
resistance to radical discourse; the individual’s relational environment, to counteract the sources of
radicalization; the individual’s community, to identify negative influences; and the societal
environment, to foster harmonious integration.
The ICPC study provides concrete examples of responses at each level. In the United Kingdom, for
example, the Being British Being Muslim programme works with young Muslims to promote
religious diversity in harmony. In Norway, the EXIT program engages the parents of young people
exhibiting extremist loyalties. The same programme operates in Norway, Sweden and Germany to
motivate, provoke thought and stabilize individuals through moderate, positive discourse. The
objective is to dissipate violence before acting out, something we would all support. Nothing about
this response is complacent. It seeks to eliminate risk where it exists: in the mind of the radicalized
individual.
Response measures also centre on deradicalization. The ICPC study describes prison intervention
work in Denmark, Singapore, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia where prisoners engage in
theological discussions with imams to deconstruct extremist ideology. The United States and the
United Arab Emirates are jointly following in the same direction. Under the Sawab project, both
countries have joined forces to counter radical Internet propaganda by encouraging online debate
and opening a tolerant, constructive dialogue.
The ICPC study involves three key components that assist in preventing radicalization: pluralist and
harmonious social integration, greater emphasis on more refined, non-combative debate, and
diversified discourse that is truly inclusive.
Faced with the obvious limitations of control measures, with their steep costs and offensive
incursions on privacy, prevention must receive more attention. Safety cannot effectively or morally
rely solely on surveillance, which undermines privacy, accumulates relevant and irrelevant
information, and fails to address the heart of the problem. Prevention resources must be increased,
community partnership strengthened and intervention policies broadened. The debate must
therefore turn its attention to these areas, concretely and urgently.
This study represents a step in this direction.
Me Chantal Bernier, ICPC President
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I.
INTRODUCTION
We tend to assume that radicalisation is something that occurs only
on the other side, not noting that in responding to terrorism, the
polarisation process in society – and between societies – often
radicalises both sides. Schmid, A. P. (2013). Radicalisation, deradicalisation, counter-radicalisation: A conceptual discussion and
literature review.
In the past decade, radicalization leading to violence has become a growing international concern,
especially for developing countries. In particular, the phenomenon concerns young expatriates of
Western countries and their involvement in national and international violence and terrorist
activities. Most of these activities relate to religious beliefs and right-wing extremism. The attacks
of September 11, 2001, played a fundamental role in this concern. Many authors agree that the
post-9/11 period fostered research on terrorism, especially on a theoretical understanding of the
radicalization process (Ducol, 2015). The attacks in Madrid and London, however, were more
pointedly responsible for reorienting scientific research toward studying this process, especially
with the rise of “homegrown terrorism” by radicalized individuals who were born and spent most
of their lives in the West (Kundnani, 2012; Neumann & Kleinmann, 2013). This topic also relates to
other phenomena, including “lone wolves” and foreign fighters (Bakker, 2015). In the 1980-1999
period, scientific research on radicalization was mentioned in only 3% of publications in the field, 1
compared to 77% in the 2006-2010 period (Neumann & Kleinmann, 2013).
Although terrorism and radicalization are complementary fields of study, and although both
concepts are sometimes used interchangeably, they exhibit important differences. Different
approaches were therefore used to compare them. According to Taspinar (2009), for example, the
“terrorism” approach highlights “state actors, jihadist ideology, counter-intelligence, and coercive
action,” whereas the “radicalization” approach tries to explain the phenomena according to its root
causes, focusing primarily on psychological, social and economic development. These two trends
illustrate the shift [translation] “that occurs within the academic world from a paradigm centred on
the “causes/roots” of violent clandestine militancy phenomena, to another paradigm centred on
understanding these phenomena through the lens of the radicalization concept,” (Ducol, 2015, p.
49). Two types of response emerge. The first is relatively safe, focused more specifically on
preventing attacks and thus directly targeting violence. In relation to violence, the second response
is more indirect: although it tries to reduce violence, it does so by addressing the underlying factors
that socially or individually explain the development of radicalization. From a radicalization angle,
studies are more amenable to a preventive approach than one anchored in terrorism. This shift is
Of a sample of 260 articles or scientific reports from “Combating Violent Extremism—Radicalization Literature
Archive (CVE-LA).”
1
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largely due to the above-mentioned rise in “homegrown terrorists” in Western countries, and the
escalating concern over Western “foreign fighters,” especially those in Syria. The friend/foe
dichotomy is not as easy to apply as it was in the case of 9/11, when all of the attackers were
foreigners. Research has therefore transitioned toward understanding factors that explain the
radicalization process in Western countries, a field of study that has finally spread to the rest of
countries affected by this problem.
Chart 1. Articles that use the term "radicalization" in thirty specialized journals
Source: Kundnani, 2012, p. 7
As in criminology, the “terrorism/radicalization” dichotomy mirrors the coercion/prevention
polarity. In the same way that the idea of crime prevention began to take hold forty years ago,
counter-radicalization is in its infancy, with all the problems potentially involved. Several arguments
support increased initiatives and strategic responses centred on prevention rather than reaction.
One of them also originates in the crime prevention field: unlike the coercive approach, prevention
not only reduces the economic costs of attacks, but also the social costs associated with the
targeted people and countries, and with individuals engaged in a radicalization process. However,
the similarities end there. Currently, prevention of radicalization poses more problems than crime
prevention did forty years ago, particularly due to the lack of a consolidated body of scientific
literature and evidentiary data (Neumann & Kleinmann, 2013) and the absence of a conceptual
framework to guide the implementation of prevention strategies.
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The recent attacks in Paris will undoubtedly fuel discussion on the topic, particularly in terms of its
specific features and issues related to counter-terrorism.
To begin with, these events were not only the worst terrorist attack in France, but they also gave
rise to certain conclusions and singularities compared to trends seen in the West over the past
decade.
a) First of all, these attacks confirm the importance of addressing violent Western
radicalization (most of the identified attackers were Europeans);
b) Secondly, they confirm the importance of Western “foreign fighters” and conflicts in Muslim
countries in explaining the Western radicalization process;
c)
Thirdly, if the hierarchical and direct links between DAECH and cells in France are
confirmed,2 this type of attack reflects a shift in trends toward the decentralization and
empowerment of cells seen in the West following the September 11, 2001 attacks;3
d) Lastly, the unusual nature of the attacks resides in the fact that suicide attacks are a rare
occurrence in the West (see Box 1).
Furthermore, the counter-terrorism measures introduced and reaction to the attacks also
underscore the issues and challenges inherent in this type of problem. As discussed in the second
part of this document concerning explanatory factors, the consequences of the attacks are
four-fold:
a) They strike Western countries and people in general, causing death, injury, property
damage and psychological effects;
b) They initiate measures that limit individual rights and freedoms (surveillance, state of
emergency, etc.) and thus affect people’s daily lives;
c)
They expose citizens of the countries in question to retaliation by countries affected by the
attacks, for example, Syrian civilian bombing victims; and lastly,
d) They also hit the community, in this case Muslim, by putting moderate, generally peaceloving and non-practising Muslims on the same footing as small, radicalized groups. The
attacks generate a wave of discrimination and Islamophobia that compounds the
stigmatization, isolation and sense of alienation of communities, while eroding ties and a
sense of belonging to the host country, and by facilitating jihadist recruitment (Schmid,
2013). In this way, both the attacks and the counter-terrorism measures taken have
paradoxical consequences and a high social cost.
The preventive approach described here aims precisely to counterbalance this point of view by
addressing the factors underlying the phenomenon and thus avoiding the tremendously negative
impact of actions and their reactions.
2
Although the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, the specific nature of the connection
involved remains to be determined.
3 See note at bottom of page 6.
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Specifically, this study’s objectives are to promote a preventive approach within response strategies
and projects related to radicalization leading to violence, and to gather information on
conceptualization, trends, research and prevention tools (legislative and practical), particularly in
relation to the social prevention of this problem. Achieving this second objective will generate
useful tools for implementing best practices in intervention within different levels of governance.
This study was performed in two phases: it began with a systematic review of specialized literature
and continued with a field work phase during which we will be conducting interviews with key
stakeholders in different countries, especially Western countries, at different intervention levels:
national and international strategy, municipal and the local-community level.4
Phase 1
Phase 2
Systematic Review
Interviews and Analysis
This report follows the first phase of the study. The first phase consisted of reviewing and analyzing
scientific literature and grey literature, national and international standards and legislation and
relevant promising programmes or practices worldwide. It also provided a basis for selecting the
key countries, and players in each country, included in the specific study performed in the second
phase of our research.
To achieve the first objective, we conducted two systematic reviews of the literature on
radicalization leading to violence using a series of keywords.
a) The first review focused on literature that contextualized the phenomenon exclusively in
Western countries, i.e., trends, radicalization and recruitment contexts, decisive factors in
the process, and explanatory models and radicalization trajectories.
b) The second review directly addressed strategies, programmes and projects for preventing
radicalization leading to violence. In this case, given the limited number of studies on this
specific topic, we included studies without geographic limitations.
For the purposes of this research, we selected 483 documents.
Although scientific studies form the core of this review, we also considered literature on discussions
surrounding the topic, given the limited number of scientific articles based on evidentiary data or
primary sources of information and the sometimes inadequate quality of these data (see Box 4).5 In
both reviews, we limited our research to the period from January 1, 2005, to June 1, 2015, and to
articles written in French or English. In some cases, however, when an article was obviously
important in giving us a better understanding of some aspect or other of the phenomenon, we
4
See description of the methodology used in Appendix 1, Methodology, page 133.
In other words, scientific literature that discusses the topic but does not use scientific data or primary data
sources: surveys of the literature, theoretical or conceptual articles, etc.
5
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
13
used specific sources dated before or after our study period. Certain work by Sageman and
Wiktorowicz in 2004 fell into this category. As well, although most relevant studies focussed on
jihadist radicalism, our research also addressed religious radicalism, particularly the Islamist variety,
and far-right radicalism, both essentially in the context of Western countries.
For the purposes of this study, we adopted the following working definition of “radicalization
leading to violence”: [translation] “the process whereby an individual or group adopts a violent form
of action, directly related to a politically, socially or religiously motivated extremist ideology that
challenges the established political, social or cultural order” (Khosrokhavar, 2014, pp. 8–9). Although
this definition guided our research, it was merely a working definition; a systematic review requires
the inclusion of numerous viewpoints and specific definitions used by the different researchers.
However, this definition was adequate for several reasons. First of all, it is broad enough to cover
various kinds of radicalization. Secondly, it positions radicalization as a process and thus a
phenomenon that changes and transitions through several steps. This definition also shares certain
similarities with social movement theory. In our minds this is relevant since a significant portion of
the literature reviewed uses this type of model as a basis for explaining the radicalization process.
Furthermore, radicalization includes a significant political component. This study endeavours to
avoid naturalizing the radicalization phenomenon, and to understand it instead from a relational
viewpoint. This means that no radical group exists in isolation, and it is therefore permeable to the
influence of the context, in particular the context of the State or a rival group (Mathieu, 2010).
Therefore, radicalization cannot be understood or defined without referring to this same context.
This relational viewpoint was developed under political process theory, which explains how the
actions of dissenting groups and their opponents (often the State) change according to the
opponents’ characteristics and the context (Tarrow & Tilly, 2008). Accordingly, a radicalized group
does not act against the government of a Western democratic nation in the same way it would
against an authoritarian state, like Saudi Arabia or Syria (see Box 5).
This report is divided into four parts. The first part shows worldwide trends in radicalization; the
second provides an overview of factors and models that explain radicalization and recruitment
contexts; the third focuses on various models for responding to and preventing radicalization, and
the fourth concludes this report and offers several recommendations.
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II.
RADICALIZATION AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM TRENDS
This section provides an overview of violent trends resulting from radicalization rather than the
radicalization phenomenon itself, given the lack of relevant data and the difficulties inherent in
measuring such a process. It therefore sketches a general picture of terrorism across the world,
especially in the West. An overview of global suicide attacks, foreign terrorist fighters and radical
right trends is also presented.
2.1 Terrorism around the world
Illustration 1. Global impact of terrorism6
Source: Institute for Economics and Peace, 2014, p. 8
The US State Department’s “Country Reports on Terrorism 2014,” published in 2015, as well as the
report by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START),
provide details of terrorist activities across the world (E. Miller, 2015; US State Department, 2015).
In 2014, between 13,000 and 16,800 terrorist attacks took place worldwide. These attacks were
responsible for an estimated 32,000 to 43,500 deaths and 34,000 to 40,900 injuries, for an increase
of approximately 80% in the number of deaths since 2013 (E. Miller, 2015; US State Department,
2015). The US State Department report mentions that these terrorist attacks took place in 95
different countries, with 60% in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria. Most of the deaths
related to terrorist attacks (78%) took place in Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria (US
6
In terms of deaths, injuries, property damage and psychological impact.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
15
State Department, 2015). More specifically, the conflicts raging in these regions and the violent
nature of terrorist attacks explain this increase. In fact, the report identifies no fewer than 20 attacks
involving 100 victims around the world in 2014, compared to two in 2013 (E. Miller, 2015; US State
Department, 2015).
2.1.1
Terrorism in the West
In 2014, no fewer than 201 terrorist attacks (successful, aborted or failed) took place in Europe,
according to the Europal report entitled, “European Union terrorism situation and trend report 2015”
(European Police Office, 2015). These attacks were perpetrated in seven European Union member
nations, with more than half in the United Kingdom, and resulted in four deaths and 774 arrests on
terrorism charges (European Police Office, 2015). Europol notes that separatist groups, followed by
anarchist and extreme left-wing groups were responsible for the vast majority of these attacks.
France alone reported no fewer than 50 separatist incidents in Corsica. In 2014, two of the 201
attacks identified were thought to be religiously motivated, including the attack in Brussels,
Belgium, against the Jewish Museum (European Police Office, 2015).
In 2014 the number of terrorist attacks dropped in most countries. The number of arrests, however,
did not: 774 in 2014 compared to 535 in 2013 (European Police Office, 2015). Most arrests related
to religious terrorism, i.e., 395 cases, for an increase of 179 cases compared to 2013. Arrests in
connection with political extremism also increased, from three far-right cases in 2013 to 34 in 2014.
For far-eft cases, the figure climbed from 49 in 2013 to 54 in 2014 (European Police Office, 2015).
In North America, the terrorist threat remains as present as ever and bears certain similarities to the
European Union. In Canada, for example, the incidents of October 2014 against Warrant Officer
Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo put the issue of radicalization leading to violence back
on the country’s agenda. The most recent data indicate some 93 Canadian men and women tried
to leave the country to join the Islamic State or al-Qaeda and affiliated groups (Lang & Mitchell,
2015). A Senate report on the issue also states that some 80 Canadians returned to the country
after spending time abroad with terrorist groups (Lang & Mitchell, 2015). Between 2009 and 2014,
the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) reports that there were
some 683 transactions in Canada “related to terrorist financing” (Lang & Mitchell, 2015). While
recent attention has focused on religious extremism and radicalization, extremist political groups
dominate the statistics, as they do in the European Union. In fact, according to the Director of the
Service des enquêtes sur la menace extrémiste de la Sûreté du Québec, the extremist threat
investigative service of the Quebec provincial police force, right-wing extremist activities are the
most prevalent in Quebec: [translation] “Most cases opened by the service concern right-wing
extremism and hate crimes, which account for over 25 percent of cases. Next in line are Islamist
radicalization cases, which represent a little under 25 [per cent] [sic],” (Lang & Mitchell, 2015, p. 2).
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
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Box 1. Global suicide attacks7
Table 2. Number of suicide attacks worldwide by year
Source: Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism, 2015, p. foreign fighters.
The University of Chicago’s Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism (CPOST) developed the
“Suicide Attack Database,” which documents all suicide attacks committed around the world
since 1982. According to this database, from 1982 to June 2015, a total of 4,620 attacks took
place in 40 different countries, causing over 45,500 deaths and 118,000 injuries. In 2014, some
545 suicide attacks caused a total of more than 4,600 deaths and 8,600 injuries. In June 2015
alone, 305 suicide attacks killed 2,503 victims and injured 4,920 (Chicago Project on Security and
Terrorism, 2015).
Suicide attacks in the West
In the West, 101 attacks have been committed since 1982, resulting in a total of 3,820 deaths
and 9,718 injuries. The September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States largely account for the
high number of victims. In 2014, two suicide attacks were inventoried, one in the Ukraine by
Russian separatists and one in Russia by Chechen separatists, for a total of nine dead and
12 injured. Up until June 2015, only one attack had been committed, in the Ukraine, by Russian
separatists, leaving one dead and five injured (Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism, 2015).
7
Suicide attacks are defined as attacks in which the attackers kill themselves at the same time that they
deliberately try to kill others. This database is limited to suicide attacks committed by non-governmental
parties (Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism, 2015, p. unnumbered).
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
17
Chart 3. Number of suicide attacks in the West by year (1982–2015)
Source: Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism, 2015, p. n/p
Chart 4. Number of suicide attacks by country (1982–2015)8
Source: Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism, 2015, p. n/p
8
The database contains no data for France. Web site revised in September 2015.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
18
2.2 Foreign terrorist fighters
Foreign terrorist fighters represent a major trend in radicalization leading to violence. This section
attests to the scope of the phenomenon and its importance throughout the world, specifically in
the West. These concerns are evident in actions that try to prevent these individuals from leaving
to fight abroad and efforts to manage their return.
The age of persons on the path to violent extremism is surprisingly young. According to the United
Nations, the average age of foreign fighters is somewhere between 15 and 35 years (United Nations
Security Council, 2015b). Other sources reveal that the average age of Europeans who left to fight
was between 18 and 29 years (Briggs Obe & Silverman, 2014). Furthermore, "[t]he journey from
initial interest to radicalization, to commitment, to action and, ultimately, to joining a foreign
terrorist group has rapidly accelerated" (United Nations Security Council, 2015b, p. 5).
Box 2. Definition of foreign fighters
In its Resolution 2178 on threats to international peace and security resulting from acts of
terrorism, the United Nations Security Council defined foreign fighters as, “nationals who travel
or attempt to travel to a State other than their States of residence or nationality, and other
individuals who travel or attempt to travel from their territories to a State other than their States
of residence or nationality, for the purpose of the perpetration, planning or preparation of, or
participation in, terrorist acts, or the providing or receiving of terrorist training.” (United Nations
Security Council, 2014, pp. 4–5).
2.2.1
Statistics
It is virtually impossible to accurately determine the number of foreign fighters in the world.
However, several sources indicate that the figure may have exceeded 25,000 fighters in 2015 from
over 100 States, fighting primarily for the Islamic State and al-Qaeda (and its affiliated groups) in
Syria, Iraq and Africa (Bakowski & Puccio, 2015; Neumann, 2015; United Nations Security Council,
2015a, 2015c). According to the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee, the ranks of
foreign fighters swelled by 71% across the world starting midway through 2014 until March 2015.
These statistics were available, among other reasons, due to “more comprehensive internal
reporting by Member States and greater open-source data,” (United Nations Security Council,
2015a, p. 8). The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) even states that the
current conflict raging in Syria and Iraq surpasses the 1980s conflict in Afghanistan in terms of the
number of foreign fighters deployed (Neumann, 2015).
The ICSR estimates that the number of foreign fighters in Syria in 2013 reached approximately
11,000 individuals from 74 different countries. Of that number, approximately 2,800 were
Westerners. Based on ICSR estimates, the number of fighters in 2014 amounted to approximately
4,000, primarily from Western Europe. The European Union estimates that in January 2015, the
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
19
numbers dropped somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters (Bakowski & Puccio, 2015;
Neumann, 2015).
In terms of the number of fighters, the European Union countries most affected are France
(1,200 fighters), the United Kingdom (between 500 and 600) and Germany (between 500 and 600),
followed by Belgium (440) (Neumann, 2015). Elsewhere in the Western world, Australia, for example,
has some 100 to 250 foreign fighters, Canada close to 150 (Lang & Mitchell, 2015), the United States
roughly 100, and Russia some 800 to 1,500 (Neumann, 2015). Expressed as a percentage of
population, the ICSR has identified Belgium as the European Union nation most affected, with 40
fighters per million residents, followed by Denmark, with 27 fighters per million residents and
Sweden, with 19 fighters per million residents (Neumann, 2015).
2.2.2
Geography
As the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee mentions, most foreign fighters are based
in Syria and Iraq, followed by Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and Pakistan (United Nations Security
Council, 2015a). Apart from the problems facing the fighters’ countries of origin and destination,
the “countries of transit are also at high risk and face a major burden” (United Nations Security
Council, 2015a, p. 12). Take Turkey, for example, which shares over 1,000 kilometres of border with
Syria and Iraq, or countries like Austria, Hungary, Romania and Serbia, which have become a
thoroughfare for foreign fighters (European Police Office, 2015).
2.2.3
Returning
It is difficult to determine the exact number of foreign fighters who return home after training or
participating somehow in a conflict. However, the ICSR estimates that approximately 5% to 10% of
fighters die on the battlefield, while currently 10% to 30% have left conflict zones to return home,
or to a country of transit (Neumann, 2015).
The return of these fighters to their country of origin or another country can cause various
problems: “terrorist attacks and ancillary activities, such as radicalizing others, recruiting, generating
social media content, raising funds and providing training, logistical support or courier services”
(United Nations Security Council, 2015a, p. 9). According to the Security Council’s CounterTerrorism Committee, the threat is quite real. However, based on the same foreign fighter
experience during the war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, less than 15% of veteran foreign terrorists
subsequently took part in terrorist activities (United Nations Security Council, 2015a).
2.2.4
Women in conflict zones
Like many other statistics surrounding this issue, the exact number of women among the ranks of
the jihadists is difficult to determine. However, estimates from various sources allow us to measure
the scope of this relatively new phenomenon. Bakker and de Leede of the International Centre for
Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) in The Hague (Netherlands) estimate that approximately 10% of the
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
20
Western foreign fighters in Islamic State-occupied territories are women. These women also
represent 18% of European expatriates (2015; Briggs Obe & Silverman, 2014).
2.3 The far right
In terms of far-right trends, the 2014 and 2015 Europol reports underscore that far-right extremist
groups in Europe do not appear to use terrorist methods. However, they are nonetheless active
(European Police Office, 2014, 2015). Glaser (2006), however, reports that the number of acts of
violence motivated by xenophobia in central and western Europe has increased significantly,
especially among youth. A degree of consensus has emerged indicating that this increase started
in the 1990s in several countries on the continent (Rieker, Schuster, & Glaser, 2006). The rebirth of
nationalistic, populist and extreme right-wing ideologies following the fall of the Soviet Union in
the formerly communist countries of central Europe is especially significant (Glaser, 2006). The
United Kingdom also noted in 2014 that the threat from far-right extremist groups had changed.
Now, these groups appear more highly organized and more active (European Police Office, 2015).
As David Art recalls in his article, “Why 2013 Is Not 1933: The Radical Right in Europe,” extremists
attract a very small percentage of the population. Concerning the far right in Europe, he writes: “In
most European countries, unfiltered racism and fascist nostalgia are hardly vote-winners. To be
attractive to that sizable percentage of the electorate for which immigration is a chief concern,
radical right parties need to present themselves as representing the common-sense views of the
‘silent majority’ rather than those of the fanatical fringe.” (2013, p. 89).
Box 3. Types of far-right extremism
Berlet and Vysotsky (2006) have identified three types of far-right extremism in the United States:
a)
Radical right-wing political movements are essentially authoritarian; their leadership,
hierarchy and order are considered natural forms of organization for the group and for society.
They use this authoritarianism to create restrictive and exclusive definitions of nationhood, race
and citizenship in the aim of achieving an ideal social homogeneity. Their main purpose is to
build an organization for confronting a racial conflict or politically overthrowing the State. This
type of movement functions like a fringe political party.
b)
Religious movements include any organization whose main ideology consists of a system
of spiritual beliefs and whose members follow the religion in question. Such movements are
often based on an apocalyptic, dualistic idea of a “holy war” between true believers and the
godless enemy.
c)
Cultural movements are composed of a series of groups, unconnected by any common
ideology, associated with the youth counter-culture (skinheads, for example) and they often
develop around a group identity forged through the active display of neo-Nazi or white
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
21
supremacist symbols. Informal gatherings at places like rock concerts or bars are used for
propaganda and recruitment purposes.
2.3.1
Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
On the European continent, Europol has noticed that most activities by radical right groups relate
to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia (European Police Office, 2014, 2015). These xenophobic
demonstrations are timed to coincide with international incidents, like the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, migrant crises or conflicts in the Middle East. Europol has identified several incidents that
conform to this trend: anti-Islamic demonstrations in Germany, various acts of vandalism against
synagogues in France, the PEGIDA movement and more (European Police Office, 2014, 2015).
2.3.2
The radical right in the United States
Despite recent violent events in the United States attributed to Muslim-type radicalism (knife attack
in Boston and attacks in Texas and Kansas), “the main terrorist threat in the United States is not
from violent Muslim extremists, but from right-wing extremists,” (Gruenewald, Chermak, & Freilich,
2013a; Kurzman & Schanzer, 2015, p. n/p). In the case of “lone wolves,” Chermak, Freilich and
Simone found that, “far leftists and jihadists were less likely to be considered solely a lone wolf
threat compared to far-right extremists and single-issue extremists” (2010, p. 1030). Various
researchers also report that most violent, lone-wolf attacks are committed by right-wing extremists
(Bates, 2012; Michael, 2012).
Relevant statistics support this trend. Depending on the sources and definitions given to “political”
violence, incidents attributed to the extreme right in the United States are more numerous than
those blamed on Islamist extremism. Between 1990 and 2010, 140 homicides driven by right-wing
ideology were identified,9 compared to 30 attributed to Islamist extremism during the same period
(Gruenewald, Chermak, & Freilich, 2013b). As the following chart shows, incidents attributed to the
far right since September 11, 2001, involved 48 victims, compared to 31 for incidents committed by
jihadists (International Security, 2015). Other statistics, including some from the Global Terrorism
Database, show that 65 attacks in the United States since 9/11 have been attributed to the radical
right, and 24 to Muslim extremists (Shane, 2015).
9
In 2013, this figure increased to 155 homicides and, if we consider the Oklahoma attack, the figure rises to
358 homicides (Freilich, Chermak, Gruenewald, & Parkin, 2014).
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22
Chart 5. Deaths in the United States by year and by extremist group
Source: Based on International Security, 2015.
2.3.3
Women and the radical right
Although radical right groups usually support a male-oriented culture that excludes women, recent
observations note an increase in women’s participation in these groups, especially in the United
States (Blee & Creasap, 2010; Blee, 2005). Some women join these groups when their companions
are threatened by economic crisis or when they feel personally threatened or victimized by the
actions of foreigners or culturally different individuals. However, the role they play within these
organizations remains conditioned by traditional gender roles. Men, for example, see the women
in these groups to be motivated by maternal duty and emotion, rather than an ideological
commitment. Another study of skinheads reported that men viewed women as accessories in the
white supremacy cause (Blee & Creasap, 2010).
For example, Blee (2005) explains that some white supremacist groups use women for their central
role in the family, because they are less likely to become police informers and their involvement
can make the organization’s image seem more benign. However, their role in terrorist acts is often
secondary and serves three purposes: to gain legitimacy (by giving the group a semblance of
normality), to promote group unity (by creating loyalties among groups) and to support imprisoned
group leaders (Blee, 2005).
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23
III.
EXPLAINING
RADICALIZATION:
FACTORS,
CONTEXTS
TRAJECTORIES
Although radicalization is a recent field of study, the growing number of scientific articles published
in the past decade has nurtured a series of explanations of increasing diversity and complexity. Each
field or discipline, especially in the social sciences, seems to have developed its own explanation for
the phenomenon. Studies based on social movement and political science theory, as well as social
psychology and sociology, have widely influenced this field of study. Criminological and
neuroscientific theories are just beginning to emerge. Despite it all, these theories have two
common features: most of them lack scientific data or use extremely limited methods (see Box 4,
Neumann & Kleinmann, 2013). This results from the very nature of the study, i.e., the very limited
number and very wide variety of cases, as mentioned earlier. Radical profiles are the most relevant
example: there is no consensus on traits shared by people who engage in a radicalization process
(Gill, Horgan, & Deckert, 2014; Sageman, 2007; Zammit, 2010). Apart from gender and age (most
radicals are young men), education, and financial and social resources, motives and loyalties differ
from group to group, if not from one individual to another (Gill et al., 2014; Zammit, 2010). Sageman
underscores the fact that radicalized persons have a high level of education and a middle-class
background. Most are married and show no predisposition to criminal behaviour (Sageman, 2004,
2007, 2008). In contrast, a study by Bakker (2006) concerning the European situation underscores
that the vast majority of radicalized individuals are single, often working-class men and many have
criminal records. Accordingly, there is more than one pathway to radicalization, and as McCauley
and Moskalenko comment: “Rather there are many different paths. How many can be estimated by
calculating how many different combinations can be made of the mechanisms already identified”
(2010, p. 88). Although these studies try to establish explanatory models, most are exploratory, not
explanatory (Skillicorn, Leuprecht, & Winn, 2012). To summarize, the radicalization field of study is
too limited to generate a consensus or certainties. The Sageman-Hoffman controversy concerning
the autonomy of radical groups in relation to the centralizing influence of al-Qaeda is a good
example of the uncertainties that continue to surround the global radicalization process (Sageman
& Hoffman, 2008a, 2008b).10
Sageman states that al-Qaeda’s influence has declined significantly in the past few years and that Western
extremist groups are increasingly independent, self-trained and self-activated, with no specific ties to other
groups or to al-Qaeda. Hoffmann, on the other hand, insists that al-Qaeda continues to have a major influence
within these groups in the West.
10
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
24
AND
Box 4. Radicalization research methods
A recent study by Neumann & Kleinmann (2013) assessed the quality of radicalization research:
34% of the studies inventoried lacked either methodological rigor (concerning procedure) or
scientific rigor (concerning the type of data); 74% used qualitative methodologies, mostly case
studies and narrative techniques, while 20% used a quantitative method. Among the qualitative
studies, only 26% demonstrated a high level of methodological rigor, while 94% of quantitative
studies were rigorous. Most studies belonged to the fields of sociology (36%) and political
science (23%), and only 7% to psychology.
In the course of our research, and concerning the methodology used, most studies inventoried
focus on describing radical individuals based on conversations 11 or the quantification of
secondary data taken from official and unofficial sources,12 the latter being the most frequent
approach. However, one problem inherent in this type of study is the lack of a reference group
for making comparisons against radicalized persons. This makes it difficult to determine whether
the features described are specific to this one group, or whether they reflect a normal population
distribution (Skillicorn et al., 2012). This is a major problem for developing profiles. Other studies
have tried to overcome this deficiency by including comparison groups. Examples include the
Kreuger (2008) study in the United States and the work of Altunbas & Thornton (2011) in the
United Kingdom, who compared a sample of the Muslim population to radicalized populations.
Another type of study concerns radicalization perceptions, attitudes and predispositions in a
target population. These studies are interesting from a prevention viewpoint, when it comes to
detecting the underlying factors in a segment of the population considered at risk, and are
therefore more relevant for developing primary and secondary prevention programmes.
Qualitative13 and quantitative methods are available.14 These methods have the advantage of
using samples larger than those of the above-mentioned descriptive studies of radicals. However,
improved sampling strategies are needed to make them more representative of the study
population; furthermore, the cognitive models on which these studies are based can be used to
explain the predisposition to radical ideas, but not the commission of a terrorist act. Nevertheless,
this type of study is definitely promising.
Case studies15 were also one of the most widespread analytical methods in the literature. Such
studies encompass several levels of analysis (individual, group or country) and most of them rely
on secondary sources of information. Although case studies can explore a specific subject in
great detail, they have obvious limitations, especially in terms of generalizing their results. One
11
See Abbas, 2012; Khosrokhavar, 2013, 2014; Sageman, 2004.
See Bakker, 2006; Crone & Harrow, 2011; Gartenstein-Ross, 2014; Gill et al., 2014; Sageman, 2004, 2008;
Zammit, 2010. Unofficial sources refer to information from the media, Google searches, Wikipedia, blogs, etc.
13 See for example Beski-Chafiq et al., 2010; Schanzer, Kurzman, & Moosa, 2010.
14 See for example Bhui et al., 2014; Simon, Reichert, & Grabow, 2013; Skillicorn et al., 2012.
15 See Costanza, 2012; de Mesquita, 2005; McCoy & Knight, 2015; M. D. Silber & Bhatt, 2007.
12
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
25
of the best examples in this regard is the study by Wiktorowicz (2004), one of the rare examples
of a study based on a combination of field observations and interviews with a radical group.
Lastly, socio-historical models try to establish connections between certain characteristics, i.e.,
groups or countries and developments over the course of history in attacks or radicalization
processes. This is a working model specific to the political process theory of social movements16
(McAdam, McCarthy, & Zald, 1996; Tilly, 1978a, 1978b). One interesting example comes from
Ashour (2007, 2008, 2009), who historically explains the process of deradicalization and
disengagement by various armed Islamist groups by drawing connections between the traits of
these groups and government action, for example, control or incentives.
The purpose of this section is to describe some of the different explanations for radicalization
developed in the various studies reviewed, particularly factors and trajectories. In this case, the
trajectories of radicalization are defined as linear causal models in which individuals or groups
transition through different stages of radicalization. Naturally, radicalization trajectories are not the
only explanatory model. However, given the attention they command in the literature, we decided
to devote an entire section to a detailed description and critical analysis of them. Explanatory
models as such are not limited to linear, causal relationships; otherwise, they would establish
connections among factors at different levels, without using a single direction. Unfortunately, given
their large number, these complex models will not be described in this phase of the study. Lastly,
factors represent the simplest unit of explanation.17 Although they will be incorporated into each
of the models, including trajectories, we decided to inventory these units in order to underscore
the various items used to explain radicalization.
16
See Box 5. Opportunities for radicalization.
We applied the same rationale in presenting prevention measures, i.e., we focused on the typology of specific
measures rather than complex programmes.
17
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
26
3.1 Explanatory factors in the radicalization process
The different factors that account for the radicalization process cannot be placed at the same level.
McCauley and Moskalenko (2008) identify three levels: the individual, group and mass levels.
However, these three levels fail to encompass the different levels and different categories of factors
gleaned from the literature; take, for example, societal factors or opportunities for radicalization
(see Box 5). To construct a diagram, we therefore took guidance from the ecological model
developed by Bronfenbrenner (2009), which underscores the complexity involved in the emergence
of a phenomenon based on several levels of analysis.
Illustration 2: Diagram of factors
Exo-system
o
r
t u
n i
t i
e
s
Macro systemic and geopolitical
p
Institutional or community
p
Relational
Individual
O
This diagram is not intended as an explanatory model, but simply as a way to present information
gathered from the systematic review. Della Porta (1995) used a similar model to explain left-wing
extremism in Italy and Germany, as did Hegghammer (2010) to account for the rise in jihadism in
Saudi Arabia. No one factor alone can explain the radicalization process. On the contrary, a range
of possible combinations of various factors is needed (McCauley & Moskalenko, 2008). The purpose
of this section is to inventory the information gathered during the specified time period, even if this
information is sometimes contradictory, as shown by the Sageman and Bakker studies cited
earlier.18 We will underscore the contradictions between studies in order to identify areas of
consensus.
Individuals are the core of the model, surrounded by other factors that have some influence on
radicalization. Unlike other more context-dependent factors, individual factors are also useful for
describing the profiles of radicalized individuals. The relational level concerns factors pertaining to
close relationships (family, friends, etc.). The meso-systemic level corresponds to factors of an
institutional or community nature. Factors at the macro-systemic level relate to large social systems
18
See introduction to this section for explanations of radicalism.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
27
(justice, education, etc.) and State action. We also included geopolitical factors in this level. Lastly,
the exo-system refers to the culture and values surrounding other levels of understanding.
The opportunities concept is a factor that is starting to garner attention. Opportunities are contextbased or circumstantial variables that hold the opportunity to become radicalized (see Box 5).
Recruitment settings (Internet, prisons, etc.) are thought to offer opportunities for like-minded
individuals to meet, providing a source of inspiration for radicalization (King & Taylor, 2011; Precht,
2007). McCauley and Moskalenko (2014) underscore the importance that intelligence agencies
played in the transition from radical thinking to actually carrying out a suicide attack19 by providing
an opportunity for action. Intervention by Western nations in Muslim countries is also considered
an opportunity for nurturing radicalization processes (Sirseloudi, 2012). Accordingly, opportunities
exist at the different levels of our presentation diagram, except the individual level. We will therefore
consider all of these factors (except individual factors) as being opportunities for radicalization, and
we will begin with a description of recruitment opportunities, followed by the different levels of
complexity.
Box 5. Opportunities for radicalization
Two relevant sources exist for studying opportunities: one comes from the field of criminology
and the other from social movement theory. Situational prevention is one of the best known
models in criminology. It is premised on the idea that criminals make rational choices after
evaluating the opportunities available to them (Felson & Clarke, 1998). These opportunities relate
to the nature of the offence, are place and time specific and depend on the routines of the likely
victims and of the criminals (Felson & Clarke, 1998). This theory gave rise to Crime Prevention
Through Environmental Design (CPTED),20 which emphasizes the influence of environment in
determining opportunities for crime (Shaw, 2010). Precht (2007) used this model to explain how
recruitment contexts create opportunities for radicalization. Taylor also highlights how settings
or situations, especially spatial, play a significant role in the process (King & Taylor, 2011; Taylor,
Roach, & Pease, 2015). However, this model’s creator, Clarke, is the one who tried to apply these
ideas most directly, specifically to preventing attacks (Clarke & Newman, 2007).
The other source is political process theory, based in particular on the concept of political
opportunity structure widely used to explain social protests (Della Porta, 2013; McAdam and al.,
1996; Tilly, 1978a). This model explains how the socio-political context, especially the relationship
between State and social movements, has an important impact on the rise and fall of social
mobilization processes. Kriesi (1995), for example, defined political context according to three
characteristics: the State’s formal structure, informal procedures and the dominant strategies of
political authorities in relation to opponents, as well as the configuration and distribution of
power within the party system. Combined, the characteristics that encourage mobilization are
considered a political opportunity structure. Research by Ashour (2008), cited in Box 4, is a good
19
Al-Balawi. Kwaiti double agent who killed seven CIA agents and one Jordanian agent in 2009 in a suicide
attack (McCauley & Moskalenko, 2014).
20 Environmental-design based crime prevention.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
28
example of state influence over deradicalization processes. The concept has also been used to
explain the rise of Islamist radicalism in Saudi Arabia, and in Russia (Dannreuther, 2010;
Hegghammer, 2010). In the latter case, for example, Dannreuther (2010) underscores that the
success of radical Islamist groups results from their ability to adapt to the available political
opportunity structure for collective action in general. This model has also been used to study the
rise of Europe’s radical right. Halikiopoulou & Vasilopoulou (2015) explain that the sharp rise in
right-wing extremist groups in Europe during an economic crisis results from the ability of these
groups to take advantage of political and cultural opportunities, particularly the rise of
nationalism.
Despite the important role that opportunities can play in preventing radicalization, their
exploration as an analytical tool remains largely overlooked in the literature. Research centred
more on situations or contexts that encourage radicalization, rather than on the individuals
themselves, would probably have a greater chance of success in limiting the effects of
radicalization on populations at risk, without resorting to counter-terrorism measures, which
entail problems at different levels, especially in relation to individual and civil rights.
3.1.1
Recruitment opportunities or channels
Jihadist networks and right-wing extremist groups share many similarities in terms of their
propaganda methods and how they exploit fear and social frustrations (Amghar, 2006; Blee &
Creasap, 2010; Khosrokhavar, 2014). Silber & Bhatt (2007) define radicalization contexts as
“radicalization incubators.” Prey to extremist rhetoric, these incubators become gathering places
that make up a community’s radical sub-culture. The authors in question mention various locations
conducive to radicalization and ideology sharing, such as mosques, cafés, taxis, prisons, student
associations, NGOs, bars, bookstores, the Internet (forums), and more.
Precht (2007) defines radicalization contexts as different locations conducive to meeting
like-minded people and, at the same time, offering promising prospects to recruiters or agents
seeking to radicalize individuals. He also identifies certain fertile grounds for radicalization: Internet,
satellite stations, prisons, mosques, schools, universities, sports activities, etc. (Precht, 2007).
According to Bouhana and Wikstrom, the radicalization context is characterized by “socialising
practices, notably moral teaching, which support terrorist violence; a lack of effective monitoring of
the behaviours that go in the setting; and opportunities for attachments to radicalising agents, by
the peers, recruiters, or moral authority figures” (2011, p. x).
Considering the radical players targeted for the purposes of this report (radical Islamists—including
jihadists—and the radical right), we will focus on the Internet, prison and music (concerts and bars)
as indoctrination sites.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
29
a) Internet
The Internet is an important factor in the radicalization phenomenon, and extremist groups are
constantly adapting their communication methods to the availability of new technologies
(European Police Office, 2015). However, its role in the radicalization process is complex.
For one thing, we note some degree of consensus in the literature that the Internet is a tool and a
facilitator in the radicalization process (Ducol, 2015; Pauwels et al., 2014; Precht, 2007). Although
there have been some cases in which the Internet was the only tool used in radicalization (United
Nations Security Council, 2015a), it does not generally seem sufficient to support the entire
process (Ducol, 2015; King & Taylor, 2011; Precht, 2007).
The Internet also plays several roles or functions at different stages of the radicalization process.
Extremist groups, especially terrorist groups, use the Internet as a channel of communication for
distributing a large quantity of propaganda images and videos, and as a planning and recruitment
tool (United Nations Security Council, 2015a). Social media are another important means of
radicalization and fighter recruitment, particularly because they obliterate all social barriers among
fighters in conflict zones and among potential recruits across the globe (United Nations Security
Council, 2015a). As Precht (2007) also underscored, the Internet plays a role in every phase of
radicalization, whether in distributing propaganda, in recruitment, or in later stages of the process,
such as technical support in bomb-making. The Internet and social media in particular are also the
fighters’ main sources of information on events in the field during the current conflict in Syria and
Iraq (Carter, Maher, & Neumann, 2014).
Lastly, the Internet offers many advantages to any extremist group. It ensures fast, easy and
inexpensive communication amongst themselves and with the world (Pauwels et al., 2014; Precht,
2007). The Internet is an ideal platform for the broad distribution of propaganda and threats, and
also allows for undisputed information sharing21 (Precht, 2007). The following section examines the
Internet’s role in recruitment and propaganda in more detail.
Recruitment
Prior to the 1990s, Islamist radicalization occurred in mosques and so-called “sensitive”
neighbourhoods, in contact with religious fundamentalists (Amghar, 2006). Government authorities
grew aware of this phenomenon and began monitoring these places of worship more carefully
(Erez, Weimann, & Weisburd, 2011). At that point, radicalization shifted direction into the realm of
the Internet. Increasingly, Jihadist recruitment—at least its initial phases—is taking place online
(Erez et al., 2011; Meleagrou-Hitchens, Maher, & Sheehan, 2012).
Right-wing radicals also use the Internet as a tool for spreading propaganda. There are many
websites in Germany and the Netherlands, and a large number of them broadcast neo-Nazi
ideology (Schellenberg, 2013). Whether on behalf of the extreme right or jihadism, the Internet
21
See, “Countering extremist discourse,” page 93.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
30
enables indoctrination from a distance and serves as an excellent filter for locating future members
of radicalized organizations.
Far-right radical movements are less organized than the jihadist movements. The radical right is
divided, acts more or less locally and does not seek internal unity (Art, 2013; Blee & Creasap, 2010;
Campana & Tanner, 2014). However, group recruitment methods are similar. Individuals who visit
radical Islamist/extreme right-wing sites must prove themselves before gaining acceptance
(Campana & Tanner, 2014; Khosrokhavar, 2014; Melzer & Serafin, 2013).
Box 6. The Internet and young Westerners who leave for Syria
The Internet is a polarized space that brings together people with elective affinities. With this
description, Farhad Khosrokhavar (2014) introduces his analysis of Web-based jihadist
recruitment. In his view, the key to Islamist radicalization is frustration coupled with victimization.
While individuals immigrating from the Maghreb or Muslim Asia find it difficult to integrate into
Western societies, young middle-class whites who leave for Syria seem to be seeking adventures
that combine spiritual forces with a cause viewed as humanitarian. Khosrokhavar describes these
young people as “romantic revolutionaries.” Whether they come from a background of
immigration vulnerability or greater white comfort, they are all in search of an identity. Islam is
their answer, offering a life of minute-by-minute structure, summed up in the surah of the Quran
found on the Internet—in turn chosen and disseminated by radicals (Amghar, 2006; Erez et al.,
2011; Khosrokhavar, 2014; Meleagrou-Hitchens et al., 2012). Apart from this quest, these youth
share a common longing for recognition and accomplishment in a fight against “ungodly
Western imperialism” (Amghar, 2006; Khosrokhavar, 2014; Mitchell Silber & Bhatt, 2007; Vidino,
2010). Khosrokhavar explains: [translation] “The jihadist Internet provides an exorcist function
and gives reassurance to fringe individuals with no social ties by incorporating them into a salvific
community” (2014, p. 74). The propaganda of jihadist sites is effective with this type of public
because it is intellectually open and permeable. We also know that “youth” are the most likely to
become radicalized, especially in their teenage years. Youth are also the ones who use the
Internet with greatest ease and the most often.
Sophisticated propaganda
The Internet is the ideal site for radicalization: as a tool, it enables relatively secure and anonymous
contact with jihadist or extreme right leaders and lets people gather information while maintaining
a low profile. With geographic barriers no longer an issue, discussions are possible with radicals
from around the globe (Blee & Creasap, 2010; Meleagrou-Hitchens et al., 2012).
Most people who use radical forums realize that they and their conversations are being monitored
by intelligence services and, most of the time, these services are able to intercept messages
intended to be private (Erez et al., 2011). However, this does not seem to prevent users from
discussing their plans rather openly (Erez et al., 2011).
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
31
The emphasis is placed on “empowerment” and the egalitarian aspect of jihadist groups: everyone
gets a chance, everyone can accomplish “great things” (Amghar, 2006; Erez et al., 2011;
Hegghammer, 2006). The jihadist therefore has the opportunity to become a hero, since death
opens to him the gates of heaven and glory (Amghar, 2006; Hegghammer, 2006; Khosrokhavar,
2014). Furthermore, unlike far-right extremists, jihadists clearly intend to convert their enemies and
turn them against the West, Judaism, Christianity, etc. (Erez et al., 2011; Meleagrou-Hitchens et al.,
2012).
Globalization and the Internet are therefore vehicles for discussing and propagating ideas. Radical
Islamism uses this tool to teach one interpretation of the religion, the culture of sacrifice
(martyrdom) and the need to choose sides (the West or the holy path of Islam) (MeleagrouHitchens et al., 2012). In this case, forums become conversation sites where participants are
galvanized as a group (Erez et al., 2011).
Weaknesses and nuances
According to a report submitted to the National Institute of Justice in 2011, 15% of discussions
concern Da’wa, i.e., Islamic teachings/proselytism. However, “Despite the global Jihad's claim to be
fighting an alliance of Crusaders and Zionists (i.e. Christians and Jews), three‐quarters of all
discussions lack any reference to either group. Of those that do, 24% mention Christians, whereas
9% mention Jews” (Erez et al., 2011, p. 9). The identified enemy is less often the “Jews” and
increasingly “Christians” and “bad Muslims.” The “bad Muslims” primarily live in Arab-Muslim
countries and are the leading targets of terrorism (Erez et al., 2011; Meleagrou-Hitchens et al., 2012).
Box 7. Islam: A multi-sided religion. Islamism: Extremism divided
Contrary to popular belief, jihadists do not act in unison. A great deal of dissention, known as
fitna,22 over the interpretation of Islam strains their activities. The Muslim world is disparate, split
into large Sunni/Shiite families which are also divided. While less well-known, persistent internal
conflicts trouble the Salafist movement. At a theological and also a geopolitical level, these
conflicts generate different interpretations of Islamism. Struggles rage between Salafist jihadists
in Syria and Iraq to expand their influence, territory or financing to the detriment of other groups.
Rivalries emerge on social media. Islamic State and the al-Nosra Front, for example, are
embroiled in a “Twitter war”23 over leadership of the Syrian jihad.
b) Prison: Discontentment and isolation
Khosrokhavar (2014) points out numerous times in his book that prison is a prime site for
radicalization, since the individuals within its walls are often society’s outcasts. Furthermore, he
22
This idea embodies chaos and disorder in the Muslim world. Today, the word is often used to explain the
dissention and conflict surrounding different interpretations of the Quran, Islam and Islamism.
23 Twitter wars
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
32
underscores that locking them up makes them vulnerable, isolated, bored and discontent (difficult
conditions of confinement). In the case of Muslims, a chaplain is supposed to attend to inmates on
a regular basis to listen to them and provide spiritual support. This raises two problems
(Khosrokhavar, 2014). First of all, in both Europe and North America, Muslim chaplains are generally
underrepresented compared to pastors and other representatives of Christian or even Jewish
denominations. For the imprisoned Muslim faithful, this failure is seen as an insult to them by the
correctional facility, or even society. Secondly, as a cause and consequence of this shortage of
official religious representatives, self-styled imams surface inside the prisons. They expound a strict
form of Islam that can radicalize inmates who follow their preachings. In his analysis of radicalization
in American prisons, Brett Goldman underscored in 2010 that “even when Muslim chaplains are
available, they face intimidation by radical inmates who have fulfilled the role of spiritual leader for
other inmates” (2010, p. 4). Goldman concurs with Khosrokhavar on many points in his work on
prisons.
Recruitment methods
Goldman (2010) stresses the impact of self-proclaimed religious leaders in prisons. These leaders
“will target the most vulnerable inmates who might come from disaffected backgrounds and/or
those who are incarcerated for the longest period of time” (Goldman, 2010, p. 9). The prison setting
recreates a micro-society where ties with family or friends are cut and where inmates form bonds
with others who are culturally similar (Gutiérrez, Jordan, & Trujillo, 2008). This affinity leads Muslim
prisoners to gravitate to one another and make contact with potential recruiters; the situation may
go unnoticed, given the general shortage of guards and workers (Amghar, 2006; Goldman, 2010;
Gutiérrez et al., 2008; Khosrokhavar, 2014). When penitentiary administrators discover a case of
radicalization, the inmate is separated from the potential recruiter. However, far from
“deradicalizing” the inmate, the process often cements his ideology (Goldman, 2010; Gutiérrez et
al., 2008; Khosrokhavar, 2014).
c) Music and events: Modernization efforts within the radical right24
In order to win over younger generations, extreme right-wing groups have tended to modernize
their image through rock or heavy metal groups (Art, 2013; Campana & Tanner, 2014; Melzer &
Serafin, 2013). Music and events are effective ways to recruit new militants (Melzer & Serafin, 2013).
According to Blee and Creasep, these “Music and media scenes also create international links
between movements through media distribution and concerts” (2010, p. 277). Concerts, for
example, are an excellent way to communicate ideas without attracting the attention of the
authorities (Campana & Tanner, 2014). In these cases, radicalization occurs in a friendly, music-
24
According to Schellenberg, 1,671 radical right sites were identified in Germany in 2011, and social media
like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were used very frequently (2013). Among these websites, 391 were
associated with neo-Nazi groups, 63 with independent nationalist groups, and 52 were used specifically to
deploy certain right-wing campaigns or events.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
33
based environment where bands meet, play at locations that are kept secret until the last minute,
and regularly trade members (Campana & Tanner, 2014).
3.1.2
Individual factors
Table 1. Individual factors in the radicalization process25
Factor
Islamism
Consensus
Far right
ICS*
Consensus
ICS*
Socioeconomic level
Employment
Education
Criminal behaviour
Personal crisis
Age (being young)
Gender (men)
Negative experiences
Military training
National identity (exclusion and
xenophobia)
Nationals/immigrants
Search for identity
Religion
Mental health
* ICS = Insufficient or conflicting studies
Contradictions concerning socio-economic levels, employment and education. For some, educated
individuals from middle-class families seem more susceptible to radicalization, especially Islamist
radicalism, in the United States (Krueger, 2008; Sageman, 2004). In fact, poverty does not seem to
correlate with radicalization (Bjørgo, 2005; Dalgaard-Nielsen, 2010). In this case, the “relative
deprivation” concept26 developed by Gurr (1970) is often cited to explain the importance placed on
the perception of poverty in radicalization, rather than actual living conditions (Bjørgo, 2005). In a
study involving a Muslim population in the United Kingdom, researchers found that persons with
incomes over £75,000 and educated individuals were more likely to show openness to radicalization
(Bhui, Warfa, & Jones, 2014). Again in the United Kingdom, Altunbas and Thornton (2011) compared
an extremist group to a Muslim population and confirmed Sageman’s data: extremists were better
educated, generally came from a middle-class background and earned higher incomes than the
Muslim population in general. Gartenstein-Ross and Grossman (2009), on the other hand,
compared the United Kingdom and the United States and found that extremists had limited
25
A table summarizing the state of knowledge surrounding factors related to the two types of radicalism
precedes each group of factors. Thus, for each type of radicalism, two state-of-knowledge categories are given:
“consensus,” i.e., most studies agree on this factor’s relevance and “insufficient or conflicting studies,” which
indicates the absence of a consensus concerning this factor’s importance or that there are insufficient
evidentiary data for corroboration. An empty cell in the table signifies that our survey of the literature did not
uncover a tie between the type of factor and type of radicalism.
26 “Relative deprivation” refers to perceived discrepancies between the social conditions that one group of
people think they deserve and what they are able to achieve and maintain, compared to the means at their
disposal.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
34
education and occupational success. Others studies contained profiles presenting significant
variability in this regard, particularly among lone wolves (Gill et al., 2014). Other studies of radicals
in general draw attention to individuals from the poorest segments of the population with limited
education, especially in Europe and in Australia (Bakker, 2006; Zammit, 2010).
Studies have shown that increases in extreme right-wing radicalism relate to unemployment
(Pauwels & De Waele, 2014). In a study on far-right extremists in the United States, for example,
close to 40% were unemployed (Gruenewald et al., 2013b). Right-wing extremists in Norway had
lower levels of education (Carlsson, 2006). Although unskilled or unemployed workers tend to
support the far right, other studies have underscored that most support comes from groups
belonging to the middle-class or with an intermediate education (Arzheimer & Carter, 2006; Mudde,
2007; Rydgren, 2007; Schram, 2010). Schram (2010) describes all of these characteristics in her
“insecurity hypothesis,” whereby support for the extreme right comes from a group’s subjective
sense of insecurity, although objective economic factors may be present.
Criminality. Like most other factors, there is no consensus on the issue of prior criminal activity
among radicalized individuals. While Sageman (2004) argues that prior criminal activity is almost
non-existent, Bakker (2006) mentions a significant percentage of reported petty crime
(delinquency). In a study by Heinkel and Mace (2011), only seven of 27 terrorist plots involved at
least one individual with a criminal record. On the other hand, close to 59% of far-right lone wolves
in the United States had one prior arrest (Gruenewald et al., 2013a).
Personal crises. Like discriminatory experiences, personal crises seem to play a secondary role in
radicalization. Heinkel and Mace (2011), for example, show that in most recorded extremist plots,
at least one person had experienced a personal loss: divorce, separation, death of a parent or child,
etc. The far-right lone wolves are more likely to isolate themselves than other extremists over a
divorce, separation or the death of a spouse (Gruenewald et al., 2013b).
Young men. Gender is probably one of the only certainties concerning radicalization; most radicals
are men (Bakker, 2006; Gartenstein-Ross & Grossman, 2009; Gill et al., 2014; Pauwels & De Waele,
2014; Sageman, 2004). Although some studies seem to place little importance on age, others
highlight the young age of radicals compared to the general population to which they belong
(Altunbas & Thornton, 2011; Krueger, 2008; Pauwels & De Waele, 2014; Mitchell Silber & Bhatt,
2007). Sageman (2004) explains that every wave of radicalization involves increasingly younger
individuals, a finding confirmed by the United Nations in the case of foreign fighters (United Nations
Security Council, 2015b). Silber and Bhatt (2007) indicate that men between 15 and 35 years of age
from patriarchal societies are more vulnerable to the Islamist radicalization process. The same
characteristic applies to far-right groups, in which youth under 18 are very likely to resort to violence
(Pauwels & De Waele, 2014). On the other hand, the study by Gill et al. (2014) concerning lone
wolves internationally argues that in the three groups studied, age was extremely relative at the
time of the first attack.27 Moreover, the sample is older than other terrorist groups (average age =
27
Far-right lone wolves, Islamists and attackers driven by specific reasons. Lone wolf Islamists are significantly
younger than the other two groups (Gill et al., 2014).
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
35
33 years, between 15 and 69 years of age). However, Gruenewald et al. (2013a) confirmed that farright lone wolves in the United States are young.
Negative experiences. A sense of injustice, discrimination and general grievance are often
mentioned as motives for radicalization (Dalgaard-Nielsen, 2010; Precht, 2007; Victoroff, Adelman,
& Matthews, 2012). However, there is no consensus on the specific role that such experiences play.
In one study of a Muslim population in the United Kingdom, for example, these experiences had no
impact on sympathy for radicalization (Bhui et al., 2014). Bjørgo (2005) sees these factors as
symptomatic of structural factors, oriented around an ideology designed to serve the aims of armed
conflict. This type of factor is therefore necessary but insufficient to launch the process. Other
researchers underscore that the group’s perceived social position plays a more important role in
radicalization than the individual’s perceived social position (Noppe, Hellinckx, & Velde, 2015). This
could account for the support found among persons with a good education and high income. The
sense of injustice or humiliation through identification with a third-party victim seems greater than
personal experience but is not sufficient in itself to trigger the radicalization process (Schmid, 2013).
Studies of the far right have also drawn attention to the importance of frustration among youth
who perceive their situation as unfair or discriminatory (Pauwels & De Waele, 2014; Pels & de
Ruyter, 2012).
Military training. Except for lone wolves, military training or experience preceding acts of violence
does not seem to be a major factor in radicalization. Based on the study by Gill et al. (2014), for
example, 26% of lone wolves had received prior military training, and of that number, 23.3% had
combat experience. In the case of the far right, the difference between lone wolves and other
extremists seems greater. One quarter of lone far-right extremists had military experience—a
percentage similar to that reported by Gill et al.—compared to 8% for other similar types of
extremists (Gruenewald et al., 2013b; Gruenewald, 2011).
In one study of a skinhead group, Campana and Tanner report: “Most of our respondents displayed
a real fascination with physical activities, guns, including prohibited ones, and violence. Most of
them had developed this fascination before joining a skinhead group and some confessed that they
had become members of a skinhead group ‘just for that’“ (2014, p. 26).
Furthermore, radicalization among military personnel or war veterans is somewhat overlooked in
the literature. According to Nečej and Ďurfina, despite various similarities between a military career
and the radicalization process (particularly the far right), the major security threat perceived is
radical infiltration of the army: “among the right-wing extremists and members of the armed forces
we can see some overlapping in their value systems marked by discipline, organization, patriotism,
weapons, authority” (2015, p. 7). The army often displays a tendency toward right-wing values
(given its mission to impose order on society, religious leanings and support for right-wing
organizations) and distrust and pessimism toward society (overall dissatisfaction with one’s own life
and economic status, etc.) (Bötticher, 2013; Nečej & Ďurfina, 2015).
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
36
Nativism and xenophobia. Anti-immigration beliefs and attitudes and an exclusive national identity
seem to be key factors in far-right radicalism (Adamczyk, Gruenewald, Chermak, & Freilich, 2014;
Rieker, 2006).
Nationals/Immigrants. Regardless of their immigration status, the majority of people who become
radicalized did so in their country of residence, in the West (Bakker, 2006). Considering that, in the
case of Islam, a significant number of individuals are converts, the problem remains fundamentally
local (Crone & Harrow, 2011). In the study by Bhui et al. (2014), no significant difference was noted
between people born in the United Kingdom and immigrants in terms of their sympathy for
radicalization. In 85% of cases involving Western terrorists identified by Crone and Harrow (2011),
radicalized individuals were raised and educated in the West. In Spain, on the other hand, the
jihadist profiles developed by Jordan and Horsburgh (2005) indicate a significant percentage of
first-generation immigrants. Although there is no obvious relationship between new immigrants
and radicalization, researchers have noted the presence of second- and third-generation
immigrants in radical Islamist groups (Sageman, 2004). For some, the key factor is incompatibility
between identification with one’s minority group and with one’s society of residence (Simon,
Reichert, & Grabow, 2013). People with a dual identity are more likely to address their demands
through official channels within the political system, while those who perceive an incompatibility
between the two identities are more sympathetic to radical action (Simon et al., 2013).
Religiosity. Individuals who undergo an Islamist radicalization process do not feel strongly toward
the religion in the beginning (Sageman, 2004, 2007). They either started as non-Muslim or recently
converted, which makes them more vulnerable to radicalization. In Australia, for example, the
profiles of radicals indicate a low-level of religiosity (Zammit, 2010). In other studies, the frequency
of mosque attendance did not increase sympathy for radicalization (Bhui et al., 2014), and among
Turkish immigrants to Germany, attendance diminished as identification with the religion increased
(Simon et al., 2013). In short, as explained by Khosrokhavar (2014), Western jihadists are more easily
radicalized if they have a narrow view of Islam. Gartenstein-Ross and Grossman (2009), on the other
hand, see religion as an important factor. According to their study, 20.5% of homegrown terrorists
in the United States and United Kingdom had a spiritual guide. They explain that religion plays an
important role when it comes to adopting a rigid interpretation of the faith, when individuals trust
only religious authorities, and when there is a perceived schism between Islam and the West.
Furthermore, unlike first-generation immigrants who usually follow a traditional interpretation of
religion, second- and third-generation immigrants take a much more intellectual approach, with an
individual preference for combining certain cultural aspects of the religion with their experience of
the West (Sirseloudi, 2012). This religious individuation gives rise to a sense of non-belonging
among youth, reinforced by socio-economic structural factors, which may nudge them toward
radicalization (Khosrokhavar, 2014).
Religion is also extremely prominent among radical right groups (Berlet & Vysotsky, 2006; Blee &
Creasap, 2010; Rowatt, Shen, LaBouff, & Gonzalez, 2013, see also Box 3): 64.5 % of radical right
groups in the United States were connected to a religion—including 53.6% of Christian origin—and
35.5% displayed strong religiosity (Fitzgerald, 2011). In the same study, groups with a Christian
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
37
identity had a stronger propensity to justify the use of violence than other religious groups. Despite
these results, religion does not appear to be a major factor in explaining the use of violence, but
rather a facilitator.
Box 8. How do some religions turn violent?
Four characteristics explain why a religion turns violent (J. Bartlett & Miller, 2010; Berlet &
Vysotsky, 2006; Borum, 2014; Dawson, 2010, pp. 10–16; de Graaff, 2010):
a) Apocalyptic beliefs or, minimally, a rejection of the world: A growing sharp division, where
traditional social rules are conditioned by the imminent accomplishment of the law of
God; socialization and early preparation for violent times; demonization of enemies; and
a dualist vision of the world (good and evil, “with us” or “against us”).
b) Charismatic leader: Groups centred on the presence of a powerful, often paranoid leader
displaying a high level of self-confidence and conviction in his or her ideas.
c)
Conspiracy theories: Particularly present in radical right groups, these theories concern
the belief that major historical events were subject to secret conspiracies of benefit to
certain groups or individuals.
d) Social encapsulation: A process whereby groups place a growing number of symbolic
and physical barriers between their members and the rest of society.
Mental health. According to a review by Dalgaard-Nielsen (2010), psychological disorders are no
more prevalent among terrorists than the general population, as already mentioned by Sageman
(2004) and consistent with mass murderer profiles (ICPC, 2015). Victoroff (2005) explains in turn
that extremists do not present aggressive personality traits, although other researchers emphasize
the thrill-seeking, impulsiveness and sensationalism evident in the profiles of certain radicals
(Pauwels et al., 2014). No proven tie to a suicidal-type personality, as understood in the fields of
psychiatry and psychology, could be established among suicide attackers (Townsend, 2007).
However, this finding seems less applicable to lone wolf cases. Such persons seem more isolated
and are often depressed or have another mental disorder (McCauley & Moskalenko, 2014; Spaaij,
2010). Gruenewald et al. (2013a) distinguish between loners (unaffiliated), lone wolves (affiliated)
and wolf packs (that received help for the attack). In this case, less than one half of attackers and
lone wolves had mental problems, compared to 3% of wolf packs. In the study by Gill et al. (2014),
however, this factor did not generally seem important in relation to the profiles of 119 lone wolves.
In a different study by the Gruenewald team, no significant differences emerged between loners
and other far-right extremists in terms of drug and alcohol use (2013b).
Box 9. Search for identity through the radicalization process
The search for identity, particularly among Western-born youth, seems to be one of the major
explanations reported by many researchers (Precht, 2007). However, it is difficult to define
because of the impact of several variables at different levels that interact and limit its possibilities.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
38
For some, this search is a simple expression of the identity crisis typical of adolescence (BeskiChafiq, Birmant, Benmerzoug, Taibi, & Goignard, 2010). Others emphasize macrosocial variables:
the influence of living conditions in Western countries in the context of modern life, i.e.,
individualism and the relativism of values that drive individuals into a personal quest, without
prior markers (Khosrokhavar, 2014). In several publications, Hogg has shown, for example, that
youth who feel uncertain about their identity are more likely to identify with a radical group that
that sets sufficiently rigid limits and structures to protect them from this feeling (Hogg,
Kruglanski, & Bos, 2013; Hogg, Meehan, & Farquharson, 2010). This situation becomes more
acute among second- or third-generation immigrants, due to the absence of a sense of
belonging to the parents’ country of origin, and grows following repeated experiences of
discrimination and limited socio-economic opportunity in the country of residence (Beski-Chafiq
et al., 2010; Raffie, 2013). According to the report by Noppe et al. (2015), threats to the group’s
social identity, not the individual’s identity, play the most significant role in the initial phases of
radicalization.
In any case, armed conflict seems to be the answer to the search for meaning, identity and
recognition, by securing certain life-long normative certainties and “just causes.” Therefore,
joining a terrorist group stabilizes the identity of persons with low self-esteem and other
marginalized persons in search of a sense of belonging to protect their identity (Victoroff, 2005).
3.1.3
Relational or group factors
Factor
Islamism
Consensus
Radical right
ICS*
Consensus
ICS*
Internal group cohesion
Family
Charismatic leaders
Relationship with other adults
Personal networks
Resources
Intergenerational transmission of radical
ideas
* Insufficient or contradictory studies
Internal group cohesion. Closely associated with leadership, this factor explains the growth of radical
right-wing groups. It relates to the groups’ ability to avoid creating internal factions and to avoid
conflicts (Freilich, Chermak, & Caspi, 2009).
Family. While the absence of family responsibilities seems to be an important factor for some
(Abrahms, 2008; Cole, Alison, Cole, & Alison, 2010), other studies report that many radical Islamists
are married with children (Zammit, 2010). In the United Kingdom, for example, Cole et al. (2010)
explain that isolation resulting from migration could weaken the family as a protective factor. On
the other hand, 77% of radicalized individuals in Australia had a stable family (Zammit, 2010).
Nilsson (2015) also explains that the presence of loved ones in conflict zones is a factor that can
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
39
normalize28 jihad as a lifetime undertaking. As for the radical right, Gruenewald et al. (2013b) explain
that lone attackers are more isolated and do not live with family, unlike other extremists of the
same type. In this study, however, almost one quarter of extremists had children.
The parent-child relationship also seems an important factor in the intergenerational transmission
of radical right extremist ideas. A correlation exists between racism, xenophobia and nationalistic,
authoritarian attitudes between parents and their children in adolescence, which could explain the
identification with radical right thinking (Grubben, 2006; Pels & de Ruyter, 2012). Higher rates of
xenophobia were recorded among adolescents with emotionally distant parents and adolescents
from families that applied a punitive, authoritarian approach (Pels & de Ruyter, 2012).
Charismatic leaders. Whether Islamist radicalism or radical right extremism, the presence of a
charismatic leader seems to be a key factor in accelerating the radicalization process (Ashour &
Azzam, 2009; Bjørgo, 2005; Freilich et al., 2009; Hofmann & Dawson, 2014). In the case of Islamist
radicalism, the charismatic leader consolidates the religious ideology and approach and reframes
such things as negative experiences in relation to the armed struggle (Bjørgo, 2005; Sinai, 2012,
cited in Schmid, 2013). A strong and determined leader of a radical right group provides and frames
an ideology, justifies certain beliefs or actions, and issues clear instructions on how to achieve the
group’s objectives (Freilich et al., 2009).
Relationships with other adults. Meaningful relationships between an adult and an adolescent can
moderate xenophobic ideas. Teacher intervention, for example, in response to related comments
by students reduce their xenophobia (Pels & de Ruyter, 2012).
Personal networks. More than ideology or ties to a specific organization, the radicalization process
seems best explained according to the relationships among individuals (Sageman & Hoffman,
2008a; Sageman, 2004; Taarnby, 2005). In situations where, as Sageman (2004) points out, the
influence of groups like al-Qaeda are beginning to fade in terms of a formal organizational
structure, networks are becoming increasingly independent and self-activated, which represents
one of the key factors in the process. Persons of roughly the same age, with a similar life experience,
who live in relatively the same area and share the same opinions, begin to follow a path that leads
to radicalized thinking (Bakker, 2006). Among the 12 radicalization mechanisms described by
McCauley and Moskalenko (2008), four directly relate to group characteristics.29 Groups become
radicalized when they are isolated and feel threatened, when they compete with other radicalized
groups for the same support base, when they compete with the state or when competition exists
inside the group in question. The importance of personal networks has been established several
times by different researchers. In one study on Sunni militants, converts and non-converts, in the
United States, 93% of cases involved a group influence at work in the radicalization process
(Kleinmann, 2012). In the same study, 42% were radicalized through horizontal contacts: groups of
friends, family members or other social contacts. Jordan and Horsburgh (2006) explain that
[translation] “The ideal of fighting as a normal way of life, rather than seeing jihad as a limited-time
experience” (Nilsson, 2015, p. 351).
29 See Box 12. McCauley and Moskalenko.
28
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
40
personalized and informal relationships are a basic characteristic in the structure of radical networks
in Spain,.
Resources. In keeping with resource mobilization theory,30 Freilich et al. (2009) underscored the fact
that access to sufficient financial resources by radical right groups is also associated with the rise
of these groups in the United States.
Group characteristics. Based on an analysis of white supremacist group networks in the
United States, Caspi (2010) found that the size and age of the group correlated positively to
murders. The older and larger groups are more dangerous than smaller groups.
Box 10. The recruiter’s role in Islamist extremism
Although horizontal and independent radicalization are mentioned increasingly often in several
studies (Heinkel & Mace, 2011), ties with other extremist groups remain a cause of controversy
among researchers (see note 10). DAECH, responsible for the recent attacks in Paris, is one
example. However, although the tie is uncertain and groups in the West operate more as
self-activated cells, the role of gatekeeper or recruiter remains important. The gatekeeper is the
one who serves as a link between cells and other extremist groups, and who provides the “knowhow” needed to join a cell and obtain the necessary training and knowledge about politics and
religion (Nesser, 2006). The recruiter does not activate the radicalization process, however, but
rather accelerates it (Verldhuis et Bakker, 2007 cited in Noppe et al., 2015). According to Taarnby
(2005), without this gatekeeper’s influence, the cells are less dangerous and isolated.
Many of these gatekeepers are former veterans of the war in Afghanistan or received training
from various countries in conflict (Chechnya, Bosnia, Afghanistan, etc.) (Nesser, 2006). Some
imams or charismatic Salafist chaplains have also been identified as gatekeepers (Bokhari,
Hegghammer, Lia, Nesser, & Tonnessen, 2006; Precht, 2007). Hegghammer (2006, p. 8)
underscores that although gatekeepers may use Internet sites for recruitment, most rely on
informal social ties: “In many Islamist communities the gatekeepers are relatively well known,
meaning that potential recruits know who to approach.”
3.1.4
Community factors
Factor
Islamism
Consensus
Radical right
ICS*
Consensus
ICS*
Isolated community
Cultural conflicts
Radicalization subculture
* Insufficient or contradictory studies
30
A social movement’s rise depends on its ability to mobilize human, financial and other resources.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
41
Community isolation. Given the integration problems confronted by ethno-cultural communities,
especially in Europe (see Box 11), isolated communities seem to be favourite targets of jihadist
recruiters (Alonso, 2012; Haider, 2015; Mitchell Silber & Bhatt, 2007). The sense of belonging to a
diaspora, especially the kind that entails a feeling of rejection, like the Muslim diaspora, increases
feelings of isolation, a need to form ties with others with similar traits, and a need to protect oneself
from the rest of society. Taarnby and Hallundbaek (2010), for example, describe how isolation within
the United Kingdom’s Somalian community fostered the recruitment of unemployed, poor youth
by the radical al-Shabaab group.
Cultural conflicts. The presence of this type of conflict in a neighbourhood seems to increase the
probability that youth will join a radical right movement (Blee & Creasap, 2010).
Presence of a radicalization subculture. Sinai explains that in an extremist group’s radicalization
phase, the presence of extremist subcultures in a local community, along with a gatekeeper (see
Box 10), facilitates the recruitment process (2012, cited in Schmid, 2013).
3.1.5
Macro and exo-systemic factors
Factor
Islamism
Consensus
Radical right
ICS*
Consensus
ICS*
Traditional gender identity
Weak or unstable nations
Fast-paced modernization
Other macro-political factors
Cultural heterogeneity
Social integration
Conflicts in Muslim countries
Authoritarian societies
* Insufficient or contradictory studies
Box 11. Social factors and integration problems
Factors explaining radicalization based on major social variables are not a matter of consensus
among researchers. French sociologists like Khosrokhavar (2014) and Roy (2008) emphasize the
importance of individualism and the relativity of values in Western societies, as well as Muslim
integration problems, especially in Europe, which are driving young people who have lost their
bearing to try to find a personal identity that is eventually stabilized via armed conflict. However,
other researchers believe that this factor is necessary but not sufficient to explain radicalization;
empirical data do not support the influence of macro-sociological variables on this process
(Kleinmann, 2012).
According to other sociologists, this type of variable only explains the particular form of
radicalization found in Europe and North America. The inability of European nations to integrate
other cultures has isolated certain communities and groups of individuals, whose frustration and
disenchantment with the hope of integration has spurred their radicalization (Belkin, Blanchard,
Ek, & Mix, 2011; Leiken, 2005; Taarnby, 2005). Furthermore, Muslim communities in Europe are
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
42
distributed according to the colonial influence of the host country or geographic enclaves
(Pakistanis in the United Kingdom, Algerians in France, Turks in Germany, etc.), which recreate a
conflict-ridden relationship with society (Cesari, 2008). In North America, however, Muslim
immigrants arrive in countries built on migration, with vast expanses of territory that enable the
distribution and ethnic fragmentation of national communities, thus allowing more opportunities
for success (Abbas & Siddique, 2012; Leiken, 2005). Accordingly, “As a consequence of
demography, history, ideology, and policy, western Europe now plays host to often disconsolate
Muslim offspring, who are its citizens in name but not culturally or socially” (Leiken, 2005, p. 123).
Social construction of gender roles. Despite the shortage of studies explaining these characteristics
in sufficient detail, beliefs and attitudes surrounding male and female roles in society seem
important characteristics of Islamist radicalism and extreme right radicalism. As mentioned earlier,
men who live in male-dominated societies where equality between the sexes is uneven are more
vulnerable to the radicalization process (Gelfand, LaFree, Fahey, & Feinberg, 2013; Mitchell Silber &
Bhatt, 2007). In another French study, stakeholders perceive sexual and sexist stereotypes in the
name of culture to have some influence; the demeaning attitude of young people toward women
is even mentioned as a significant sign of Islamist radicalism (Beski-Chafiq et al., 2010). Also, as
mentioned in the section on trends, radical right groups are more inclined to support a maledominated culture and to subordinate women in secondary roles within the organization, often
based on gender roles (Blee & Creasap, 2010; Blee, 2005).
Macro-political factors. In his book Root Causes of Terrorism, Tore Bjørgo (2005) identifies a series
of structural factors31 that have had some influence on terrorism: lack of democracy, civil liberties
and the rule of law, weak or unstable nations, illegitimate or corrupt governments, hegemonies or
non-egalitarian authorities, historical precedents of political violence, modernization and fast
economic growth, and foreign powers that support illegitimate governments. State weakness often
seems to be one of the most important factors accounting for terrorist attacks (Gelfand et al., 2013;
Piazza, 2008). In the case of post-Soviet Russia, fast Western modernization of the country has been
underscored by Balayan (2012) as one factor involved in the rise of Russian nationalism, and by
various researchers in the case of former communist countries (Glaser, 2006). Effective use of the
political opportunities structure (see Box 5) was proposed by several researchers as an important
factor in explaining the rise of the radical right both in the United States and Europe (Freilich et al.,
2009; Halikiopoulou & Vasilopoulou, 2015). Halikiopoulou and Vasilopoulou (2015) explain that the
increase in right-wing extremist groups in Europe during an economic crisis could indicate the
capacity of these groups to capitalize on political and cultural opportunities. Furthermore,
individuals who legitimize the political system are less likely to participate in radical right acts of
violence (Pauwels & De Waele, 2014; Schils & Pauwels, 2014).
31
Bjørgo distinguishes between structural, facilitating, motivational and triggering factors (2005).
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
43
Cultural heterogeneity. According to Art (2013), the most important factor in the rise of the radical
right, especially in Europe, is the transformation of relatively homogeneous societies into
heterogeneous societies, a situation closely associated with social integration and growing
migration problems. In the United States, the cultural competition generated by the change in
population composition at the start of the 20th century may have played a part in the rise of groups
like the Ku Klux Klan (Blee & Creasap, 2010).
Social integration: A sense of alienation within the host society could prompt second- or thirdgeneration immigrants to identify with the global Muslim community and with victims of conflict
in the country, thus increasing the likelihood of radicalization (Belkin et al., 2011; Sirseloudi, 2012).
Among the fourteen key causes of terrorism, Bjørgo (2005) includes, for example, the failure or
reluctance of states to integrate dissident groups or emerging social classes. On one hand, the
incompatibility between identification with one’s cultural minority group and one’s society of
residence is associated with greater sympathy for radical ideas (Simon et al., 2013). On the other
hand, compatibility between the two identities can peacefully channel demands through the
established political system (Simon et al., 2013). Accordingly, facilitating a dual identity seems key
to preventing sectarian or radical action. In a study that compared groups of non-violent and violent
radicals, one of the most important differences between the two was the sincere affection that nonviolent radicals felt “for Western values of tolerance and pluralism, system of government, and
culture” (J. Bartlett, Birdwell, & King, 2010, p. 10). Pauwles and Waele (2014) showed in a study of
extreme-right radicalism that better social integration reduces the likelihood of involvement in acts
of violence.
Foreign policy of Western countries in conflict with Muslim countries. Conflicts in Muslim countries
were reported by many researchers as the primary motivating factor of Islamist groups (Abbas &
Siddique, 2012; Heinkel & Mace, 2011; Nesser, 2006; Precht, 2007). Pape (2005, cited in Moghadam,
2008), for example, suggests that countries that were occupied by foreign powers are more likely
to be targets of suicide attacks. In 2007, Sageman recommended to the United States Senate that
it pull its troops out of Iraq in order to pull the plug on a major source of al-Qaeda inspiration and
propaganda. Jihadist groups therefore take advantage of the idea that the West is at war with Islam:
" In line with Al Qaeda’s ideology they interlinked issues such as the occupation of Palestine, the
French support for the Algerian regime, the Russians’ military operations inside Chechnya, the Iraq
war, with regional European issues such as tightened security and more restrictive immigration
legislation, as well as surveillance and prosecution of jihadist milieus in European countries in the
aftermath of 9/11" Nesser, 2006, p. 327). Therefore, military intervention and counter-terrorism
following terrorist attacks in the West can have paradoxical consequences when it comes to fighting
terrorism (Haider, 2015; Schmid, 2013). Action by minority Islamist groups triggers waves of
discrimination and Islamophobia which, in turn, increases the communities’ isolation and sense of
alienation, thus aiding recruitment (Cesari, 2008; Schmid, 2013; Skoczylis, 2013). This weakens the
link and sense of belonging to the host country, especially for second- or third-generation
immigrants (Thurairajah, 2011). Moreover, this type of conflict also has indirect consequences: it
provides an opportunity to gather and train large numbers of jihadists in conflict zones, who then
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44
fuel radicalization in the West in the years to come (Skoczylis, 2013). The attacks therefore have two
objectives: to strike Western countries on their own land, and to nurture the future of radicalization.
However, other researchers underscore that this factor alone is insufficient to explain radicalization
(Kleinmann, 2012).
Authoritarian societies. Societies with strict standards that punish deviations from accepted
behaviour are more likely to experience terrorist attacks (Gelfand et al., 2013). Ramakrishna (2015)
hypothesizes that individuals who accept hierarchal power differences are more likely to gravitate
to radical educational environments.
3.2 Radicalization trajectories
The radicalization trajectory is the process or path toward understanding “how an individual moves
towards radicalized beliefs over time in a fluid and constantly changing social environment”
(Costanza, 2012, p. 26). Horgan (2008) believes that trajectory studies, when compared to the
weaknesses of profile studies, can generate a better understanding of the gradual engagement
process among individuals. In this case, the trajectory study makes it possible to understand why a
person engages and drops out, and the factors that explain the course of these events (Horgan,
2008). Despite these recommendations, all of the models identified centre on the engagement
process but overlook the withdrawal process.
There are many radicalization processes or pathways. Although some models are not perfectly
linear, like the one developed by McCauley and Moskalenko, most are characterized by a one-way
progression and suggest radicalization phases or steps related to a causal order. Nevertheless, most
researchers underscore that no single trajectory can explain the radicalization process, except
perhaps some that describe it according to various mechanisms and approaches (A. Bartlett, 2011;
McCauley & Moskalenko, 2010). Silber and Bhatt (2007), for example, explain that even if most
people may not necessarily experience all of the phases, those who follow each one will very likely
become radicalized. The individuality of these trajectories is another important characteristic.
Although some authors include the group component, most try to explain the radicalization process
first as a person-centred evolution, and then (in the second or third phase of the trajectory)
incorporate a group dimension. According to Christmann (2012), these models concur that the
radicalization process implies an individual change determined by external factors.
This type of phase model has come under criticism. Veldhuis and Staun (2009) object to the fact
that the researchers proposing these models rely on radicalization case studies to try and
retroactively explain radicalization. However, the correlations made in these models are difficult to
prove empirically (Kundnani, 2015). In fact, people who experience the same phases do not always
become radicalized; no cause and effect relationship is therefore evident. Furthermore, some of
these models lack scientific data proving their real-life validity. Most rely on secondary sources to
formulate their findings, thus confining them more to the realm of theory. Schmid (2013) argues
that one problem with these models is that they concern specific cases of men (Muslims) who
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45
became radicalized and that, although they start at the same point, they neglect the diversity of
pathways to radicalization; in other words, they encounter the problem of “statistical discrimination”
(Veldhuis & Staun, 2009). The phase models use certain general traits, for example, traits indicating
the unobservable potential of radicalization. Based on this type of model, certain persons may
possess these shared traits without necessarily being involved in a radicalization process. These
“false positives” can generate discriminatory and oppressive treatment based on religious affiliation,
race or certain behaviours, and thus wrongly create the suspicion of radicalization. Moreover, these
individual development models make no mention of macro-societal variables, particularly
concerning the role of Western governments abroad and their actions from a “war on terror”
perspective (Kundnani, 2012, p. 5).
For the purposes of this report, we will limit our presentation to six radicalization trajectories that
have contributed to an understanding of this radical pathway.32 First, we selected trajectories related
to homegrown radicalism in the West. In that instance, we did not consider the model by Gill (2007)
on suicide bomber trajectories in the Middle East. Then, we eliminated trajectories that lacked
sufficient explanation, like CONTEST, or that made an insufficient contribution compared to other
models.33
We will present the various trajectories proposed below. These models appear in chronological
order.
3.2.1
The Wiktorowicz model
Quintan Wiktorowicz (2004, 2005, 2006) developed his model after studying the Al-Mouhajiroun
group in the United Kingdom, based on social movement theory. His model emphasizes the
importance of groups in the radicalization and mobilization process. He explains that no single
theory can explain the recruitment process and stressed the vital importance of focusing on the
specific mechanisms of a series of mobilization components. In short, each social movement theory
explains only a portion of the radicalization process, not all radicalization mechanisms.
32
We included two extra non-linear models in Box 12 and Box 13.
For more information about radicalization trajectories, see for example Borum, 2011a, 2011b; Christmann,
2012a; Horgan, 2008. Gartenstein-Ross and Grossman (2009), following a scientific study, offer six tangible
signs of radicalization. We nevertheless decided not to include this model since it consists more of a
description of specific factors following a scientific study. This also applies to Taarnby’s model, which is heavily
influenced by that of Sageman. Taarnby extends Sageman’s four factors by dividing them into eight. Lastly, we
disregarded Borum’s model (Borum, 2011a, 2011b), which shows the transition from a sense of grievance to
binary thinking (us against them), since this idea was examined sufficiently in the other models.
33
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46
Illustration 3. The Wiktorowicz model
This model calls attention to the role of social influences in a person’s trajectory to a radicalized
group. Wiktorowicz suggests three key processes that increase the likelihood of being attracted to
these groups. These processes are:
1. Cognitive opening
Cognitive opening is the process whereby a person becomes more receptive to new ideas and
world views. This opening can be triggered by a personal crisis or may relate to past
socialization experiences. These crises can be economic (i.e., a job loss), sociocultural (i.e.,
humiliation, racism, etc.), political (i.e., torture, political discrimination or repression) or personal
(i.e., the death of a family member). They topple previously held concepts and open the door
to new perspectives.
Some members of the group exploit their existing social ties with potential members by
magnifying their personal crises to get them to support their cause.
2. Religious seeking and frame alignment
Religion can comprise an important component of an individual’s identity. Cognitive opening
can cause a person to turn to religion to find meaning. This seeking can be initiated and pursued
by individuals themselves. They peruse the religion “marketplace” and choose the one that
aligns with their needs and outlook. They may also be caught up in a movement. In some cases,
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
47
members of a movement may assist or guide the seeker in joining the group or movement by
convincing them that the group’s ideology is the most plausible choice.
This process is dialogue-oriented, not coercive. In this regard, seekers are active participants,
and their exposure to an ideology does not necessarily cause them to support the group, but
increases such a possibility. This dialectic depends on the movement’s ability to provide the
person with an interpretive framework34 that aligns with what is being sought. A frame
alignment process occurs in which the interpretive frameworks of the individual and of the
group are aligned and shared. This is nevertheless rarely the way a person is persuaded to
engage in high-risk behaviour. Such choices are more likely made during the next process:
socialization.
3. Socialization and engagement
If the person accepts the group’s interpretive framework, a socialization process follows. In this
case, the seeker discovers and explores the group’s ideology in more depth through various
interactions: events like protests, discussion groups, various social events, readings and other
group activities. During these moments, the group forges a cohesive identity and unity among
its members. The seeker accepts the group’s ideology and becomes an active participant. Some
people may leave the group while others conform and accept the group’s strategies and vision.
Processes 1 and 2 are prerequisites for the third process—socialization—in which the individual
may engage in violent behaviour supported by his or her group or movement.
3.2.2
Stahelski’s five stages of social psychological conditioning
Stahelski (2005) developed a diagram of social psychological conditioning to explain the formation
of violent groups. Terrorist groups use cult-like conditioning techniques capable of transforming
ordinary individuals into remorseless killers. Staheslski describes five stages of social psychological
conditioning that can shed light on the transition from ideology to violent action (Flannery, 2015):
34
Here, Wiktorowicz bases his study on the frame analysis theory of Snow and Benford (1986). Based on
Contamin, this [translation] “alignment of interpretive frameworks […] implies a framing activity by mobilization
entrepreneurs. They seek to influence the image that their various audiences have of reality. To do so, they
construct “frameworks of collective action,” series of beliefs and representations geared to action, that inspire
and legitimize the activities and mobilization campaigns, while emphasizing the unfairness of a social situation”
(2010, p. 58).
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
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Illustration 4. Stahelski’s five phases of social psychological conditioning
Selfdeindividuation
Depluralization
1.
Otherdeindividuation
Dehumanization
Demonization
Depluralization: The terrorist group conditions the joiner to strip away all other group
member identities and adopt the group’s identity exclusively. This is usually the case of
individuals who leave the dominant culture to join a subculture.
2.
Self-deindividuation: Stripping away each member’s personal identity. In this phase, a
person ceases to identify as an individual. The individual’s personal identity is gradually
taken away and replaced by the group’s identity. Personal freedom is relinquished, and
individuals adapt to the group’s thinking and identity.
3.
Other-deindividuation: Stripping away the personal identities of enemies. The group
begins to identify others—persons outside their own group—as a faceless mass. The
construct of the others as a homogeneous mass and their description as “evil incarnate”
denies the individuality of others and depersonalizes them.
4.
Dehumanization: Identifying enemies as sub-human or non-human. This is accomplished
through discursive comparisons of the enemy to non-human entities, such as insects,
dogs, viruses, etc.
5.
Demonization: Identifying enemies as evil. Here, too, the enemy is considered the very
incarnation of evil and is compared to demons, evil forces, etc.
According to Skahelski, the last two phases come to fruition when groups increasingly gravitate
toward violence.
3.2.3
The Moghaddam model
The author uses the metaphor of a staircase to describe the path leading a person to commit acts
of violence, suicide attacks in particular (Christmann, 2012; Moghaddam, 2005). The model is based
on three types of factors : individual, organizational and environmental, and focuses on the
psychological aspects of the process. This gradual transition considers the decision-making capacity
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49
and perception of the individual involved. Reaching the “fifth floor” implies violent acting out. In all,
there are six levels/floors:
Illustration 5. Moghaddam’s staircase model
Fifth floor
Fourth floor
Third floor
Moral
engagement
Second floor
First floor
Ground floor
Psychological
injustice of
material
conditions
1.
Perceived options
to fight unfair
treatment
Displacement of
aggression. Direct
or indirect
support of binary
outlooks: "us
versus them."
Black and white
thinking and
group
consolidation.
Legitimation of
terrorist
organization
Sidestepping
inhibitions. Acting
out.
Ground floor : A psychological interpretation of material and social conditions.
a. Subjective perception of deprivation, injustice, social immobility;
b. Identity threats;
c. Media’s influence in propagating a sense of injustice.
2.
First floor : Proposed options for fighting against unfair treatment. These options are:
a. Perception of opportunities for social mobility and alternative pathways for improving a
situation;
b. Perception of legal procedures that can lead to solutions to perceived problems.
If these options seem or prove to be blocked, they generate a feeling of injustice and a sense
that the established system is illegitimate. The aggression felt is displaced toward others who
are blamed for the problems. This allows movement to the second floor.
3.
Second floor : Displaced aggression.
The second floor is characterized by displaced aggression which, at this point, is more verbal
than physical. It translates into direct or indirect support for organizations or institutions that
support and encourage an “us against them” mentality. People who feel physically ready to
move on to aggression climb to the higher floors.
4.
Third floor : Moral engagement.
This floor is where the terrorist organization appears to support the engagement process
through persuasion and justification of the means to achieving an ideal society. It uses
isolation, affiliation, confidentiality and fear tactics to achieve its ends. These organizations
position themselves at two levels:
a. At the macro level, as the only option for changing the world or reforming society; and
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
50
b. At the micro level, as a refuge for the outcast, the discontent, the alienated and other
persons in similar situations.
5.
Fourth floor : Black and white thinking and the legitimacy of the terrorist organization. The
recruitment stage.
a. Entry into the terrorist organization and the start of socialization within the secret life of
the cell;
b. The group promotes dichotomist thinking, “us” versus “them,” and isolation heightens.
6.
Fifth floor : Terrorist acts and inhibition mechanisms.
This is the operational phase in which recruits are trained and equipped to carry out acts of
terrorism. They receive the necessary resources to overcome any inhibitions about killing
others, using :
a. Social categorization, to identity the target and enemy. At this point, civilians can be
considered the enemy group;
b. Distancing, to exaggerate in-group and out-group differences;
c. The neutralization of inhibition mechanisms.
The advantage of this model is that it provides an image of the steps in the trajectory and highlights
the fact that fewer and fewer alternatives exist at each progressive floor toward radicalization. The
perceived identity threat is crucial in this model. Like most other analysts, the author believes that
a desire for revenge is extremely important to suicide attackers, but also a sense of duty to family,
the community, God, etc.
3.2.4
Sageman’s model
Marc Sageman (2004, 2006, 2008) was one of the first to suggest a model for understanding
radicalization. Four factors explain or help clarify the process:
1. A sense of moral outrage over perceived violations of rights. The situation and conflicts in
Muslim regions like Iraq, Palestine, Bosnia, Kashmir, etc., and other local situations in the West,
become a source of moral outrage for some people. The perception of local humiliation combines
with a perception of global humiliation to create a personal interpretation of the Muslim situation
across the world.
2. A specific interpretation of the world in which moral violations are seen as representing a
war against Islam. This interpretation of local or global reality is perceived by some as a war against
Islam. This is not an intellectual but an emotional interpretation that encompasses a wide range of
problems: Middle East conflicts, experiences of discrimination, the tendency of various media to
focus on fringe Islamist discourse that promotes violence while ignoring the peaceful position of
the Muslim majority, etc.
3. Resonance with personal experiences. This interpretation of a war on Islam finds more
resonance in Europe, given the difficult daily experience of many European Muslims. Anti-Muslim
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
51
comments and the fact that the Muslim community is perceived as a victim of socio-economic and
political injustice and discrimination illustrate this experience.
4. Mobilization through networks. All of these factors and situations affect the world view of
certain young Muslims whose frustration builds. A very small percentage of them become
radicalized. This radicalization can begin and grow on the Internet, particularly through social
media. Various networks offer chat rooms where numerous people can connect and share the same
points of view, lending each other support.
3.2.5
NYPD model
This model was developed by the New York Police Department based on a model by Silber and
Bhatt (2007) for groups that endorse a jihadist-Salafist ideology. The model proposes a four-phase
radicalization trajectory to explain domestic radicalization or homegrown terrorism. According to
the authors, the model is not linear: acting out can begin or end at any phase. However, the authors
start with the premise that if a person transitions through all of these phases, the possibility of
committing acts of terrorism is high. The suggested radicalization phases are as follows
(Christmann, 2012; Mitchell Silber & Bhatt, 2007):
Illustration 6. NYPD model
Jihadist-Salafist Ideology
Attack
Jihadization
1.
Pre-radicalization: This is the starting point, before a person becomes influenced by
jihadist-Salafist ideologies. At this point, people are living a normal life and have a normal job.
2.
Self-identification: The intermediate process in which people, under the influence of
internal or external factors, start exploring Salafism; they begin to turn their backs on their past life
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52
and associate with like-minded individuals as they internalize the ideology. A cognitive opening
provides a channel for new ideas, often in the wake of an event or personal crisis. The triggers to
acting out at this phase are varied: economic, social, political or personal. Here, the most vulnerable
individual are people who have reached a crossroads in their lives, as they search for their identity
or validation of their trajectory.
The transition to the second phase, according to the authors, emerges through indicators of
alienation, such as: distancing themselves from their past and forming closer ties to persons with
similar opinions and sensitivities, etc. Other indicators of radicalization include: a) joining a Salafist
group, b) foregoing the use of tobacco, alcohol, gambling and Western clothing, c) dressing in
Eastern/Muslim clothing and growing a beard, and d) becoming an activist in their community.
At the start, radicalization is often a process of self-radicalization and self-selection; later, once the
person joins the radical group, the specific process of group radicalization begins. Groups of people
with the same characteristics form around “radicalization incubators.”35 The authors claim that two
factors are involved : a) the shift toward Salafist Islam and b) attendance at a Salafist mosque.
Contact with a radical imam is critical at this stage.
Indoctrination. Beliefs intensify and Salafism is accepted in its entirety. Personal beliefs
3.
about conditions elicit support for jihad. This process is led by a spiritual censor. In this phase,
individuals who share the same beliefs meet together, which helps expand teachings and
commitment. Peers become essential to support the radicalization process. Acceptance of the
political-religious ideology that supports violence toward non-Muslims is a turning point. The goal
is no longer personal, but universal.
Two indicators are especially important at this stage : (1) Abandonment of the mosque. The
mosque no longer serves radicalized needs. It is perceived as a high-risk environment and is usually
abandoned amidst an argument with other members of the mosque. The mosque is perceived as a
threat because it is often monitored by intelligence services. (2) Politicization of new beliefs.
Radicalized individuals begin to transfer their beliefs to daily life. International events are
interpreted through this new, often dichotomized outlook (“us” against “them,” Muslims against
non-Muslims). The group assists in the withdrawal from secular life and becomes the person’s whole
world.
4.
Jihadization. This refers to the time when people self-identify as holy warriors (mujahidin)
and see jihad as their duty. This phase involves planning and represents a time when the group’s
ties solidify and strengthen. This is the point where the individual eventually transitions through the
following sub-phases: (1) accepts jihad and may travel to a training camp, (2) physical and mental
training, (3) planning the attack and (4) acting out.
35
See page 28.
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53
3.2.6
The Danish Security and Intelligence Service [Politiets Efterretningstjeneste]
(PET) model
Similar in various ways to the NYPD model, the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET)
suggests four consecutive phases leading to radicalization (Veldhuis & Staun, 2009):
1. A “radicalisability” phase when a person becomes susceptible to the influence of a “radicaliser”;
2. Change in behaviour and move toward new religious practices, with the resulting:
3. Narrowing of social contacts, as bonds with family and former friends are cut or restricted,
leading to:
4. A hardening phase, in which the person interested in violence consumes violent material, such
as videos.
The difference between the NYPD and PET models is that the PET underscores the role of factors
beyond the individual’s control, more specifically the recruiter’s role. As Veldhius and Staun
mention, this model is a process in which the individual “starts by being ‘susceptible’ to radical
ideas and meeting a ‘radicaliser’, and advances to new religious practices and changed behaviour.
Subsequently, the process involves a narrowing of the person’s circle of friends and family and
results in the so-called ‘hardening phase’, which includes ‘reviewing of and interest in very violent
videos’ displaying terrorists in battle and the killing of hostages” (2009, p. 14).
Box 12. McCauley and Moskalenko’s twelve radicalization mechanisms
In their radicalization model, McCauley and Moskalenko (2008) describe a series of mechanisms
leading to violence. They stress the fact that radicalization can develop at an individual, small
group or mass level. In all, they suggest twelve radicalization mechanisms: six pertain to
radicalization in individuals, three to radicalization in small groups and three to radicalization at
a mass level. For our purposes, mechanisms refer to “the means or manners in which something
is accomplished” (McCauley & Moskalenko, 2008, p. 415). The unique feature of their model is
its lack of a linear trajectory. In their opinion, any attempt to formulate a step-based theory to
explain radicalization is contradictory considering the host of factors they describe (McCauley &
Moskalenko, 2010). Therefore, the uniqueness of each trajectory results from the combination of
these various mechanisms. They suggest the following twelve radicalization mechanisms:
Individual-level mechanisms
1.
First and foremost is the issue of personal grievances. Government actions that harm
individuals or their loved ones can generate anger or a desire for revenge. No direct tie
exists between these personal grievances and the acting out. However, the factor catalyzing
this potential transition is the fact that the grievance is shared or interpreted as a group
reality.
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54
2.
Political grievances. An individual can be radicalized without experiencing the cause of the
grievance personally. In this case, the grievance results from identification with the
grievances of the group or community of origin.
3.
Individual radicalization in action (the “slippery slope”). This is a gradual, step-by-
4.
Love is another radicalization mechanism. Some people may join a radical group at the
progression toward radicalization.
request of a loved one or join them in a common cause, to help and protect them, whether
friends, lovers or family. Deep relationships or bonds can form between a radicalized group
member and potential member.
5.
Fear is another mechanism that can encourage a person to join a radical group. This is often
the case in nations experiencing bankruptcy. Some people feel more secure if they join a
radical group than if they remain on their own. Joining armed friends enhances their sense
of security.
6.
Thrill-seeking, status and money. Joining radicalized groups can be motivated by a quest for
social status, money or thrills. This applies to certain people who join street gangs or who
enter the military, etc.
Group level
7.
Group polarization. Group discussion and debate among like-minded individuals tends to
move group opinion in the preconceived direction initially favoured by group members.
Two forces come to bear in such situations. First of all, some members refrain from
expressing disagreement with the group’s basic values to avoid positioning themselves as
being different from other members and, secondly, to avoid becoming targets of suspicion.
8.
Competition with various entities is another radicalization mechanism identified among
small groups. It can arise when a non-governmental group competes with or challenges a
government or other rival group. Competition can occur within the same group when
different factions compete over different viewpoints.
9.
Isolation or threatening conditions can form a strong sense of group unity. This mechanism
can foster radicalization among fringe, low-profile or underground groups.
Mass level
10. Outside threats are a powerful mechanism for small groups and mass groups alike given
their impact on populations. An external threat can trigger a strong process of identification
exhibited in various ways, either through ethnic glorification, idealization of values and
identification of political leaders and disciplinary action against non-compliant group
members. This is a reassurance process that produces spectacular reactions, such as the
reactions following the events of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
11. Hate is another emotion that can transform into a mechanism for dehumanizing the enemy.
This dehumanization makes acting out against and killing ethnically or religiously
categorized enemies more readily acceptable. Civilians are not exempt from this emotion
and are seen no differently than soldiers or militants.
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12. Martyrdom. The zealous commitment of martyrs plays a role in radicalizing the masses, who
see it as an example of sacrifice and evidence of a cause’s importance.
Box 13. Non-radicalization factors
In terms of preventing a person from becoming radicalized, the traditional approach is to
mitigate—or eliminate—the radicalization factors, i.e., factors that promote engagement in a
radicalization process. However, as mentioned, these factors are correlated and non-causal;
limiting their influence is therefore no guarantee that the radicalization process will be stopped.
An alternative approach recommended by Cragin (2014) is to place more importance on factors
that prevent an individual from becoming radicalized, in other words, non-radicalization factors.
Cragin (2014) made this recommendation based on her non-radicalization conceptual model,
developed to identify the factors that cause a person not to engage in violent political action,
something she calls “non-radicalization” or resistance to violent extremism. To be considered
resistant to violent extremism, the individuals in question must have had previous exposure to
radical ideologies and may even have flirted with a radical mentality, but ultimately renounced
violence (Cragin, 2014). Her conceptual model does not apply to lone wolves or individuals acting
outside the confines of a terrorist group. However, it provides preliminary avenues for
understanding what differentiates radicals who resort to violence from others who reject it.
After completing her research, Cragin (2014) identified four intermediate factors that might deter
individuals from wanting to join terrorist groups:
Moral repugnance, i.e., disagreement with the use of violence as a means to achieve a
purpose or to bring about social, political, economic or religious change.
Perceived ineffectiveness of violence. This impression can result from apathy, i.e.,
because people have no interest in or see no need for change, or because people have
taken alternative, non-violent pathways to bring about change.
obligations and/or (4) fear of repression.
Perceived costs, which can consist of (1) logistical costs, (2) financial costs, (3) family
An absence of social ties to the terrorist group that strengthen or encourage the
radicalization process.
Cragin suggests that anti-radicalization measures should consider these non-radicalization
factors and try to strengthen them. These factors are all the more important considering, as the
model shows, that they also foster resistance among individuals to joining terrorist groups and
withdrawal from existing groups by members. Therefore, whether or not a person is engaged in
a radicalization process, these non-radicalization factors can prevent them from being lured by
violence.
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Nasir Hafezi, a British lawyer specializing in criminal law and terrorism who has defended many
youth for related matters, agrees with Cragin. In his view, we must not fail to appreciate that
many young people who become radicalized or leave for Syria are motivated by a desire to
address injustice and make positive changes in the world (N. Miller, 2015). Hafezi argues that the
desire to bring about change, to engage, must not be discouraged or smothered in youth but
guided in a productive, non-violent direction. By providing youth with alternative pathways to
engage and act on their desire for change, the perceived ineffectiveness of violence, as presented
in Cragin’s model, is a more effective tool. Otherwise, the lack of alternatives for taking action
makes young people vulnerable to recruitment by radicals and extremists, as violence gradually
asserts its place as the only effective means to secure political or social change. Kundnani (2009)
shares this opinion, and suggests that safe spaces must be created for young people to engage
in honest debate on tough political issues—in other words, spaces like those created under the
STREET project in the United Kingdom (see page 88). It is important that young people feel
encouraged to become politically engaged and contribute to society, without the need for some
authority or other to approve their opinions in advance (Kundnani, 2009).
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IV.
MEASURES FOR PREVENTING RADICALIZATION AND VIOLENT
EXTREMISM
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1
Crime prevention approaches
Before continuing with an analysis of counter-radicalization programmes, we must clearly establish
what we mean by prevention, especially crime prevention.
For the purposes of this report, we will use the prevention concept proposed by the United Nations
(UN) in its “Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime,” adopted under Economic and Social Council
resolution 2002/13 (UNODC & ICPC, 2011). The resolution identifies four crime prevention
approaches, detailed below:
Social crime prevention
Situational crime prevention
Locally-based or community crime prevention
Reintegration programmes
The goal of social crime prevention is to minimize the development of risk factors and strengthen
protective factors associated with crime. In other words, social crime prevention endeavours to
influence factors that can lead individuals to criminal behaviour (Bjørgo, 2013). According to a
UNODC and ICPC publication:
Crime prevention through social development includes a range of social, educational,
health and training programmes, such as those that target at-risk children or families when
the children are very young, to provide them with support and child-rearing skills. Some
early intervention programmes are also referred to as developmental crime prevention,
since they try to intervene to develop resilience and social skills among children and their
families. (2011, p. 12)
Therefore, in terms of preventing radicalization, a social approach tries to limit the driving forces
and motives—in other words, risk factors—that urge individuals to resort to violence. For example,
many studies have shown the preponderance of political grievances—especially in reaction to
Western foreign policy—as radicalization risk factors. A social prevention approach to radicalization
would therefore (1) eliminate or reduce the major causes and sources of frustration and anger and
(2) halt radicalization processes as soon as possible (Bjørgo, 2013). As shown later in this report,
other measures relate more to the individual factors that can entice a person to become radicalized,
such as cognitive factors. For example, some measures attempt to nurture among participants the
ability to manage conflicts peacefully and consider the viewpoints of others.
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For some, social prevention is the only means to reduce terrorism in a lasting way (Elworthy &
Rifkind, 2006). More generally, it also allows the growth of more harmonious, inclusive and tolerant
societies (Shaftoe, Turksen, Lever, & Williams, 2007).
Situational prevention, on the other hand, tries to limit an individual’s opportunities to commit
crime. It therefore aims to increase the risk and effort involved in committing a crime and to lower
the reward the individual stands to gain from the offence (ICPC, 2010). As Bjørgo (2013)
underscored, situational prevention measures do not directly target potentially criminal individuals
but try to influence them indirectly by changing the situations in which unwanted actions might
occur. By calculating the costs and benefits of certain actions, criminals may be deterred from acting
out.
From a situational prevention approach to radicalization, the goal is to reduce the opportunity
factors that encourage a radicalization process (see Box 5). Precht (2007) distinguishes between
three groups of factors capable of influencing an individual’s decision to engage in a radicalization
process: background factors, trigger factors and opportunity factors. Opportunity factors comprise
places conducive to radicalization, in other words, places that offer an opportunity to meet likeminded people, a source of inspiration or a recruitment location. Among the various opportunity
factors, Precht identifies the most common locations: the Internet, prison, the mosque, school,
university, youth clubs, work and sporting activities.
From a counter-radicalization outlook, situational prevention measures would include restricting
the availability of extremist discourse on the Internet or organizing support groups for prison
inmates to reduce the temptation to join an extremist or radical group.
Situational prevention can occur in a wide variety of ways, which means that a host of social players
can also be involved in setting them in motion. However, as Kleinig (2000) noted, the drawbacks of
certain situational prevention measures is that they can place restrictions on the entire population,
not simply ill-intentioned individuals.
Locally-based or community crime prevention aims to change local conditions that might be
affecting criminal behaviour, victimization and a sense of insecurity. Based on this approach:
“Community crime prevention emphasizes community mobilization, using the notion of
‘community’ in the sense of either a social group or a living environment, and includes the aim of
improving the quality of life of residents,” (ICPC, 2010, p. 2).
As shown later in this report, community prevention is significant in preventing radicalization; many
measures have been developed on the basis of this approach in an effort to improve a community’s
social cohesion and to integrate the people in it. For example, safe spaces for young people have
been created in certain communities to encourage their integration and prevent them from
becoming isolated or feeling alienated, which could attract extremist recruiters to them.
Lastly, reintegration programmes consist of fostering the reintegration into society of persons
who committed crimes. This approach is one of the most relevant to the radicalization issue, and
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various measures have been devised to deradicalize persons who are already far along the road to
radicalization. An individual may not have committed a crime or an act of violence but, having
reached the indoctrination stage, may still pose a threat to society.
To summarize, although these crime prevention approaches may differ in some respects, none of
them stop short at crime reduction as their one and only objective. As the ICPC reported in its
International Report on Crime Prevention and Community Safety: “the objective of crime prevention
extends beyond the absence of crime to the improvement of the quality of life,” (ICPC, 2010, p. 2).
This ultimate objective is often underscored in the measures described in this report, which
implicitly or explicitly take a broader outlook than merely preventing radicalization, but also try to
foster social cohesion in communities and the well-being of the individuals that comprise them.
Following this brief introduction to crime prevention approaches, the next section contains
background information on counter-radicalization policies. It traces the origin of these policies in
an effort to understand the geopolitical events that have shaped the emergence and growth of
radicalization as a concern among many governments. We will also identify countries and
programmes that have played a significant role in developing strategies elsewhere in the world.
4.1.2
Background on counter-radicalization policies
a) What is counter-radicalization?
The UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) defines counter-radicalization as:
(…) policies and programmes aimed at addressing some of the conditions that may propel
some individuals down the path of terrorism. It is used broadly to refer to a package of
social, political, legal, educational and economic programmes specifically designed to deter
disaffected (and possibly already radicalized) individuals from crossing the line and
becoming terrorists. (Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, 2006, p. 5).
b) Development of counter-radicalization policies
As shown throughout this report, when seen as the process that leads a person to resort to violence
for political reasons, radicalization is obviously nothing new. However, the term’s use in political
circles is relatively recent. The events of September 11, 2001, in New York certainly sparked concerns
about violent extremism in the West. However, specific instances of homegrown terrorism that took
place in Europe a few years later raised the issue of radicalisation processes. As pointed out by the
European Commission’s Expert Group on Violent Radicalisation, 2008), the term “violent
radicalization” came into use in the European Union following the 2004 subway bombings in
Madrid. The bombings that followed the next year in London only heightened concerns about the
radicalization of Western individuals (see Box 14).
These two events triggered a change in counter-terrorism policies, which gradually took a more
preventive approach, and more specifically targeted domestic “radicals” (people who had grown up
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and lived in the West their entire life) and non-domestic radicals (Lindekilde, 2012). Despite the lack
of a clear and common understanding of radicalization processes, the concept gradually came to
dominate the body of policies designed to counter ideological and violent extremism in Europe
(White, 2006).
Box 14. Transport system bombings in Madrid (2004) and London (2005)
On March 11, 2004, ten explosions took 191 lives and injured approximately 2,000 people riding
the Madrid commuter train system. The Basque ETA separatist organization was initially
suspected, but it later turned out that the bombings were committed by Moroccan Islamists
(Silber, 2005).
Illustration 8. Madrid bombings (White, 2006)
Illustration 7. London bombings (Wang, 2012)
On the morning of July 7, 2005, four bombs exploded in downtown London; three at a subway
station and one in a bus. Over 50 people were killed and 700 injured during the attacks. The four
suicide bombers responsible for the explosions were British Islamist extremists (European
Monitoring Centre on Racism & Xenophobia, 2005).
Leaders in the field of counter-radicalization policies have been the Netherlands, the United
Kingdom and Denmark, which have pioneered the development and implementation of strategies
to deal with this issue. While elsewhere in the world, such as the Middle East and South-East Asia,
programmes to counter radical Islamism have focused more on the deradicalization and
rehabilitation of extremist prisoners, these three European countries decided to create community
programmes designed to identify and reform individuals in the early stages of the radicalization
process (Rabasa, Pettyjohn, Ghez, & Boucek, 2010). The European initiatives went a step beyond
radical Islamism and tried to prevent all types of extremism and rehabilitate all types of radicals.
The programmes described in this report focus more specifically on radical Islamism and right-wing
extremism.
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Lindekilde (2012) analyzed counter-radicalization policies in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom
and Denmark to determine their shared characteristics and differences. It is especially interesting
that the radicalization model used to support these policies was essentially the same: radicalization
as a relatively linear process of escalating extremism. Extremism is defined as having two major
components, one cognitive or attitudinal and the other physical or behavioural.
These policies also rely on a common concept of radicalization’s development and on the traits of
vulnerable individuals. The radicalization scenario underlying these policies, as described by
Lindekilde (2012), reads as follows:
1.
Adolescents—especially those from an immigration background—isolated, in search of an
identity, feeling political frustrated, experience a “cognitive opening” following a specific
event at the political, social or personal level;
2.
The individual, searching for an alternate lifestyle, is more likely to be approached by
“radical entrepreneurs” seeking vulnerable youth;
3.
Newcomers, once they enter radical environments, fall under the influence of peers and
group dynamics. They reach a stage when they are ready to back up their radical thoughts
with action. At this point, a “hardening” process occurs.
Based on this view of the radicalization process, the counter-radicalization strategy involves
monitoring individuals most “at risk” and promoting their well-being and personal fulfillment to
prevent them from becoming radicalized. Also from this perspective, it becomes difficult to
differentiate individuals at risk because of their socio-economic status or integration from those
perceived as potential security risks. Concerns about security therefore become closely associated
with concerns about community integration, social cohesion and the fight against discrimination
(Lindekilde, 2012). One flagrant example of this new approach is the creation of new initiatives (or
strengthening of existing ones) in many European Union member states to establish a dialogue
with Muslim communities following the Madrid and London bombings (European Monitoring
Centre on Racism & Xenophobia, 2005).
Counter-radicalization therefore exists within the broader field of counter-terrorism policies and
thus combines certain traditional security policy principles—such as surveillance—and social
integration and community cohesion policies (Lindekilde, 2012). The various measures that make
up the strategies are based on a supply and demand rationale: counter-radicalization occurs by
targeting the “demand” for radical ideologies and the “supply” of extremist viewpoints. By way of
an example, Lindekilde (2012) mentions initiatives that try to promote a sense of integration in
vulnerable youth, thus lowering the demand for radical alternatives, along with efforts to fight
radical discourse on the Internet, designed to restrict the supply of extremist discourse.
In order to implement a comprehensive response, initial counter-radicalization policies enlisted a
wide variety of players to allow them to pool their efforts; for example, local police, national security
agencies, municipalities, parents, community and religious leaders were encouraged to work
together cooperatively (Lindekilde, 2012). The emphasis centred on municipal initiatives since local
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authorities were the best placed to detect early signs of radicalization and respond quickly. The
programmes vary tremendously from one European Union country to another. However, European
strategies are generally flexible, allowing local authorities to adapt their action to the characteristics
and needs of their community (Rabasa et al., 2010).
Box 15. Legislative measures
To date, nations concerned about radicalization leading to violence continue to enact various
measures in an effort to prevent their nationals from committing acts of violence, leaving to fight
abroad or contributing to various extremist movements. Although most legislative measures
since September 11, 2001, at first seem more directly related to terrorism in general, some legal
and administrative measures now endeavour to directly counteract radicalization leading to
violence, especially certain signs of such violence, like foreign fighters. This section does not claim
to provide an exhaustive inventory of all existing counter-radicalization legislation, or even to
offer a critical exploration of how certain measures affect members of the public. Instead, it tries
to briefly outline the various legal or administrative measures taken to fight radicalization.
This section briefly examines terrorism-related offences, foreign travel measures, loss of
citizenship and the issue of terrorism propaganda and the Internet.36
Terrorism-related offences
The general interest of nations in a preventive approach to terrorism broadens the concept of
terrorist laws (Bigo, Bonelli, Guittet, & Ragazzi, 2014). In fact, many governments include
terrorism offences in their criminal codes that extend beyond terrorism strictly speaking to
include participation in terrorist groups, inciting others to commit acts of terrorism, terrorist
recruitment or training for terrorist purposes (Bakowski & Puccio, 2015). Countries like Germany
and Belgium have even enacted provisions making it a crime to receive training for terrorist
purposes (Bakowski & Puccio, 2015). Norway, for example, hands down maximum sentences of
30 years of imprisonment for terrorist activities that involve planning or leading a terrorist attack,
receiving terrorism-related training, supporting a terrorist organization through financial
support, recruitment, fighting, etc. (US State Department, 2015).
Passport confiscation
To address the issue of foreign fighters, several countries have chosen to confiscate travel
documents (e.g., passport) to prevent individuals from leaving the area to engage in terrorist
activities abroad.
36
Other measures are also attributed to counter-radicalization efforts, including: deportation, residency
requirements, restricted association, financial measures, work- and school-related restrictions, and so on.
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Countries like Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and others confiscate the passports of
persons suspected of participating or showing interest in participating in terrorist activities
(Bakowski & Puccio, 2015).
Under its Prevention of Terrorist Travel Act and amendments to the Canadian Passport Order,
Canada can “revoke passports” and prevent “travel of those seeking to engage in terrorist
activity” (Government of Canada, 2015). Furthermore, in 2013, the Combating Terrorism Act
“brought in four terrorist travel offences, including making it a criminal offence of leaving or
attempting to leave Canada for the purposes of participating in any activity of a terrorist group
or facilitating terrorist activity” (Government of Canada, 2015).
The United Kingdom, in its 2015 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, also provides for
confiscating the passport of individuals suspected of leaving the country to engage in terrorismrelated activities (Government of UK, 2015).
France introduced a “travel ban” applicable to any French citizen trying to leave the country to
participate in terrorist activities or travel to a terrorist group theatre of operations, under
conditions likely to cause such a person to endanger public safety on returning to French territory
(Government of France, 2014a). This provision prevents a French national from leaving the
country by “invalidating” his/her passport and identity card (Government of France, 2014a).
Revocation of citizenship
Various countries have instituted measures to revoke the citizenship of nationals with dual
citizenship who commit serious wrongdoing in their country of residence. This measure does not
specifically apply to radicalized individuals, but rather to various types of individuals who failed
to comply with certain conditions.
However, such revocation could apply to radicalized persons in certain circumstances, such as
the recent case of Canadian Zakaria Amara, a member of the “Toronto 18” terrorist group,
sentenced in 2010 (Radio Canada, 2015). Born in Jordan, Amara’s Canadian citizenship was
revoked under the new measures enacted in 2015 under the Citizenship Act authorizing the
Government of Canada to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens or deny Canadian
Citizenship to permanent residents who are convicted of terrorism, high treason, or spying
offences (Government of Canada, 2015).
Terrorism propaganda and the Internet
Several nations have decided to punish terrorism supporters and the dissemination of Internet
propaganda supportive of radicalization. This is specifically the case in France under section 5 of
the country’s anti-terrorism law of November 2014 (Government of France, 2014b). Specifically,
this measures makes it possible to block websites that promote acts of terrorism by asking
Internet service providers to deny access to sites that glorify or incite terrorism (Government of
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France, 2015). This measure also makes it possible to remove terrorist-type sites from reference
lists generated by search engines (Government of France, 2015).
Terrorist propaganda is also punished in Canada and covered by a new Criminal Code offence
effective under the new Anti-terrorism Act, 2015. The new Act also empowers authorities to seize
or confiscate “terrorist propaganda material” and to remove “terrorist propaganda from
Canadian websites” (Department of Justice Canada, 2015).
4.2 Typology of measures
4.2.1
Measures, mechanisms and strategies
As shown throughout this report, radicalization is an extremely complex issue, and developing
strategies to prevent it is far from an easy task.
For a more detailed analysis of prevention programmes, we will begin by examining the underlying
terminology. Indeed, it is important to distinguish between counter-radicalization measures,
mechanisms and strategies. This terminology is based on Bjørgo (2013), who uses it to
differentiate various terrorism prevention mechanisms.
A measure is an action deliberately put in place to activate a specific mechanism. Through the
measure, the mechanism’s desired effect is neutralized. However, a measure can activate one or
more other mechanisms than the one desired, which can be positive or negative. Therefore, a single
measure can be used in different strategies, but serves a different preventive function each time. It
is possible to determine (1) whether a measure produces the desired effect in a given situation and
(2) how the measures were put in place.
For example, a counter-radicalization measure can involve monitoring Internet messages to identify
any that are considered problematic or supportive of radicalization. As seen earlier, this measure is
consistent with a situational prevention approach since it restricts the opportunity factors that
encourage radicalization.
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Illustration 9. Model for change based on counter-radicalization measures
STRATEGY
MEASURE
MEASURE
activates a
MECHANISM that produces an
EFFECT
MEASURE
A mechanism is a process whereby certain factors influence other variables and produce a specific
effect. It is therefore an explanatory model created to describe how certain measures can produce
a specific effect. In other words, it explains the causal ties assumed to be active. A social mechanism
is not directly observable; rather, it comprises an assumption about how one thing affects another.
If we continue with our previous example, the surveillance of extremist discourse on the Internet
can activate a deterrent mechanism, i.e., certain individuals will prefer not to broadcast extremisttype messages via the Internet for fear of being arrested by authorities. The effect is therefore to
reduce the number of extremist messages on the Web. However, a single measure can activate
more than one mechanism, some of which may be unwanted. In this case, people may be deterred
from expressing controversial opinions, although these opinions may not be radical or incite
violence, for fear of being misinterpreted by authorities and having problems. The mechanism
activated is once again a deterrent, but the effect is to violate individual freedom of speech.
Finally, a strategy consists of using available measures and resources and incorporating them into
an action plan to achieve a specific effect. A strategy can therefore include several measures and is
founded on the concept of certain mechanisms. For this report, we will use the terms “strategy” and
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66
“programme” interchangeably, given that our understanding of a programme, as an action plan
that includes various measures, is similar to a strategy.
We could have described different counter-radicalization programmes as they exist at the national,
municipal and local levels in a number of countries. However, this approach would not have allowed
for a clear and effective analysis of the various measures that make up these programmes. A single
strategy can include a wide variety of measures designed to activate different mechanisms; similarly,
a single measure can be used for several strategies. It would have been impossible to develop a
programme typology as such considering that the programmes can include a host of measures and
seek to create a variety of effects. However, we were able to develop a typology of existing measures
that make up these programmes and that concern counter-radicalization.
4.2.2
Description of typology
The measures inventoried in this report can be broken down into different levels, according to the
target of the intervention. We identified four main targets: the individual, the relational
environment, the community environment and the social environment. These levels relate to those
identified in relation to the radicalization process explanatory factors.
At an individual level, the measures target radicalized persons—confirmed, suspected or
considered at risk—through personal interaction with them. We organized the identified measures
into the following categories: enhance the personal skills of individuals identified by the initiative,
present a normative religious practice, develop the critical judgement of persons on the Internet
and rehabilitate radical or violent extremists. Examples include measures involving young people in
mosques or schools, to present them with a normative religious practice, or the many programmes
developed by different countries for deradicalizing or disengaging from extremist groups.
In terms of the relational environment, we identified measures for persons who have direct
contact with radicalized or vulnerable individuals. The two main types of measures identified are
front-line worker training and training and support for parents.
Community environmental measures focus on strengthening the community’s ability to confront
radicalization. In this regard, two major types of measures include creating partnerships, along with
community cooperation and support. This may involve initiatives designed to strengthen the
community’s trust in institutional authorities or to create safe spaces for youth in trouble. Usually,
these measures endeavour to foster community resilience, social cohesion and integration of their
members.
Lastly, measures at the societal level are broader in scope and target society as a whole. Their goal
is to lower the likelihood that individuals will become radicalized. Some measures will be instituted
to counteract propaganda and extremist discourse, whether by developing counter-discourse or
monitoring extremist talk circulating in society. Others will try to counteract more general factors
that provide fertile ground for radicalization, such as poverty, alienation and exclusion.
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In a separate category, we find centres of expertise and databases, measures designed for sharing
information about radicalization and best practices for preventing it. For the most part, these
measures are available online to maximize dissemination.
The following section describes these various counter-radicalization measures based on the
typology developed. Assessed measures were given priority, along with those that produced the
most effective results. We will concentrate on the measures themselves, rather than the mechanisms
they can activate, since mechanisms are sometimes difficult to identify.
Through this inventory of counter-radicalization measures, we hope to be able to devise possible
solutions and avenues for thought to develop future strategies or improve existing strategies.
4.2.3
Individual measures
a) Enhanced personal skills
Many primary prevention measures endeavour to develop personal skills in young people to make
them more “resistant” to radicalization and extremism. This may involve, for example, developing
the ability to manage conflicts, learning to listen to different viewpoints while respecting the other,
reflecting and questioning their personal identity in an atmosphere of non-judgement, developing
their self-confidence and promoting their participation in civil society. The most effective measures
in this regard are those that emphasize experiential learning, i.e., scenarios, plays or activities that
elicit cooperation and openness to the other, to allow the participant to play a proactive role in the
activity.
As we saw earlier, ideology plays a vital role in the process of indoctrinating people into radical
groups. As underscored by Nasser-Eddine, Garnham, Agostino and Caluya (2011) in their survey of
the literature on the fight against violent extremism, several radicalization models are rooted in the
assumption that thought precedes action; in other words, ideology leads to violence. Many of the
counter-radicalization measures developed from these models, especially the ones that target
individuals directly “focus on preventing people from developing anti-democratic views and belief
in the usefulness of violence, or from developing a particular ideology” (Nasser-Eddine et al., 2011).
Measures that target these objectives thus take an ideological approach. One type of ideological
approach available concerns the “multiplicity of interpretations” (Nasser-Eddine et al., 2011).
The multiplicity of interpretations approach is based on the idea that an intervention must not try
to convince a person that “their” viewpoint is wrong and “ours” is right. Instead, it promotes the
idea that a single issue can be interpreted in a host of different ways and, most importantly, all of
them are legitimate. Gregg (2010), for example, states that to be effective, the fight against violent
extremism must include the development of a “marketplace of ideas,” a space where competing
ideas and ideologies can coexist. The components of this marketplace of ideas are (1) a culture of
questioning and debate and (2) the inclusion of an uncensored range of opinions. With the
existence of this marketplace of ideas, the grievances and solutions proposed by extremist
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ideologies could be more easily refuted. For this author, the best way to counter an ideology is to
offer a more attractive, realistic and, ultimately, a preferable alternative.
Accordingly, intervention that follows a multiplicity of interpretations approach aims to prove to
the individuals concerned that there is more than one way to think about an issue. The goal is not
to teach people what to think, but rather, how to think. Although this kind of objective may seem
paternalistic, the idea is to encourage people not to limit themselves to a single interpretation of
an issue.
Box 16. Being British Being Muslim: Prevention through value complexity
The method used for the Being British Being Muslim programme, called the “value complexity
prevention method” (Liht & Savage, 2013, p. 44), is similar to a multiplicity of interpretations
approach: it tries to develop a more complex understanding of the different viewpoints and
values of others. To achieve this goal, the method enlists the cognitive concept of integrative
complexity: a measurement of the intellectual style used by an individual or group to process
information, resolve problems and make decisions (Suedfeld, Cross, & Logan, 2013). The higher
the level of an individual’s integrative complexity, the more his or her ability to think and reason
involves a recognition and integration of multiple viewpoints and possibilities.
The rationale underlying the activity relates to the assumption that one factor favouring
radicalization and recruitment in extremist groups is the cultural intermingling resulting from
globalization (Inglehart & Welzel, 2005). This growing mixture of cultures encourages closer
interaction among groups with different values, which can make many people uncertain about
their identity and behavioural norms (Liht & Savage, 2013). With their values “threatened” in this
way, some will be more likely to find themselves in conflict with other groups.
Bearing this in mind, extremist groups can seem especially appealing. They are usually based on
a simple world view and a clear hierarchy of values; they afford a level of certainty in an
increasingly ambivalent and complicated world. Furthermore, their discourse frequently argues
that important values are being “threatened” by the “other”—the binary structure of “us” versus
“them” or “good against evil” being common to extremist ideologies. As Liht and Savage (2013,
p. 46) write:
Extremist discourse usually emphasizes [sic] one moral value (such as justice for the
oppressed or communalism) in regard to an issue to the exclusion of all other values
(such as liberty or individualism). This focus on one single value (per issue) reduces the
perceived complexity of the social world.
In other words, stronger support for extremist ideas is associated with weaker integrative
complexity. The individual’s perspective is limited to a single outlook and other possible
viewpoints are not taken into account. Furthermore, this inability to make compromises between
values and competing viewpoints can easily lead to conflict, sometimes violent, since more
involved solutions, or solutions that require collaboration, are discarded (Liht & Savage, 2013).
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69
Suedfeld et al. (2013) obtained interesting results in this regard: they analyzed fifteen extremist
groups that differed in their acceptance and use of violence and showed that a growing tolerance
for violence was associated with a significant decrease in integrative complexity. Therefore,
greater integrative complexity encourages negotiation and the search for peaceful solutions to
conflict.
The Being British Being Muslim programme was developed with the aim of enhancing
participants’ integrative complexity, i.e., increasing the complexity of their thinking about issues
that radicals might try to exploit would reduce their vulnerability to radical messages. The
programme was essentially designed for Muslim youth, potentially attracted to the discourse of
Islamist radicals and the issues they raise. During the activity, participants explore their
attachment to certain values and what it means to them to be Muslim and British. They listen to
the viewpoints of different Muslim speakers on a series of issues, ranging from far right to far
left. The issues covered are chosen based on how often they are mentioned in Islamist extremist
discourse. This is followed by group activities based on the “Theatre of the Oppressed” teaching
method.37
At the cognitive level, the activity seeks to produce three effects leading to greater integrative
complexity (Liht & Savage, 2013):
1) The first effect is differentiation, which reflects the ability to recognize multiple
viewpoints or dimensions of an issue.
2) The second effect is value pluralism, or the ability to accept the validity of the values that
underpin a viewpoint, without necessarily sacrificing competing values. The goal is for
participants to realize that there is nothing wrong or unacceptable about differences of
opinion and that different values can coexist without one value necessarily taking
precedence over the others.
3) The third effect is integration, i.e., the discovery of connections or an overarching
framework between the different viewpoints. In this way, participants are able to
understand why reasonable people can have different viewpoints on the same issue.
Liht and Savage (2013) measured the integrative complexity of 81 participants through seven
pilot groups in the United Kingdom, before and after their participation in the Being Muslim Being
British project. Their findings showed that integrative complexity significantly increased among
participants following the activity and that their conflict resolution style was geared more to
collaboration and compromise. A similar activity was later developed in Kenya called Being
Kenyan Being Muslim, and the results following an assessment were equally conclusive (Savage,
Khan, & Liht, 2014).
37
The Theatre of the Oppressed is a form of theatre developed in Brazil by Augusto Boal in the 1960s and
influenced by the work of educator and theoretician Paulo Freire. The audience plays an active role in the
performance and explores ways to promote social and political change (Boal, 1997).
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This method entails many advantages:
The activity can be successful, even in the absence of a complete understanding of
pathways to violence.
The approach avoids a hierarchy of values (for example, to promote Western values over
other values) and does not force participants to accept a system of values–secular or not.
Instead, it holds that, “religious, non-secular values need not be discarded or even
tempered in order to achieve social cohesion” (Liht & Savage, 2013, p. 63).
One vital advantage of the value complexity prevention method is that it targets the
structure of thinking, rather than the content of an ideology or a community’s beliefs. It
therefore calls into play a cognitive concept–integrative complexity–that is both specific
and measureable and can also be applied to different types of extremism and intergroup
conflicts.
It is extremely difficult to determine whether a measure can prevent radicalization.
However, a person’s integrative complexity can be measured before and after an activity
to identify any improvement. The possibility of performing this assessment is a
considerable asset.
In addition to the ideological aspect, other measures also address participant identity issues and
lead them to think about their place in society. Specifically, this applies to the Diamant antiradicalization training in the Netherlands, This training was developed in 2011 by the SIPI (Stichting
Interculturele Participatie en Integratie, or the foundation for intercultural participation and
integration), a citizens’ initiative established in 2005 in Amsterdam by three immigrant women.
Following two political murders38 in the country, these women decided to pool their life experience
and strategic positions in migrant communities to address the Netherlands’ integration problem.
They hoped to develop empowerment training methods in a participatory manner, for and by
migrant communities (Feddes, Mann, & Doosje, 2013).
The Diamant initiative primarily consists of group training and individual coaching. It comprises the
following elements:
1) “Turning Point” personality and identity training during which young people are asked to
think about their identity and manage important events in their lives;
2) Moral development from an intercultural viewpoint to learn to deal with different opinions
and make decisions;
3) Conflict management from an intercultural viewpoint.
38
Pim Fortuyn, a Netherlands politician with controversial opinions on multiculturalism, immigration and Islam
in the Netherlands, was assassinated in 2002. Director Theo van Gogh was also the focus of controversy
following the release of his film criticizing the treatment of women in Islam; he was assassinated in 2004.
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71
Researchers from the University of Amsterdam (Feddes et al., 2013) evaluated the activity. Their
research was longitudinal: the factors were examined before, during and immediately after the
programme, and then three months after the programme ended.
The researchers’ assumptions were as follows:
1.
“Self-esteem” would be higher after the programme;
2.
A sense of having the ability to take action (knowing what we want and how to get it) would
be greater after the programme;
3.
The connection to society (reduced social isolation) would be greater after the programme;
4.
Juggling viewpoints (the ability to imagine the viewpoints and opinions of others) would be
5.
Empathy (the ability to put ourselves in another’s shoes, to feel what they feel) would be
greater after the programme;
greater after the programme;
6.
After the programme, participants would be less supportive of violence as a means of
achieving their ideals (Feddes et al., 2013).
Questionnaires and interviews were used to measure changes in these factors. The results showed
that over time, participants felt less disconnected from society, and after the programme, most of
them were in school, working or taking a training programme. Empathy and juggling viewpoints
had improved, and participants said they better understood the viewpoints and opinions of others.
They were also less supportive of using violence as a means of achieving their objectives once the
training was over. Follow-up took place with one group three months after the programme ended.
The results showed that empathy and the ability to juggle viewpoints had not diminished over time.
Furthermore, most participants were still working or in school and had therefore remained
connected to society (Feddes et al., 2013).
The Diamant initiative, like Being British Being Muslim, can be used to counter Islamist radicalism or
extreme-right radicalism because the skills it aims to develop in participants are factors that enable
them to resist radical ideologies or indoctrination of all sorts. These measures lead participants to
question their identity, their way of interacting with others and their place in society, concerns that
are shared by all individuals, regardless of their background or religious affiliation.
Various national counter-radicalization strategies also stressed the importance of developing
personal skills in young people to fight radicalization. One example is Denmark’s Counterradicalization and extremism action plan, with a General Initiatives component designed to
develop social skills, critical thinking and a sense of responsibility in youth (Government of
Denmark, 2014). The Radicalisation prevention plan for schools in Belgium follows a similar
strategy with an emphasis on strengthening the moral resistance of students and offering
citizenship courses in school (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, 2015).
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b) Emphasis on normative religious practice
In the fight against Islamist radicalization, some measures more directly concern religious aspects.
The objectives of these kinds of measures may be to increase knowledge among individuals about
the diversity that exists within the same religion or to equip them to recognize radical
interpretations of Islam.
Several activities were conducted using this approach with the Slotervaart Action Plan, in the
Netherlands. Slotervaart is a sub-municipality of the city of Amsterdam with a large Muslim
population and high crime and unemployment rates. It is also the sub-municipality where many
members of the radical Hofstad group were raised, including Mohammed Bouyeri, responsible for
the murder of Theo Van Gogh in 2004 (Nuansa, 2007). Following the implementation of a national
strategy that stressed the need to counter radicalization at a local level, the Slotervaart submunicipality was identified as a test case. With a large contingent of youth among its population
and second-generation immigrants of Moroccan or Turkish descent, it was considered at risk for
radicalization (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2014c).
The action plan’s major objectives were to (1) raise awareness among youth, especially Muslim
youth, about radicalization; (2) help (Muslim) youth become resistant to all (religious) forms of
radicalization; (3) stimulate knowledge about diversity within Islam and society (other religions and
belief systems).
Thus, in addition to organizing information sessions to demystify radicalization among youth,
parents and people who attend mosques, a number of debates were organized. The purpose of
these debates was to encourage critical, independent thinking in the youth and to elicit their
opinions, primarily about the role of religion and Islam in Western society: What is Islamophobia?
How can freedom of religion be maintained? What can be done to stand up against discrimination?
What diversity exists within Islam? What values do Islam and Dutch society share? By approaching
these various questions in a debate format, the youth were not only encouraged to question their
role as Muslims in a non-Muslim society, but also to develop their thoughts and ability to share
them.
In Scotland, the Solas Foundation tries to promote authentic Islamic education. Established in 2009
by two Muslim academics, the goal was to disseminate an informed and coherent image of Islam,
present traditional Islamic teachings on controversial issues and dispel any confusion created by
radicalization (Ibrahim, 2010). The foundation developed various projects geared to the target
audience; for example, its iSyllabus programme for students offers courses based on Islamic
scriptural sources that describe the foundations of the religion and their relevance in a
contemporary Western setting. One objective of these teachings is to equip students to identify
radical interpretations of Islam and to use traditional sources to refute them. Calling on credible
teachers is an important component for fostering the programme’s success; its two founders,
sheikhs Amer Jamil and Ruzwan Mohammed, were born and raised in Scotland, and later studied
with well-known theologians in the Middle East. Their theological knowledge and their own
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73
experience of reconciling religion and life in Scotland gives them greater credibility among Scottish
students (Ibrahim, 2010).
c) Developing critical judgement on the Internet
Considering the prevalence and ready access to extremist discourse on the Internet, measures were
developed to improve the skills and critical judgement of individuals—young people in particular—
in relation to the sea of information available on the Internet. These measures sometimes
incorporate concepts like verifying sources, understanding search engines and understanding the
techniques used to manipulate and radicalize them through the Internet.
In the United Kingdom, the Digital Disruption programme is specifically intended to improve the
skills of youth, particularly their critical judgement of the digital world. The programme was
established in 2008 following a project on the negative messages young people receive online,
especially the influence of certain YouTube videos on their behaviour and values. Different
workshops were organized for young people between 12 and 25 years of age to develop their
digital proficiency and understanding. For example, the two-hour “Truth, Lies and the Internet”
workshop teaches youth from 12 to 16 years old to identify and deconstruct online propaganda
(Digital Disruption, n.d.). Other workshops, like “Conscious Creators” and “Knowledge is Power”
teach youth the technical skills they need to create websites, films and online campaigns
(“Conscious Creators,” n.d., “Knowledge is Power,” n.d.). This equips them to identify the various
techniques used to create propaganda and develop a critical eye when it comes to Internet
information.
Internet awareness workshops in schools are also used in various national counter-radicalization
strategies. Under Belgium’s Radicalisation prevention plan for schools, projects on radicalization,
freedom of speech and media education will be developed and educational tools placed online
(Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, 2015). In Quebec, the 2015-2018 Government Action Plan entitled
“La radicalisation au Québec: agir, prévenir, détecter et vivre ensemble” [radicalization in
Quebec: act, prevent, detect and live together] has a prevention component that raises youth
awareness about the ethical and responsible use of the Internet and social media (Government of
Quebec, 2015).
d) Rehabilitating radical individuals or violent extremists: disengagement and
“deradicalization”
Many initiatives have been developed to rehabilitate individuals who belong to an extremist group
or who have already begun a radicalization process. Two main types of measures are relevant in
this regard (Rabasa et al., 2010):
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Disengagement measures usually try to rehabilitate radicalized individuals or terrorist
groups (alleged or convicted) and reintegrate them into society, or at least deter them from
resorting to political violence again (Schmid, 2013).
Deradicalization measures encourage a person to abandon an extremist ideology. As
Rabasa et al. described in their report on the deradicalization of Islamist extremists,
deradicalization is a process used to try to change an individual’s belief system and
encourage them to relinquish their extremist ideology and accept the values of the
majority.
When these measures target individuals who committed acts of terrorism, they can be considered
tertiary prevention or recidivism prevention since the aim is to reduce the likelihood they will
commit further terrorist acts. However, this type of measure can also target people in the process
of radicalization who have not yet committed violence. From this standpoint, it would be
inappropriate to speak of recidivism prevention.
Some programmes incorporate both disengagement and deradicalization measures, while others
are limited to one or the other. For example, programmes geared to right-wing extremism generally
focus on the disengagement of individuals from an extremist group and provide the necessary
resources (financial, material, psychological, etc.) to ensure that the individual and the individual’s
family are no longer dependent on the extremist network. On the other hand, the ideological aspect
is not necessarily addressed during the intervention. However, several prison deradicalization
programmes for Islamist terrorists include workers (such as imams) who confront extremist
ideology and terrorist beliefs about Islam viewed as false, without necessarily offering ongoing
disengagement support.
Given the broad range of disengagement and deradicalization programmes worldwide, we will
present a selection that have had an important influence on the development of subsequent
programmes. We will begin by focusing on programmes addressing right-wing extremism, which
primarily concern disengagement measures, followed by deradicalization programmes in prisons.
Fighting right-wing extremism, racism and xenophobia: “Exit” programmes
“Exit” programmes were first developed in Scandinavia in the 1990s to disengage white
supremacists from neo-Nazi groups (Fekete, 2014). Later exported to Germany and then elsewhere
in Europe, these programmes have gained momentum in recent years, to the point where the
European Commission suggested in January 2014 that all European Union member states introduce
them to disengage extremists in an effort to improve their response to radicalization and extremism
(European Commission, 2014).
The first “Exit” program was developed in Norway in 1996-1997 (Bjørgo, 2002; Butt & Tuck, 2014).
In the early 1990s, several Norwegian communities were confronting problems with racial violence
and xenophobia. The city of Brumunddal, facing serious racist tensions targeting immigrants and
refugees, established an action plan in 1991 to remedy the problem. The action plan was funded
by the national government and involved a partnership between government agencies, the
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75
Brumunddal municipal authority and NGOs (Shaw & Barchechat, 2002). The action plan, which
involved government agencies and civil society, was extremely successful and significantly reduced
xenophobic violence in the city (Bjørgo, 2002). Major lessons were learned from this action plan:
first, problems involving xenophobic and racist violence must be positioned as the entire
community’s responsibility; second, it can be extremely useful to enlist the support of outside
consultants. Following the success of the Brumunddal action plan, the Norwegian central
government decided to establish a permanent committee of experts, the “Interdisciplinary Advisory
Service for Local Action against Racism and Xenophobia” (Bjørgo, 2002) This organization remains
in operation and includes researchers, social workers, police officers and others. The committee of
experts is mandated to provide support and advice to municipalities and local agencies dealing
with problems of racism and xenophobia. Through its work in various municipalities, the advisory
service has managed to accumulate and systematize its knowledge, methods and practical
experiences. In this way, the Service offers the ideal framework for experts to collectively develop
effective methods for countering violence and racism in communities. This collaboration later gave
rise to Project Exit (Bjørgo, 2002).
Project Exit – Leaving Violent and Racist Groups was officially created in 1997 as a three-year
project, funded by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Children and Family and the Directorate
of Immigration of Norway. It was hosted by an NGO and had three primary objectives (Bjørgo,
2002):
Support youth seeking to disengage from racist or violent groups;
parental support networks;
Support the parents of children embedded in racist or violent groups and establish local
Develop and disseminate methodological knowledge to professionals working with youth
associated with racist or violent groups.
Project Exit in Norway did not involve the creation of an independent agency providing services
to youth. Instead, its work is accomplished through local organizations by equipping them with
tools and knowledge. In this way, local stakeholders such as social workers, teachers and police
officers are trained in prevention and intervention activities with youth involved in racist or violent
groups. Two initiatives were developed under the programme: “parental network groups” and
“structured youth-parent-professional conversation.” These initiatives involve parental training and
support and are described later in this report.
Project Exit in Sweden started a year after the Norway organization in 1998. Its objectives were
similar to the Norwegian model, but its implementation was slightly different. The work is done
with individuals who contact Project Exit directly and is based on a five-step model. Each step
represents the process an individual has to complete to leave an extremist movement and return
to society. These steps are as follows (Bjørgo, 2002):
1) The phase of motivation: The person is still part of a neo-Nazi group but has started to
have second thoughts about it and decides to contact Exit. Exit answers questions and
offers a meeting with a contact person who has been through a similar process, i.e., a
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76
former neo-Nazi who managed to disengage. This person will serve as a point of contact
for the individual transitioning through the disengagement process.
2) The phase of disengagement: The person has made the decision to leave the neo-Nazi
scene but is afraid of retaliation by other members and is left with no social network. Exit
will act as an intermediary between such persons and any social services they may need to
disengage and protect their safety (police, psychosocial support, etc.). The contact person
they met in the first phase remains available to answer the person’s questions or address
concerns during the disengagement process.
3) The phase of establishment: Individuals have now broken off contact with the extremist
environment they once belonged to. They have found a place to live and a means of
subsistence, whether with help from parents, social services or a job. Their ties to former
friends in their extremist circle are broken, but they now find themselves in a vulnerable
position with a limited social network. The contact will try to provide links to a new life or
help them expand their social networks. With this in mind, Exit organizes activities for
former disengaged extremists to gather together and form ties.
4) The phase of reflection: This stage corresponds to an insight process following
disengagement from an extremist or neo-Nazi group. Disengaged individuals question the
reasons that led them to join such a group, the hate they felt and where it came from, as
well as how to start life over again. They begin to realize what they got themselves involved
in, whether violence, crime, extremist ideologies, etc. For some of them, this realization is a
painful phase and can trigger anxiety, insomnia or bouts of depression. An Exit therapist is
therefore available for consultations as needed.
5) The phase of stabilization: On reaching this stage, the disengaged individuals have resumed
a “normal” life with a job or studies, and their past involvement in a racist or violent group
is far behind them. Although Project Exit no longer works with these individuals directly,
some of them still keep in touch with their contact person.
In Sweden, active involvement in Exit lasts an average of six to twelve months (Bjørgo, 2002). Frontline Exit workers do not directly address ideological matters; the programme is based on the
premise that youth join racist or extremist groups for reasons unrelated to ideology (Briggs, 2014).
The emphasis is on the social and emotional reasons that led the person to join an extremist group.
Project Exit in Germany, Exit-Deutschland, was co-founded in 2000 by Ingo Hasselbach, a former
neo-Nazi, and criminologist and former police officer Bernd Wagner (Fekete, 2014). Like its
Scandinavian predecessors, the programme’s objective is to provide support structures to people
who want out of radical right movements. During one-on-one meetings, participants receive advice
concerning their personal safety and legal issues. Work also addresses ideology, to change the
perceptions cultivated by extremist beliefs. Exit-Deutschland offers support to family members and
friends of persons involved with extremist groups (Ramalingam, 2014).
Despite their popularity, Exit programmes are not unanimously supported. According to
Bianca Klose, supervisor of the Mobile Counselling Team against Right-wing Extremism Berlin,
placing so much emphasis on extremists can detract from the debate over society’s responsibility
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77
for the growth of right-wing extremism, or fail to give a voice to the victims of extremism. She is
also concerned about creating a “class of experts” among former neo-Nazis whose experience gives
them a predominant place in the public arena. Some become violence and extremism prevention
consultants, or work for disengagement programmes like Exit. As Klose underscores, their “expert”
status is based on their personal experience, which should not necessarily be confused with
professional expertise. She also points out that disengagement from an extremist group is not
incontrovertible proof that the associated ideology has been rejected (Fekete, 2014).
Other right-wing extremist disengagement programmes
In addition to the various Exit programmes, other initiatives have been developed to disengage
individuals from radical right groups or movements.
The Tolerance Project was developed in 1995 in Sweden’s Kungälv sub-municipality following the
murder of a 14-year old teenager, John Hron, by four youth with ties to the neo-Nazi movement
(Lundmark & Nilsson, 2014). Since then, the model (also known as the Kungälv model) has been
used across Sweden (Ramalingam, 2014). As a tolerance education programme, its objective is to
counteract intolerant and anti-democratic ideas and values among youth. It is designed for high
school students identified as being at risk of joining a neo-Nazi group.
The first step consists of identifying youth involved in a neo-Nazi group and then identifying which
individuals are more fringe members of the group (“followers”) and not actively engaged at the
moment, and which ones are the core members. This identification process is performed in
cooperation with local stakeholders who have detailed knowledge of the community and its
students, such as social workers, teachers and youth workers (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 1995).
Once the youth gravitating around a neo-Nazi group have been identified, they are invited to
participate in the Tolerance Project. The incentive used to entice them to participate in the
programme (as part of their regular academic curriculum) is the promise of a trip to Poland once
the programme ends (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 1995). The project now calls on former
participants to share their positive experiences and encourage other youth to participate.
(Ramalingam, 2014).
The Tolerance Project combines a Holocaust education model with educational experiences that
enable youth to reconsider their beliefs (Ramalingam, 2014). The project includes three main steps:
1) Break-away activities: Breaking-away involves separating individuals at the periphery of the
group from core members. The programme organizes stimulating activities during spare
time so that the youth gradually draw away from the neo-Nazi group and escape the
influence of the individuals at its core.
2) Looking ahead to the future: This step consists of encouraging participants to think about
their future, to visualize the kind of life they would like to have and how their membership
in an extremist group could negatively affect it.
3) Resocialization activities: During this step, the youth involved in the programme participate
in activities with other students who perform well in school and are not considered at risk.
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The purpose of this approach is to confront each group with “the other” and reassess any
preconceived ideas. These activities also enable youth to develop their own strategies for
functioning socially in a group that is unfamiliar to them, making them more resistant to
peer pressure.
At the end of the programme, participants take part in an organized trip to Poland, where they can
explore the history of the Holocaust and take part in activities that humanize the experience. They
can then apply the lessons learned from the trip to their own life experiences (Ramalingam, 2014).
Prison-based deradicalization programmes
In the case of religious radicalism, many programmes have been created to deradicalize extremists
or terrorists, particularly in the Middle East, South-East Asia and Europe. Most of these programmes
operate in prisons where work can be done with persons found guilty of committing acts of
terrorism or hate crimes (Rabasa et al., 2010). Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, prisons are
considered a radicalization opportunity factor: due to the specific circumstances of a detention
facility, individuals isolated from society, their friends and family begin to search for belonging,
group identity and protection. As a result, they are more vulnerable and easily accessible to
extremist inmates interested in recruiting them (Precht, 2007). Measures have therefore been taken
not only to foster the rehabilitation of radicalized inmates, but also to prevent radicalization and
recruitment inside prisons.
Given the large number of programmes operating across the world–over forty to date (Horgan,
2015)–we will limit our discussion to one programme per region, selected on the basis of its success
and/or international influence. The cases presented therefore include the Saudi Arabian terrorist
rehabilitation programme for in the Middle East, Singapore in South-East Asia and Denmark in
Europe.
Saudi Arabia has been a major leader in rehabilitation programmes for violent Islamist militants
(Boucek, 2008). In fact, the Saudi Arabian terrorist rehabilitation program has long been
considered one of the best of its kind in the world (Lankford & Gillespie, 2011). It is one of the ten
“soft power” counterterrorism measures implemented by the Saudi government in 2004 after a
series of bombings in Riyadh in 2003 (Ansary, 2008; Boucek, 2008). The Saudi experience has proven
extremely effective and successful and has had a major impact on similar programmes developed
in other countries, like Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia (Boucek,
2008).
The rehabilitation programme, which includes religious re-education components and assistance,
is designed to encourage prisoners to abandon their radical ideology and to foster their
reintegration into society (Horgan & Braddock, 2010). The targeted prisoners can be divided into
three groups (Ansary, 2008, pp. 118-119):
“those who planned, facilitated or participated in terrorist acts;
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sympathizers who did not aid terrorists but only sympathized with them and
perhaps spoke publicly in support of them;
and those who have been deceived and are passive and uncooperative with the
authorities, but may have provided only limited services to terrorists who they
believe are on the true path of jihad.”
Although the programme is intended for these three types of prisoners, it is primarily offered to
those who were not directly involved in acts of terrorism. It is administered by the Mobilization
Committee of the Ministry of the Interior, which in turn consists of four sub-committees: religious,
psychosocial, security and media (Ansary, 2008).
An initial step in the programme is to submit prisoners to psychological and social assessments
under the supervision of the psychosocial sub-committee. This committee includes over thirty
psychologists and psychiatrists who assess the prisoners’ psychosocial and financial status in order
to determine the type of support that they and their family might need during and after
incarceration (Ansary, 2008). In some cases, the inmates are the main breadwinner for their family;
it is therefore considered vital to offer them financial support during their imprisonment, not only
to ensure that their social network remains intact after release, but also to avoid insecurity and
poverty from causing other members of the family to become radicalized (Boucek, 2008). In other
words, if medication or psychological treatment is required for the prisoner’s well-being, the subcommittee will facilitate the process (Ansary, 2008).
Once the psychological and social evaluations are completed, the religious sub-committee begins
the inmate’s religious re-education process. This sub-committee consists of over 160 Muslim clerics,
theological experts and university professors (Ansary, 2008). Their objective is to refute the radical
Islamist ideology used to indoctrinate the inmate in the first place. The first few meetings with the
inmate take the form of conversations with sub-committee members involving informal discussions
about religion. These members then inform the inmate where they went wrong and present them
with accurate interpretations–based on the version of Islam endorsed by Saudi authorities (Horgan
& Braddock, 2010)–using texts from the Quran (Boucek, 2008; Lankford & Gillespie, 2011). The
approach is personalized: sub-committee members adapt to each inmate’s knowledge and
misinterpretations (Lankford & Gillespie, 2011).
In addition to this personalized, religious re-education, inmates are asked to take a six-week course
during which they and another twenty or so other inmates learn the “true teachings and lessons of
Islam” (Lankford & Gillespie, 2011). They must take an examination at the end of the course to
assess their progress. Whether they pass the course is taken into consideration when making
decisions about release (Lankford & Gillespie, 2011). Individuals found guilty of acts of terrorism,
although eligible for the programme, are not eligible for early release (Horgan & Braddock, 2010).
The security subcommittee is responsible for evaluating inmates and making recommendations
concerning their release. It also provides them with advice about their reintegration into society
and plays a monitoring role once they are released. The media sub-committee produces the
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documents used in the programme and develops educational materials for schools and mosques
(Briggs, 2014).
Over 3,200 inmates have participated in the rehabilitation programme (Ansary, 2008; Briggs, 2014),
and the Saudi government states that the recidivism rate among participants is 3% to 4% (Horgan
& Braddock, 2010; Lankford & Gillespie, 2011). While the source of this statement may certainly
raise doubts about its authenticity, the programme has also attracted its share of criticism.
Specifically, this criticism, leveled against it by high-level Saudi leaders, concerns the religious
element, described as religious re-indoctrination. As underscored by authors Lankford and
Gillespie (2011, p. 122):
Reindoctrinating terrorists may be the quickest way to change their thinking, but
it is also the most fragile, because it is based on rewarding immediate acceptance
and conformity to organizational norms, rather than prioritizing more lasting
changes in individual thinking.
Lankford and Gillespie developed recommendations on this issue which will be presented later in
this report.
Despite its weaknesses, the Saudi extremist rehabilitation programme remains one of the first of its
kind and has had a significant impact on the development of subsequent programmes elsewhere
in the world.
The Singapore rehabilitation programme is considered one of the most comprehensive
deradicalization or disengagement programmes in South-East Asia, if not the world (El-Said, 2015;
Rabasa et al., 2010). It was developed in 2003, following arrests in 2001 and 2002 of more than ten
members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an Indonesian Islamist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda,
that was planning terrorist attacks against US institutions in Singapore (El-Said, 2015).
The programme’s premise is that Islamist inmates have been misled and misunderstand Islam
(Briggs, 2014). The programme was based on the Saudi Arabian model described above (El-Said,
2015) and includes five interconnected dimensions for addressing the problem:
Psychological rehabilitation
Social rehabilitation
Religious rehabilitation
Community involvement
Family support
During the psychological rehabilitation component, inmates meet with a psychologist on a regular
basis to assess their condition and discuss their situation and emotions (Rabasa et al., 2010). The
discussions also provide an opportunity to study the inmate’s psychological reasoning that led to
the decision to join the JI group (El-Said, 2015). The benefits of these meetings are not limited to
psychological support; inmates also develop a trusting relationship with their psychologist, which
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makes them more receptive to the rehabilitation process. Once released, some inmates stay in
touch with their psychologist and turn to them in times of need (Rabasa et al., 2010).
Religious rehabilitation is similar to the deradicalization program used in Saudi Arabia: extremist
inmates engage in theological discussions with religious scholars to persuade them that their
radical interpretation of Islam is wrong (Rabasa et al., 2010). These scholars are part of the “Religious
Rehabilitation Group” (RRG) developed and implemented by two leaders of Singapore’s Muslim
community who collaborate closely with the government (El-Said, 2015). The RRG now includes
some thirty religious advisors, men and women, who have studied at various Islamic institutions
(Rabasa et al., 2010). Most took a seven-month training programme on psychological intervention,
organized by the government of Singapore (Briggs, 2014; El-Said, 2015). RRG members hold
discussions with inmates and their family members and clarify certain ideas expounded by radical
JI ideology. For example, they explain to the inmates that, based on the Quran, it is wrong to believe
that “true” Islam can only be practised in an Islamic state or that Muslims must hate and avoid nonMuslims (Rabasa et al., 2010). The goal of this instruction is to show inmates that Muslims can live
in a secular environment and a multi-denominational society and that there are legitimate, nonviolent means to help people suffering in conflict zones (Rabasa et al., 2010).
Social rehabilitation consists of providing inmates with training to develop their occupational skills.
For example, they can take courses or work in prison (El-Said, 2015). In this way, they improve their
job prospects after release. The government of Singapore sometimes offers guaranteed
employment to former radicals on their release from prison (Rabasa et al., 2010).
Community involvement is considered vital to counter-radicalization and to ensure that inmates do
not become radicalized again after their release. The government has therefore enlisted the help of
Pergas, an association of Islamic scholars in Singapore, to organize conferences and workshops that
refute jihadist arguments and discourse (Rabasa et al., 2010).
Family support is provided by a community group, the “Aftercare Services Group” (Rabasa et al.,
2010) that provides material and emotional support to the families of inmates.
According to Rabasa et al. (Rabasa et al., 2010), the Singapore rehabilitation programme is the
closest thing to an ideal model. It includes elements that the authors have identified as factors that
foster the success of a deradicalization programme.
-
Measures are taken to break an inmate’s emotional, material and ideological ties to an
extremist group;
-
Monitoring and continuous support are provided once the inmate is released from prison
-
Credible, competent partners are used to discredit radical Islamism.
and has completed the official programme;
Singapore is a multi-ethnic, multi-denominational society where, unlike many other countries that
have established deradicalization programmes, the Muslim population is a minority (El-Said, 2015).
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82
Singapore therefore has important lessons about deradicalization to teach other nations with a
Muslim minority, particularly Western countries.
Lastly, the Back On Track programme in Denmark is the product of collaboration between the
Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration and the Prison and Probation Service. It was established
in 2011 in Danish prisons to encourage inmates to abandon their extremist circles, whether the
radical left, the radical right or religious extremism (Butt & Tuck, 2014). The targeted prisoners were
people accused or found guilty of committing acts of terrorism, or who committed hate crimes
(Briggs, 2014). Prisoners considered at risk of radicalization were also included.
The programme enlisted the help of mentors whose goal was to support and motivate inmates to
participate in positive networks and to avoid criminal and extremist environments after their release
from prison (Briggs, 2014). During meetings with their mentor, inmates were advised about
managing problems, conflicts and day-to-day situations (Butt & Tuck, 2014). Developing these skills
is intended to assist the individual’s reintegration into society after release from prison and lower
their risk of recruitment once again by an extremist group. Mentors work in close collaboration with
the inmate’s family and social circle to provide him with continuous support upon his release from
prison and upon returning to society (Briggs, 2014).
The project was introduced through an existing mentorship programme operating in Danish prisons
and implemented by the Prison and Probation Service of Denmark. Approximately a dozen mentors
were recruited within the existing network and trained by a psychologist to develop their mentoring
skills and add to their knowledge of extremism. More specifically, the topics covered included
conversation, active listening, conflict management and techniques for the more active involvement
of the inmate’s family members and social circle (Briggs, 2014).
4.2.4
Relational environment measures
a) Front-line worker training
Front-line workers, such as teachers, social workers and imams, are often not suitably equipped to
deal with radicalization when they confront it. Some measures therefore relate to their training in
order to make them aware of radicalization and equip them to identify and prevent it. The material
covered by the training can vary, but the information provided usually takes account of local factors,
legal frameworks, confidentiality issues, organization-specific issues and good practices in counterradicalization (Radicalisation Awareness Network, 2014).
In France, the Comité interministériel de prévention de la délinquance (CIPD) [interministerial
committee for the prevention of delinquency] was assigned a number of tasks under the
government’s counter-radicalization strategy. Among other things, it organized training for field
workers involved in providing support and assistance to families or to youth reintegration
(Colombié, 2015; INHESJ, 2015). This two-day training focuses on: knowledge of Islam, jihad history,
discussion of the legal framework surrounding counter-radicalization, presentation of the
radicalization process and cult recruitment (INHESJ, 2015). According to the INHESJ report
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published in July 2015, over 1,800 government officers and field workers have taken this training
since it started in 2014.
In Germany, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, dedicated to eliminating neo-Nazism, the radical
right and anti-Semitism, established an Expert Centre on Gender and Right-Wing Extremism. Its
major objective is to include a gender viewpoint in strategies and actions designed to prevent rightwing extremism. Even today, this phenomenon is still perceived as a “male” problem, and the
motives and roles of women in radical right movements do not receive the same attention as those
of men (Ramalingam, 2014). The Centre is therefore trying to raise awareness among front-line
workers about the gender aspect of right-wing extremism and offers relevant training to women
kindergarten teachers and workers at youth clubs, community centers and sports associations
(Radicalisation Awareness Network, 2014).
Training programmes have also been developed for police forces. As front-line workers, community
police play a vital role in local-level counter-radicalization, whether in terms of detecting signs of
radicalization or through partnerships with local communities in fighting it. However, like all other
front-line workers, police officers are not necessarily appropriately equipped to prevent
radicalization. The CoPPRa—Community Policing and Prevention of Radicalisation—initiative was
developed to fill this gap. Funded through the European Union, the programme was introduced in
Belgium in 2009 and then to more than ten other European nations: the Netherlands, the United
Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Portugal and
Spain (OSCE, 2014). The first phase of the project, operating from January 2009 to December 2010,
was to develop a practical guide containing instructions for promoting community engagement,
potential indicators of radicalization, case studies, legal frameworks and profiles of the different
extremist groups in Europe. The objective of the project’s second phase, from September 2011 to
September 2013, was to update and develop more initial tools for the project, and organize training
based on these tools (Radicalisation Awareness Network, 2014). Police departments from different
countries were able to adapt the material developed by the CoPPRa to their local circumstances.39
In addition to police officers, training was also devised specifically for imams, particularly in
Morocco. Moroccan imams are required to take training at the Mohammed VI Institute since it
opened on March 27, 2015, in Rabat (INHESJ, 2015). The purpose of this training is to ensure they
teach moderate Islam, expound values of tolerance and moderation, and are able to counter
extremist discourse. The Moroccan experience with imam training has attracted interest from many
Arab, African and European countries (INHESJ, 2015). Imam training is especially important in
countries that operate deradicalization training programmes in prisons. In France, for example,
approximately sixty additional chaplains were recruited after the January 2015 bombings in Paris to
work in prisons (INHESJ, 2015).
39
For an overview of material developed by CoPPRa, visit the official site at
http://www.coppra.eu/implementation.php.
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b) Parental training and support
Like front-line workers, parents are often ill-equipped to cope with radicalization. Measures have
therefore been developed to assist them in this regard through training programmes or by
including them in their child’s disengagement and deradicalization process.
For example, theme-based meetings were organized under the Slotervaart Action Plan in the
Netherlands. The purpose of these meetings was to support parents in their role as educators and
to try to answer their questions and concerns, such as “What is radicalization?,” “How can I tell if
radicalization is affecting my children?,” “Who should I turn to for help?,” and so on. These
programmes also try to cultivate a deeper understanding in parents about the shared values of
Islam and Dutch society. The goal was to support parents in raising their children from a religious
and civic standpoint, so that they would one day want to play an active role in Dutch society, without
necessarily feeling they must give up their religious values (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2014c).
As mentioned earlier, the Norwegian Project Exit – Leaving Violent and Racist Groups focuses
on the important role of parents in their children’s disengagement from extremist groups. Two
initiatives in particular were developed in this area under the programme: (1) parental network
groups and (2) structured youth-parent-professional conversations.
The parental network groups were developed to allow the parents of children involved in racist or
violent groups to get together and talk. This platform allows them to share their concerns,
experiences and advice. Parents derive many benefits from these meetings: they gain a better
understanding of the environments in which their children are involved, obtain advice about how
to support their children without alienating them, and receive warnings when potentially violent
events are planned in extremist circles (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2014b). It can also be
difficult for parents to speak openly if their child is part of a racist or extremist group, given the
possible social stigma involved. This network provides parents with an opportunity to discuss their
situation without fear of judgement (Bjørgo, 2002).
The Structured Youth-Parent-Professional Conversation, now also known as Empowerment
Conversation, has become an extremely popular measure in Norway (Butt & Tuck, 2014; Institute
for Strategic Dialogue, 1998). Although it was originally part of an approach launched by the
municipal police in Oslo to divert youth from right-wing groups, it is now used to address a variety
of Norway’s crime problems (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 1998; Ramalingam, 2014). When a
teacher or social worker notices that a young person is engaging in potentially worrisome activities
and/or reports membership in a racist or violent group, they notify a preventive police officer. The
officer asks the young person and his/her parents to participate in a discussion session to talk about
the activity or behaviour that initially raised concerns (Bjørgo, 2002). For the police officer, this
meeting is an opportunity to open a dialogue with the young person in a conflict-free setting. The
youth is asked to create a “social network map” during the conversation, to identify any connections
to known radicals (Ramalingam, 2014). The map is then used to determine the youth’s position in
a given group and reasons for joining. The conversations are often geared to the person’s interests
and goals in life, and how belonging to a radical or criminal group could make those goals difficult
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to reach. The purpose of the meeting is to encourage the individual to imagine the kind of
accomplishments and lifestyle possible outside an extremist or radical movement, and help them
leave an extremist group if they are members (Butt & Tuck, 2014; Ramalingam, 2014). If results are
not immediately forthcoming after an initial meeting, other conversations might be necessary
(Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 1998). The approach has proven more effective when parents are
present for the conversation (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 1998; Ramalingam, 2014).
Some measures can serve multiple purposes; this applies in particular to reporting centres. These
centres are not simply for identifying individuals who are ”at risk” of becoming radicalized; they
also provide support to concerned parents and loved ones looking for answers. In France, a national
reporting platform, the national centre for radicalization assistance and prevention, was launched
on April 29, 2014: Centre national d’assistance et de prévention de la radicalisation (CNAPR).
Attached to the Unité de coordination de la lutte antiterroriste (UCLAT), it consists of a mechanism
enabling people close to an individual suspected of undergoing radicalization to discuss their
concerns. The CNAPR therefore has a dual mandate: to provide support and guidance to people
close to radicalized individuals, and to identify situations that may require monitoring by
government authorities (INHESJ, 2015). To determine whether a person is in the process of
becoming radicalized, the CNAPR relies on a series of indicators. However, as underscored by
Arnaud Colombié, special advisor to the Comité interministériel de prévention de la délinquance
(CIPD) [interministerial committee for the prevention of delinquency], it was necessary to exercise
judgement in selecting these “tipping point” indicators (Colombié, 2015). The two traps to avoid
were:
1) Stigmatize a religious practice by confusing radicalization with the practise of, or
conversion to, Islam;
2) Minimize the radicalization risk factors that could potentially result in acts of violence.
Accordingly, indicators of separation were given preference over indicators related to physical
appearance.
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Illustration 10. The Centre national d’assistance
et de prévention de la radicalisation
(Government of France, 2015b)
4.2.5
Measures targeting the community environment
a) Creation and strengthening of partnerships
In order to facilitate a coordinated effort, various measures have been launched to develop and
strengthen partnerships among the different counter-radicalization stakeholders. The goal is to
foster cooperation between schools and youth centres, promote interaction between community
groups and religious groups, or improve networks among government authorities and community
organizations.
The Slotervaart Action Plan, developed in the Netherlands and described earlier, has been
identified as a model of best practices in prevention; the project managed to bring together a wide
range of community players and the community has been receptive to its methods (Institute for
Strategic Dialogue, 2014c). The action plan emphasized involvement in Slotervaart by various
parties, including parents, schools, mosques, immigrant support organizations, civil society
organizations, etc. in the fight against radicalization. Another objective of the partnership among
these various parties was to improve social cohesion and mutual trust among Slotervaart residents
(Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2014c).
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Again in the Netherlands, the Comprehensive Action Programme to Combat Jihadism,
established in 2014, focused on strengthening partnerships and existing networks among the major
local and national stakeholders. For example, national government consultants support key
stakeholders in Muslim communities who oppose and clearly stand against jihadism. They receive
media training (to develop their media communication skills) and help as needed. Measures have
also been taken to ensure the safety of key figures in Muslim and immigrant communities. Those
threatened or intimidated receive enhanced support and are included in the surveillance and
protection system. The Action Programme also reinforces local stakeholder networks willing to
discuss sensitive issues (such as alienation, radicalization and jihadist-motivated travel) in their own
community. Lastly, the government provides ongoing support to educational institutions, including
certain students active in jihadist networks or who have asked for help in this regard. If necessary,
consultants are sent to these institutions to advise them about the problem and possible
approaches (Department of Security and Justice, 2014).
b) Community cooperation and support
In a number of Western countries, measures have been developed to foster cooperation with
various communities, particularly Muslim communities. Some of these measures, including the
Prevent policy described in the box below, have generated their fair share of criticism and
controversy. Nevertheless, other initiatives have been able to establish or enhance the bond of trust
between the community and the institutions involved in fighting radicalization; these will be
presented next.
Box 17. Prevent, a controversial measure
The counter-terrorism strategy applied in the United Kingdom, known as CONTEST (CouNterTErrorism STrategy), was developed in 2003 (Rogers, 2008) and has been updated many times
since then, particularly due to the frequent controversy it has caused (Barclay, 2011). The strategy
revolves around four main pillars, each with its own objectives (Bjørgo, 2002):
Pursue: to stop terrorist attacks;
Protect: to strengthen our protection against a terrorist attack;
Prevent: to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism;
Prepare: when an attack cannot be prevented, to mitigate its impact.
The London attacks on July 7, 2005, raised concern in the United Kingdom about the possibility
that terrorist threats could be “homegrown” and that individuals born and raised in the United
Kingdom could become radicalized there and commit acts of terror. These concerns form the
basis for development of the Prevent component, dedicated to fighting radicalization (Rogers,
2008).
As described by Ragazzi (2014), the first version of Prevent had three objectives:
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Through non-violent counter-narratives and alternatives to violence, refute the
ideologies supported by terrorists and others who promote them;
Support individuals susceptible to radicalization through support and counselling
initiatives for persons identified as being “at risk.” This objective led to the development
of the Channel mentorship programme;
Work with various sectors of society and institutions where the risk of radicalization is
high. In other words, work with mosques, religious institutions and neighbourhoods, as
well as schools, hospitals and other social services, to better detect and eventually
“deradicalize” individuals spreading violent ideas.
Since its inception, at least 200 million pounds have been spent to fund community engagement
and education initiatives (Thomas, 2014). The Prevent model had a strong influence on similar
policies developed in other Western countries (Neumann, 2011; Ragazzi, 2014). In the beginning,
however, Prevent raised political controversy and was hotly criticized not only over its actual
effectiveness in preventing radicalization and acts of terrorism, but also for its impact on relations
between the government and Muslim communities (Thomas, 2014). In fact, the policy was
blamed for causing one of the most elaborate Muslim community surveillance programmes ever
witnessed in the United Kingdom (Kundnani, 2009). As pointed out by Ragazzi (2014, p. 30):
The PREVENT strategy is based on the assumption that recourse to political
violence is due to dire economic and social conditions within the Muslim
community. It was deployed through local authorities via the Department for
Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on the controversial basis of the
percentage of Muslim population in designated target areas.
Its mentorship programme, Channel, also generated its share of controversy. A feeling emerged
within Muslim communities in the United Kingdom that activities considered normal for any
other community, such as activity and participation in peace movements, automatically came
under the shadow of suspicion when young Muslims were involved, the proof being that they
resulted in management by the Channel mentorship programme. This reporting bias reflected
an inability to recognize the “symptoms” of radicalization (Ragazzi, 2014).
Accordingly, at its very first evaluation by the Communities and Local Government Committee of
the House of Commons, it was noted that the strategy had fostered a sense of frustration and
alienation among Muslims of the United Kingdom that could contribute in a highly counterproductive way to creating a fertile ground for radicalization (House of Commons UK, 2010).
Nevertheless, despite its flaws, the Prevent strategy at least had the benefit of being able to steer
the course of development of other anti-radicalization strategies in a direction that avoided the
kind of alienation and resentment that it had generated within Muslim communities in the United
Kingdom.
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Creation of a safe space for the community’s youth
One initiative that was especially successful at the community level was the United Kingdom’s
STREET programme (Strategy to Reach, Empower, and Educate Teenagers). It was launched in 2006
by members of the Salafist Muslim community of south London (Barclay, 2011). Under the project,
a safe space was created within the community, open 24 hours a day. Young people are invited to
come and talk about religious, social and political issues of concern to them, in a safe, informal
setting. Workers are qualified and trained to respond to these various questions and encourage the
community’s youth to speak their minds. They are able to debate topics that bother them, such as
their feelings of powerlessness and marginalization, topics often exploited by extremist groups for
radicalization purposes (Barclay, 2011).
The STREET project received no funding under the United Kingdom’s Prevent policy. In fact, it was
the product of efforts by the Salafist community of Brixton to confront individuals who came to
recruit young Muslims in the neighbourhood (Githens-Mazer & Lambert, 2010). Since the initiative
emerged from inside the community, its credibility and the confidence it received were all the
greater; programmes following a top-down approach, i.e., imposed by government, generally
receive a cooler reception in the communities (Kundnani, 2012).
What sets the STREET project apart from many other counter-radicalization initiatives is that it does
not seek exclusively to encourage community cohesion and resilience in response to extremist
recruitment; one of its main objectives is instead to directly confront the extremist threats with
street-level outreach (Githens-Mazer & Lambert, 2010). The project is based on local networks that
were already firmly established in the community, with a proven reputation and trustworthiness.
The approach also reflects the neighbourhood reality; the project enlisted the participants’ sense
of belonging as Londoners, rather than British citizens, since it means more to them as an identity
(Githens-Mazer & Lambert, 2010). Adapting to the local reality is one aspect of the STREET project
that contributed significantly to its success and that should be included in every radicalization
prevention initiative.
A second guarantee of successful intervention is the credibility of STREET project staff. They have
both the skills and “street” experience as well as religious knowledge of Islam. Not only are they
credible in the eyes of neighbourhood youth, they are also able to effectively rebut the arguments
of radical recruiters (Githens-Mazer & Lambert, 2010).
Strengthen community trust in institutions
Sometimes, the community takes a distrustful attitude toward certain institutions (like the police or
government institutions), making it difficult to cooperate with institutions interested in fighting
radicalization. Measures have therefore been specifically developed to strengthen community trust.
Kosseim (2011) notes that NYPD officers in New York encountered four main difficulties in their
attempts to collaborate with the Muslim community:
The community’s distrust of them
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A lack of cultural sensitivity among police officers and other forces of law and order
Language barriers
Concerns among certain citizens about their immigration status
Initiatives were taken to remedy these problems, such as sporting activities between police and
community members, and police training to improve their cultural sensitivity (Kosseim, 2011).
Another programme implemented to restore trust between authorities and Muslim communities is
the Community Approach Program implemented in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. The programme
was initiated in large part by a Muslim police officer, Sam al-Mugrabi, who noticed a large number
of Muslim youth wandering the streets, most of them unemployed drop-outs getting mixed-up in
the drug world and without solid family ties (El-Said, 2015). Afraid they might become easy prey to
radicalization and extremism, he decided to take action and worked on developing a programme.
Community liaison committees were created; they each include three workers: a psychologist, a
social worker and a police officer. The three travel the streets of the town at night to identify “hot
spots” where youth are congregating. Other local workers assist in the identification process, such
as imams, community leaders and schools. Once the “hot spots” have been identified, the youth
are approached by a liaison committee member, usually the social worker (El-Said, 2015). The social
worker talks to the youth and tries to address topics like the importance of education, a good job,
good family relationships and making a place for themselves in society. Their social and economic
needs are also assessed and, as needed, the worker can refer them to government agencies
responsible for the relevant services (El-Said, 2015). Liaison committee members therefore seek to
create ties between these youth, at-risk and disconnected, with institutions that can help them.
The Aarhus Program in Denmark adopted a similar approach in creating liaison officers between
the community and authorities. The programme enlists the help of approximately 125 community
members known as “scouts” or “monitors.” They can be parents, teachers or outreach workers, but
all have received psychological training to prepare them for their work. Their role is to identify
individuals presenting signs of possible radicalization in progress; for example, if they are growing
increasingly isolated, praying more, starting to listen to religious music or dressing differently. If
their suspicions seem increasingly founded, a team of approximately ten persons is created to
gather as much information as possible about the person in question from family, friends, etc. After
these meetings, they decide whether direct intervention with the individual is necessary. If so, they
ask them to come to an informal meeting at the Aarhus police station (Ertel & Hoppe, 2015).
4.2.6
Measures targeting the societal environment
a) Countering extremist discourse
Many measures have been developed to confront extremist discourse. These may be counterdiscourse on the Internet that confront and contradict the extremist arguments posted, or media
campaigns to discredit extremist groups. Other measures focus more on monitoring and
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eliminating extremist and hateful comments, whether online or elsewhere in society. More
specifically, we will present a few Internet-based counter-discourse and monitoring measures.
Internet counter-discourse measures
The Internet is a highly effective radicalization and recruitment space. Countering extremist
propaganda online is therefore an important situational prevention measure for reducing
opportunity factors that could encourage someone’s radicalization. However, the task can be
extremely difficult. Schmid (2015) notes that the Islamic State produces an average of over 90,000
tweets a day and publishes its messages in about twenty languages. Activity on this scale is difficult
to match by governments trying to control online propaganda.
In France, the Stop-Jihadism Internet site was launched in February 2015. Its objective is to decrypt
jihadist recruiting, deconstruct the discourse used by terrorists on the Internet and in social
networks, and to reveal the truth of the daily reality in zones controlled by terrorist organizations
(INHESJ, 2015, p. 24). However, this media campaign generated some controversy. One of the
documents disseminated on the site, containing nine criteria indicating possible jihadist
radicalization (see Erreur ! Source du renvoi introuvable.) drew mockery by the English-language
press. Journalists considered the various signs highly subjective, if not verging on the ridiculous or
self-deprecating, such as the baguette pictogram—the perfect symbol of French food—used to
indicate a change in eating habits, or the “highly surprising” sign that extremists might visit
extremist websites (Le Cain, 2015). However, this mockery only underscores the actual difficulty in
detecting radicalization. The radicalization process varies from one individual to another, and the
different criteria presented in the campaign do not necessarily mean that a radicalization process
is underway.
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Illustration 11. Early signs of jihadist radicalization (Le Cain, 2015)
Nevertheless, some media campaigns have deliberately used humour to deflate extremist
sentiments. This was the case for the United Kingdom’s English Disco Lovers. The purpose of this
group, created in London in 2012, is to fight the online presence of the English Defence League, or
EDL, a xenophobic, racist and Islamophobic radical right group. To do so, the English Disco Lovers
try to limit the extremist group’s presence among the main results of a Google search using the
term “EDL” (Ramalingam, 2014). They keep attention focused on this issue on social media
platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, and also organize disco-themed events during English
Defence League demonstrations, where they dress in wigs and colourful clothing. Using this
approach, they have managed to broadcast their message of peace and respect, while mocking,
ridiculing and ultimately discrediting the extremist discourse. Disco was chosen intentionally: disco
music, from its early days in the 1970s, has been associated with cultural difference and disco clubs
were a place for gathering and for solidarity among marginalized racial and homosexual
communities (Frank, 2007).
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Ramalingam (2014) underscores the importance of using the same strategies as extremists to
develop effective counter-discourse, i.e., emotion, technology and culture. These methods are more
effective than simply disputing radical comments. She notes, for example, the effort to take control
of Twitter hashtags, such as #creepingsharia, originally used by radical right extremists. Its
humorous conversion by activists is designed to show the ridiculousness underlying the idea of a
“Muslim invasion.”
Other counter-discourse initiatives targeting online extremists include the Saudi Arabian
government’s tranquility campaign (Ansary, 2008). It forms part of the ten “soft power” counterterrorism measures introduced by the Saudi government to derail the activities of individuals
promoting violent extremism. The campaign is run by volunteers (academics, psychiatrists, etc.) who
visit extremist websites, forums and chat rooms to engage in dialogue with the people who use
them. By presenting alternatives to the extremist sentiments, they hope to be able to halt the spread
of Internet radicalization and recruitment (Ansary, 2008).
More recently, in July 2015, the United States and the Arab Emirates announced the launch of a
strategic communications centre known as the Sawab Center based in Abu Dhabi. The purpose of
the Centre is to counter terrorist online propaganda, particularly that of Daesh. To do so, the Sawab
Center plans to increase the intensity of online debates featuring moderate and tolerant speakers
from across the region and emphasize inclusive and constructive content (US State Department,
2015). The Center has also agreed to develop a network of individuals dedicated to denouncing
Islamic State propaganda, recruitment and funding activities.
Internet monitoring measures
Other measures designed to counteract extremist discourse consist of monitoring and censoring
comments considered problematic on the Internet. This method is an example of situational
prevention, given that it tries to limit an individual’s opportunity to become radicalized via the
Internet by restricting the availability and visibility of extremist sentiments.
This is the case specifically for YouTube’s Trusted Flaggers programme. As part of this programme,
experienced individuals are recruited to detect videos with malicious content on the host site. These
videos are then analyzed in priority and removed as necessary. A partnership was thus initiated
between YouTube and the Against Violent Extremism network, composed of former extremists and
gang members. They receive training from computer specialists and, using their experience and
understanding of extremist group culture and ideology, they are able to quickly identify videos
containing malicious or hateful content (Ramalingam, 2014).
b) Fighting general factors conducive to radicalization
Various factors have been identified as conducive to the development of radicalization, such as
racism, poverty, exclusion, discrimination and so on (see page 34). Measures that address more
than radicalization have been developed to combat these problems and can lead to many other
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consequences. They can consist of measures that promote socio-economic development in a
neighbourhood in difficulty or the creation of practical training and work opportunities for youth.
In its Amsterdam Against Radicalisation action plan, the municipality of Amsterdam in the
Netherlands targeted representations of minorities in the media. A media review was conducted in
collaboration with Muslim youth to analyze how Muslims and Islam are covered in the media. The
youth were able to share their impressions concerning how they were represented and suggest
possible solutions. Workshops were then held with journalists to make them aware of potentially
problematic and discriminatory language and images (Municipality of Amsterdam, 2007).
Morocco and Algeria have also implemented socio-economic development plans to prevent the
spread of radicalization (INHESJ, 2015). In Algeria, for example, over 190 billion Euros were invested
by governments during the 2010-2014 period to support local development. As reported by the
INHESJ, these measures have enabled:
translation an increase in the number of dwellings, development of
infrastructures for youth (community stadiums, sports complexes, playgrounds,
etc.) and lead an ambitious policy against unemployment (training and
qualification programmes, micro-enterprise and micro-activity development,
employment, waiting-time mechanisms, etc.). As a result, over 1.6 million young
people have received job placements and employability upgrading and some
800,000 young people are still under placement contracts. (INHESJ, 2015, p. 31)
Work in Morocco was done along the same lines through the Initiative nationale pour le
développement humain [national initiative for human development] launched in 2005 (INHESJ,
2015). Its objective is to fight poverty, insecurity and social disparity. In doing so, it emphasizes a
participatory approach that fosters effective local governance (INHESJ, 2015).
Box 18. Centres of expertise and databases
In order to share information and best practices in radicalization prevention, many centres of
expertise and databases have been developed. These measures enable stakeholders in the field,
academic researchers and prevention policy developers to access the most up-to-date
information available on the issue, and they foster cooperation among different players.
The Australian government launched the website Living Safe Together: Building community
resilience to violent extremism, which contains a large amount of information on a range of
topics. In particular, it discusses the nature of radicalization, government initiatives designed to
prevent it, and current community projects underway in the various Australian States to make
the community more resistant toward extremism and violent ideology. Government grants for
research projects designed to counter a community’s susceptibility to violent extremism are also
presented (El-Said, 2015). This vast array of resources is especially useful for communities
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interested in developing their own project to fight violent extremism, and the examples given
can help guide their development.
In Norway, two databases were created to disseminate counter-radicalization and crime
prevention information: The Toolbox of Radicalisation and De-radicalisation and Wiki-Prevent.
The Toolbox of Radicalisation and De-radicalisation was developed to provide community
organizations and police dealing with radicalization and extremism easily access information and
tools for responding to them. The database contains methods and practices for combatting crime
and extremism in local communities under various circumstances. It offers a series of approaches
organized into five sections: interdisciplinary cooperation, prevention, triggers, intervention and
deradicalization (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2014d). Wiki-Prevent is an online encyclopedia
(currently available in Norwegian only) used to share information on prevention techniques in
different cities. The portal is extremely useful to Norwegian communities; it encourages the
sharing of knowledge and experience among different cities in countering extremism and brings
all of the information together in a single space (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2014d).
One extremely useful resource in countering right-wing extremism is The FREE Initiative online
resource. This voluminous resource contains the experiences and best practices of over ten
European countries in fighting right-wing extremism in Europe. It offers definitions of the
problems, interactive maps showing the location of different extremist groups in Europe, guides
to deal with specific problems, case studies and films available for educational use. The FREE
Initiative is the product of a project mounted from 2012 to 2014 by the Swedish Ministry of
Justice and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, with the support of the European Commission,
entitled “Preventing and Countering Far-Right Extremism and Radicalisation: European
Cooperation.” The project included field work in ten European countries and interviews with over
one hundred workers fighting right-wing extremism. The project led to the development of
reports, worker guides and a network of experts active in fighting right-wing extremism across
the whole of Europe (The FREE Initiative, 2014).
Lastly, some centres of expertise have a physical database, in addition to a virtual data base, for
example, the Nuansa initiative in the Netherlands. This centre of expertise and advice was
created by the Netherlands Ministry of the Interior in 2011 to ensure the sharing of knowledge
on radicalization and extremism (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2014a; Institute for Strategic
Dialogue, 2011). The Nuansa advisory service provides information and advice tailored to the
needs of a vast range of ridings with questions or concerns about radicalization or extremism. It
also provides strategic advice to municipalities on counter-radicalization best practices, assists
members of the public in recognizing signs of extremism, develops relationships among frontline workers to encourage more effective intervention, and encourages youth and parents to
express their concerns in case of potential extremism. In addition to this advisory service, Nuansa
also offers a dissemination database that acts as a depository for information and includes local
and national strategic documents, handbooks, evaluations and media documents (Norwegian
Ministry of Justice and the Police, 2011).
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V.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Prevention lends itself to two paradoxes. First, since prevention addresses factors underpinning a
phenomenon, its tie to the phenomenon is always indirect. In other words, although the ultimate
outcome is to prevent terrorist attacks, prevention, particularly social prevention, works only
through measures that are themselves far removed from violence, such as social integration.
Furthermore, if the prevention is successful, its tie to the absence of a phenomenon will be difficult
to establish. This observation is at the core of the evaluation problems targeting this type of
programme. Therefore, social prevention wrestles two shadows: the shadow seen, but distant from
the measures implemented, and the shadow never seen as long as the response is effective.
This dual paradox provides a context for the difficulties inherent in a topic as complex as violent
radicalization which primarily calls for reactive, emergency measures and visible action, compared
to prevention, which works on a different timeline. In fact, social prevention centres on mediumand long-term measures; prevention works today so that young people do not resort to ideological
violence in the next five, ten or twenty years. This does not imply a failure to react. The fact that
prevention works over the long term is not to say it is a topic for future discussion. On the contrary,
prevention involves urgent work accomplished now and on an ongoing basis, with the awareness
that the desired results will be achieved in future years.
Furthermore, prevention is by no means a precision tool. If we address the factors underlying
radicalization, we also touch on other phenomena related to these factors. Community integration
does not relate exclusively to radicalization: it also concerns social cohesion, a reduction in crime, a
sense of belonging, happiness, a feeling of security, and so on. Therefore, successful prevention
programmes have been complex, holistic, intersectoral and inclusive of different systemic levels
(see page 26). Conversely, programmes targeting other phenomena can touch on or prevent
radicalization. Migrant integration programmes are a relevant example (ICPC, 2014).
Finally, prevention is not entirely limited to addressing risk factors in order to avoid them, but also
includes work on protective factors. This is probably one of this study’s most important findings: a
large majority of studies and intervention programmes are directed at risk factors, while neglecting
factors that can bolster resilience among individuals and communities confronting violent
radicalization. As Neumann and Kleinmann (2013) mention, there is no radicalization field of study,
just as there is no counter-radicalization field of study. Apart from the non-radicalization model by
Cragin (2014), studies have focused so far on factors that explain the process, not the factors
preventing it.
To expand upon the major observations of this report, this conclusion is divided into two parts: the
first concerns the issues and challenges facing the study and the prevention of radicalization leading
to violence, and the second offers recommendations for prevention programme implementation.
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5.1 Issues and challenges
5.1.1
Limited knowledge of the topic
Many authors agree that the empirical research on radicalization prevention that is available is
insufficient (Nasser-Eddine et al., 2011; Zeiger & Aly, 2015, see also Box 4). Although several
radicalization process models have been developed,40 most of them exist out of context and do not
address a specific, localized situation of radicalization and recruitment. This applies to the linear
trajectory models of radicalization discussed earlier. There is an even greater lack of research on
right-wing radicalization compared to Islamist radicalism, considering its importance, especially in
North America.
For the purposes of our study, for example, only 11 of a total of 32 factors inventoried for the two
types of radicalism were a matter of some consensus among researchers, including four about two
types of radicalism, five exclusively on Islamist radicalism and two exclusively on radical right
radicalism. At an individual level, for example, the studies agree that right-wing radicalized
individuals and Islamists are usually men who are younger than the general population to which
they belong. There is also consensus that the search for identity is important to Islamist radicals
and that right-wing extremists are associated with nativism and xenophobic thinking. At a relational
and community level, the researchers agree that personal and informal networks are essentially
contained within the radicalization process. The presence of charismatic leaders within both types
of radicalism and community isolation are risk factors in the case of Islamist radicalism. At the
macrosocial level, the consensus surrounding Islamist radicalism is complete. In this regard, the
researchers agree on two observations: (1) weak or unstable nations are more likely to experience
terrorist attacks, (2) conflicts in Muslim countries and Muslim integration problems in Western
countries affect the radicalization process.
These weak observations reflect the difficulty involved in creating profiles of radicals, even though
this measure is fairly widespread among the measures instituted by different governments. As
underscored several times in different studies, there is no single radical profile. However, these
findings generally relate to global studies or international comparisons that disregard local factors.
One assumption that requires more work is the fact that these profiles are more relevant when
studied at the local level. Gradually, however, as we approach the local level, the number of
radicalized individuals complicates this type of approach. Zeiger and Aly (2015) underscore that
research on this topic is nonetheless vitally important to develop effective measures based on and
adapted to local situations, which have their own radicalization and recruitment realities. Zeuthen
(2015) picks up this comment, reminding us that an individual’s weaknesses and the motivating
factors leading to a radicalization process cannot be understood except in relation to local, regional
and world politics. The research must therefore focus on radicalization at this level, i.e., by making
40
See the relevant section of our report.
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allowance for the fact that radicalization diagrams and processes are subject to change at the whim
of politics.
5.1.2
Persisting evaluation difficulties
It is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of radicalization prevention programmes. As underscored
by Schmid (2013), how can we determine whether a radicalization prevention programme stopped
a terrorist attack? Was it simply that no terrorist attack was attempted? Accordingly, we confront
two challenges: to determine whether the programme was successful in preventing radicalization
(or rehabilitating radicalized individuals), and if so, why (Horgan & Braddock, 2010).
El-Said (2015) also notes the difficulty inherent in accessing data in such a politically sensitive field
as radicalization, monopolized by government; in his opinion, government representatives have
every reason to exaggerate the effectiveness of the policies they implement and minimize their
failures.
Accordingly, the absence of radicalization prevention programme evaluations is glaring.
Christmann (2012), for example, systematically reviewed the literature on radicalization processes
and extremism prevention programmes as part of a national evaluation by the Youth Justice Board
for England and Wales. The review identified only two prevention programmes in the United
Kingdom targeting Islamist radicalization that had been evaluated: the Muslim Contact Unit (MCU)
and the Street Project, described earlier in this report.
The issue of programme evaluation is all the more urgent now that European countries are currently
facing a financial crisis leading to major budget cuts that have not spared the counter-radicalization
sector. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have been sorely affected (Lindekilde, 2012). This
situation entails additional pressures when it comes to developing counter-radicalization strategies,
and the issue of policy effectiveness and their cost-benefit ratio becomes a major issue for their
developers.
5.1.3
The absence of a gender perspective
The gender perspective is associated with the role of women in society and how they approach the
social and material reality. Therefore, since women are rarely involved in radicalization processes, a
gender perspective could easily be overlooked. This outlook, however, is misleading for two
reasons.
First of all, a gender perspective is not limited to the study of women only. Although a large majority
of radicalized individuals are men, there is room to question the reasons why men engage in this
type of struggle and women do not. What ties exist, for example, between the use of ideological
violence and constructs of masculinity? This study offers a few leads on this topic, particularly in the
section on explanatory factors, in discussing the relationship between radicalism and constructs of
traditional gender identity, whether in Islamist or right-wing radicalism. Studies with a gender
perspective have primarily been addressed in conjunction with other types of violence and crime.
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Additionally, women have started to play a significant role in radicalization, as various researchers
have pointed out (Blee, 2005; Knop, 2007; Ness, 2005). The question at issue is not only to determine
whether women are engaging in armed conflict, but also what role they play in it and how we can
understand radicalization from a gender perspective.
5.1.4
The absence of protective factors and limited use of social prevention in the strict
sense
Most research focuses on risk factors, not on factors that protect against the process of
radicalization leading to violence. The difference in that approach is that those factors make it
possible to render the communities and individuals more resilient, by strengthening the positive
aspects of their lives. Cragin’s non-radicalization model, mentioned in Box 13, tried to address this
aspect. However, more studies are needed to confirm these ideas. Furthermore, the model applies
only after individuals have already been exposed to a radicalization situation (secondary
prevention). And yet, work based on protective factors, although possibly addressing persons or
communities already exposed to violent radicalization, primarily reaches them long before the
phenomenon occurs. This is an approach to consider as part of all social and primary prevention
measures. It avoids stigmatizing the communities by emphasizing strengths rather than negative
factors, and it therefore focuses on promoting rather than discouraging a type of behaviour.
However, this aspect was barely touched upon in the literature and among the measures
inventoried. In fact, cooperation and community support measures and efforts to counter general
factors conducive to radicalization can be considered part of a social prevention-type approach.
5.1.5
The importance of working with the community and two-way social integration
Concerning the previous observation and the marginalization and stigmatization of Muslim
communities (see below), this review highlights the importance of working with communities,
particularly the cultural communities, to counteract radical discourse and recruitment efforts. It
underscores the risk of isolated communities that can comprise opportunities or vectors for
radicalization (see page 41). A dual identity, however, to the country of residence and the minority
group, makes it possible to channel an individual’s political action through the official political
system, thus reducing the risk of violent radicalization (see Box 11). In this way, key intervention is
precisely designed to break down barriers and build bridges among these communities and society
in general, rather than abandoning the field to Islamophobic discourse, an even greater
responsibility for politicians and the media.
Furthermore, as underscored in our 4th International Report on the topic of migration (ICPC, 2014),
social integration is not a one-way process for immigrants or cultural communities alone, but rather
a two-way integration effort between the community and society in general. Therefore, to succeed
in building a bridge, both the community and society must adapt to one another, an effort that
seems more difficult in Europe than elsewhere (see Box 11).
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5.1.6
Familiar tools
Certainly, some counter-radicalization measures are innovative. A large majority, however, are
based on familiar approaches known within the broader prevention field. Examples include worker
training or partnership work. The novelty therefore lies in the application of preventive measures
to a field surrounded by repressive action. Accordingly, while radicalization prevention is by no
means new, it nevertheless appears to be a viable strategy for countering violent extremism.
Adapting existing prevention tools used in other fields therefore seems promising. For example,
the immigrant integration work component is a format that could be used to work with
communities, not against them.
5.1.7
Marginalization and stigmatization of Muslim communities
As seen in the case of the United Kingdom’s Prevent policy, one of the major criticisms levelled at
radicalization prevention policies is that their approach seems to deliberately target specific
communities, especially Muslim communities, which are often reduced to “the” Muslim community,
stripped of all diversity (Liht & Savage, 2013). Lindekilde (2012) notes:
A number of studies have pointed out how much official counter-radicalisation discourse
in northwestern Europe has been centred on Muslim communities and the perceived link
between Islam and radicalisation, often problematizing entire communities rather than the
exceptional few who flirt with extremism and violence. (p. 339)
This counter-radicalization discourse is incorporated into the broader discourse of “new terrorism”
used by experts in the security field in reference to “Islamist” terrorism, an unpredictable and
unprecedented global danger (Spalek, 2010). This has gradually led to the heightened surveillance
and control of Muslim communities, thus positioned as “suspect“ communities (Spalek, 2010).
Prevent offers a relatively blatant example: this program allocated its funding in proportion to the
number of Muslims in a given community (Kundnani, 2009).
Githens-Mazer and Lambert (2010) argue that radicalization as a concept and industry contributed
to the stagnation of certain Muslim group and individuals, and to their exclusion from political
processes in the United Kingdom. Radicalization discourse encouraged the media and government
to engage in a process of differentiating between “good” and “bad” Muslims, the good being those
who support the government’s political plans at home and abroad, and the bad being those who
oppose and criticize these policies (Githens-Mazer & Lambert, 2010). Ragazzi (2014) adds to the
discussion with the example of young Muslims in the United Kingdom who joined in pro-Palestinian
demonstrations and were referred to the Channel mentoring programme, described earlier in this
report.
Therefore, to be considered a legitimate partner in the fight against radicalization and terrorism, a
Muslim community—or its representative at least—had better not criticize the “war on terror” and
would be wise to conform to government policy (Spalek & Lambert, 2008). This choice of partners
poses a problem in terms of community representatives: participants in the study by Choudhury
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and Fenwick (2011) said that community leaders not officially elected to represent the community
nevertheless received funding under the Prevent programme in the United Kingdom because their
viewpoints were compliant with and did not challenge those of the government. It is especially
problematic that this kind of situation should occur if we consider that these “community
representatives,” whose legitimacy is challenged within the community itself, are intended to serve
as intermediaries between government authorities and the community.
Thus, Githens-Mazer and Lambert (2010) complain about what they term “conventional thinking on
radicalization,” that is, all the media and political discourse used in reference to radicalization—
having stripped the term of its scientific value. It is now nothing but a political label, used like a tool
of power by government to control Muslim communities. This criticism has also been reported by
other authors (including Baker-Beall, Heath-Kelly & Jarvis, 2014; Kundnani, 2012; Ragazzi, 2014).
5.1.8
Respect for individual freedoms
Censorship of public discourse
Monitoring discourse spoken in the public arena can be problematic given the ambiguity of the
term “radicalization” and of what exactly constitutes radical discourse. For example, as the European
Commission’s Counter-terrorism Implementation Task Force pointed out (ECEGVR, 2008), the
relationship between the term “radicalization” and “radicalism” can create confusion. The ECEGVR
notes that radicalism, as the expression of legitimate political thinking, supports change and the
restructuring of social and political institutions; however, the desire for social or political change is
not an automatic indication of an intention to resort to violence. In its report, the ECEGVR stresses
the fact that radicalism challenges the legitimacy of established standards and policies but does
not in itself lead to violence (2008, p. 5).
Moreover, the monitoring and censure of certain discourses deemed to be radical can inhibit the
diversity of opinions and viewpoints in the public arena. For example, Ragazzi (2014) underscores
the fact that promoting “moderate Islam” can contribute to limiting the political representation of
different points of view. In the United Kingdom, and in the Netherlands, governments collaborate
with ideologically moderate organizations. This approach can potentially be counter-productive in
two respects: it can undermine the credibility of certain partner organizations, making them seem
like nothing more than mere instruments for disseminating government discourse, and it
delegitimizes non-violent organizations by refusing to collaborate with them on the grounds that
their policies are incompatible with those of the government (Ragazzi, 2014).
Surveillance of individuals
It is important that teachers and workers in contact with youth are not turned into counter-terrorism
surveillance instruments of the State (Kundnani, 2009). Kundnani reports that this issue emerged in
the Prevent policy: “to turn public services into instruments of surveillance only serves to alienate
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young people from institutional settings that would otherwise be well-placed to give them a sense
of trust and belonging” (2009, p. 7).
Lindekilde argues that “the effectiveness of counter-radicalisation policies is intimately related to
the maintenance of limits of tolerance in ways which ensure that violent extremism is prevented
and fundamental security is obtained, while individual freedoms are respected.” (2012, p. 336). The
major challenge facing political decision-makers is therefore to develop strategies that can prevent
violent extremism while respecting individual freedoms—particularly freedom of speech—of all
concerned.
5.2 Recommendations
Following our review of the literature and the various measures introduced to fight radicalization
and violent extremism, we will now make recommendations on preventing radicalization. These
recommendations are presented in the same format used throughout this report: differentiated by
the entity in question: individual, relational environment, community environment or societal
environment. Some of the recommendations go beyond this framework and will be presented early
on in a separate category.
5.2.1
General recommendations
The importance of radicalization opportunities
Opportunities for radicalization can become a basic analytical tool for explaining the process of
radicalization, acting out and prevention measures (see Box 5). Opportunities are contextual or
situational variables that allow the possibility of radicalization or acting out. Individual
characteristics alone are not enough to explain engagement in this process and in acts of terrorism.
For an explanation, we must look to situations where this characteristic is apparent. It is therefore
advisable not only to consider the individual as such, but also the individual in his or her context.
Paradoxically, individual-centred models overlook the choices that individuals make during this
process. Presented in this way, radicalization seems to be a process triggered under certain specific
conditions, beyond the will of the individuals. On the other hand, a situational approach focuses on
the individuals’ choices under the same conditions. The combination of certain individuals and
certain environments creates specific situations that allow a person to become radicalized.
Prevention therefore endeavours to act on this relationship and thus inhibit opportunities for
violent radicalization.
Reinforce protection and non-radicalization factors
This approach involves promotion rather than inhibition. The aim is to promote factors that
reinforce characteristics already present in individuals or communities and that have some influence
over the counter-radicalization and social or individual resilience process. This is what is involved in
strengthening critical judgement in youth about the Internet, or gaining a broader knowledge of
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religion. In the case of the community, it means fostering a dual identity and pride, in the society
of residence and in one’s cultural community.
Common information-sharing platform
Zeiger and Aly (2015) comment on the advisability of developing a platform to foster cooperation
among persons developing radicalization prevention policies and strategies and others researching
the topic. This type of platform would ensure that relevant data, best practices, research methods
and lessons learned could be shared among various stakeholders working on the issue or
radicalization prevention. The authors underscore the fact that collaboration between government
and researchers has begun and networks have been developed, but a shared platform is still
awaited, making it difficult to consolidate information in a single location. Ramalingam (2014) adds
to the topic, mentioning that information should be disseminated on existing platforms rather than
creating new ones.
5.2.2
The individual
Use credible workers
Some of the measures described in this report show the importance of using workers with credibility
among participants. This is the case for Solas Foundation programme workers: the two main
teachers offering courses on the fundamentals of Islam and its relevance in a Western society have
recognized theological training and life experience similar to that of their participants. They were
both born and raised in Scotland, as Muslims, and have therefore managed to reconcile Islam with
life in Scotland.
The STREET project in London also enlists workers who have life experience “on the street” and in
the community, as well as detailed knowledge of Islam. They therefore have more credibility among
young people.
The many programmes for radical right disengagement also frequently enlist the services of former
neo-Nazis or extremist group members, who are thus able to understand the problems
encountered by people trying to leave an extremist group or movement. This is the case of the
network “Against Violent Extremism,” a group of former right-wing extremists and gang members,
which was involved in YouTube’s “Trusted Flaggers” programme.
Use a personalized approach
Every individual who becomes radicalized embarks on a unique process specific to that particular
individual (individual factors) and situation (opportunity factors).
Dounia Bouzar, a French anthropologist who leads the Centre de prévention contre les dérives
sectaires liées à l’islam [centre for the prevention of sectarian derivatives linked to Islam] in France
has observed the uniqueness of the radicalization process undergone by each young person. She
has worked with many youth recruited by radical Islamists. Experience has taught her that a single
approach cannot apply to the deradicalization issue (or even to radicalization prevention more
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
104
generally), given that each individual engages in a radicalization process specific to his or her
circumstances and self (Bouzar, 2015). As she underscores:
[translation] Individualization of the “jihadisation” motif demands an individualized
exit process: the young person who signs up thinking he is going to save Syrians
from the dictatorship of Bachar al-Assad, and who escapes because he ends up
enrolled in Daesh massacres in Iraq cannot be understood in the same light as
someone who supported the Daesh ideology and argued in favour of terrorism for
months on his Facebook account. (2015, p. 36)
Other authors (Bjørgo, 2013; Ramalingam, 2014) share Bouzar’s thinking and contend that given
the individualized nature of the radicalization process, prevention and rehabilitation approaches
must follow suit.
Ramalingam (2014) also suggests that the best time to work with a person is when they are actually
considering joining or leaving an extremist movement. To disengage and/or deradicalize from
right-wing extremists, for example, the author mentions that it might be effective to intervene after
a violent incident perpetrated by a radical right group. In terms of prison intervention, inmates who
are about to be released and who are therefore likely thinking about their future are also worthy
candidates. It is usually best to focus on the individual’s future, not his past, and to identify his
objectives and ambitions and help him develop a plan to achieve them.
Overall, the important thing is to follow a personalized approach that takes account of the
individual’s path and specific situation.
Avoid re-indoctrination
This recommendation was made by Lankford and Gillespie (2011) following their evaluation of
Saudi Arabia’s terrorist rehabilitation programme. The authors underscore that rewarding
conformity, in the same manner as terrorist organizations, can produce short-term changes in
participants but ultimately compromises a more lasting transformation. In their opinion,
programmes should try to immunize participation against all forms of indoctrination by developing
their ability to think independently, to distrust group thinking and to challenge group assumptions.
This approach goes hand in hand with recommendations concerning the rehabilitation of criminals
which suggest that programmes emphasizing self-determination, freedom, autonomy and personal
growth will have a positive and much more lasting impact on participants (Day & Ward, 2010).
Along the same lines, Kundnani (2009) encourages governments to refrain from promoting specific
interpretations of Islam. Government intervention addressing the beliefs of religious communities
could elicit strong resistance.
Re-humanize the “enemy”
Re-humanizing people who were essentially seen as enemies by former terrorists, such as
Americans and Jews in the case of Islamist terrorists, is the second recommendation by Lankford
and Gillespie (2011). It relates to the more general framework of restorative justice, an increasingly
frequent initiative applied around the world that seems to help reduce recidivism (Ward &
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
105
Langlands, 2009). To do so, participants are placed in contact with persons seen as “enemies” by
their former extremist or terrorist group in order to elicit empathy and counteract the effects of
dehumanizing extremist propaganda (Lankford & Gillespie, 2011). Hungary’s Artemisszio
Foundation has developed activities in which youth from various ethnic backgrounds are placed in
teams to work cooperatively. The goal of these activities is to encourage communication and
interaction among youth from different social, economic and ethnic backgrounds to fight prejudice
and discrimination (Ramalingam, 2014).
Establish comprehensive programmes
Comprehensive programmes that address different aspects of the radicalization process have
proven more effective (such as rehabilitation programmes in Saudi Arabia and Singapore). Rabasa
and colleagues (2010) identified the factors required for effective programmes: they must be
thorough, comprehensive, address the affective, ideological and pragmatic factors that bind a
radical to an extremist organization, and continue to offer support to rehabilitated extremists after
the programme ends.
Ideological factors. Many deradicalization programmes try to discredit the extremist
ideology through theological dialogue. To do so, they must enlist a credible individual
whose authority is respected by the participants. This respect may relate to the person’s
formal theological training, experience as a seasoned militant or personal religious
experience. The purpose of these dialogues is to help participants gain a deeper and more
refined understanding of the religion.
Affective factors. It is important that a programme not address radical ideology alone.
Someone who takes part in an extremist organization usually develops ties with other
persons in the organization. Unless these ties are broken, the person is unlikely to
permanently withdraw from the organization and build a new life. It is therefore vital that
the programme offer alternative ways to meet his or her psychological and material needs
to end the dependency on other members of the extremist organization. This means
providing the participant with emotional support and assistance in finding peers opposed
to radicalism.
Pragmatic factors. Many radical organizations provide services to meet the basic needs
of their members and families; it is therefore important to ensure that deradicalization
programmes not only assist participants, but also their families, in finding alternative
sources of income, housing, education, etc.
Lastly, programmes must offer organized aftercare services to participants who completed
the programme by providing them with continuous support. In this way, they can assist
the reintegration of such individuals into society and limit the likelihood of recidivism. In
short, as Rabasa et al. underscore: “Countering the radical Islamist ideology is necessary
but not sufficient to produce permanently rehabilitated ex-radicals.” (Rabasa et al., 2010, p.
43)
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
106
General recommendations concerning individual intervention
Use moderate, non-combative language. As mentioned by Ramalingam (2014), it is important
that the approach used during interventions is non-judgemental and free of labels about individuals
(“extremists,” “radicals,” etc.) or their ideas (“mistaken,” “false”).
Demystification is much more effective when it is learned by experience. Experience and the
development of relationships and friendships during intervention have a much longer lasting
impact than mere statements of fact alone.
Peer-based learning is another preferred approach with long-term effects.
5.2.3
The relational environment
Provide support to workers
Support for workers fighting radicalization and violent extremism is strongly recommended.
Dealing with difficult situations on a daily basis demands considerable support and workers must
ensure that their work does not have a negative impact on their health and well-being. In the offices
of Finland’s Aggredi program, for example, a room is reserved for workers who need a break; their
work consists of deterring violent criminals from resorting to violence again (Ramalingam, 2014).
5.2.4
The community environment
Coordinate action locally
As underscored by Bjørgo (2002), comprehensive and coordinated policies and measures will be
more successful than isolated approaches pulling in different directions. It is therefore important
that local level stakeholders, such as police, social services, schools, social workers and nongovernmental organizations, agree on the objectives to be met in fighting radicalization and violent
extremism, and that they collaborate accordingly. Furthermore, comprehensive approaches are
more effective in countering radicalization or in rehabilitating radicalized individuals. An
intervention that targets several levels will necessarily involve participation by various stakeholders
and a need to ensure coordination among them to foster a successful outcome
Engage the community
In an approach similar to coordinating action locally, it is important to engage the various
community stakeholders to ensure that an intervention is effective.
For his doctoral thesis, Southers (2013) examined homegrown violent extremism. Based on his
research and observations, he developed a community intervention model that he named the
“Mosaic of Engagement.” According to Southers, families and communities in which violent
extremists grow up and live can help reduce the risk of a future terrorist act. For that reason, his
intervention model includes all community partners and places them on an even footing.
The main objectives of the mosaic of engagement is to define and contain radicalization and violent
extremism and to reduce the risks to local and national security. As he underscores, “Efforts to
reduce the risk of HVE are best accomplished when incorporated into the public safety framework,
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
107
employing existing programmes that address crime and violence while safeguarding children and
the overall community.” (Southers, 2013, p. 192).
Ongoing community engagement in a radicalization prevention programme offers two critical
advantages: it identifies the issues that the programme must tackle, and it ensures continuous
feedback allowing for gradual improvements to strategy as problems and weaknesses come to light
(Southers, 2013).
The STREET programme in the United Kingdom showed the importance of engaging the community
in the radicalization prevention process. Workers from the community itself were better able to
understand the needs of the youth around them and adapt to local realities.
Adapt to the local reality
According to El-Said (2015), programmes to fight radicalization and violent extremism must adapt
to local realities, i.e., the political, legal, cultural, historical and social tradition of each country. He
notes, for example, that some countries have tried to recreate the Saudi Arabian model of
deradicalization but with poor results because the model does not suit their local reality. In short,
he considers it counterproductive to import programmes from other countries and establish them
without considering the national context (El-Said, 2015).
5.2.5
The societal environment
It is also recommended that general counter-radicalization strategies be more holistic. For Bjørgo
(2002), the fight against radicalization and violent extremism requires a more comprehensive
approach that can refer to five key measures:
Control measures: This may involve improving laws against racism and hate crimes and
ensuring that these laws are more effectively enforced;
Victim support: It is important that victims of acts of violence, extremism or terrorism
receive the support and care they need. They must also receive assistance to bring
complaints as needed;
Awareness of intolerance and racist and xenophobic violence: According to Bjørgo, it
is important to disseminate information through campaigns, gatherings, declarations and
public demonstrations;
Work
on
structural
causes
of radicalization
and extremism: Marginalization,
discrimination and unemployment, all factors that generate political and social grievances;
The size and activities of racist and extremist groups: In other words, prevent
radicalization and encourage the rehabilitation of radical and extremist individuals. The
ultimate objective is to restrict recruitment by extremist groups, increase disengagement
from these groups and eventually have them disband and cease their activities.
Consider the effects of foreign policy
As mentioned earlier, the foreign policy of many Western countries has been identified as a major
factor—if not a trigger—of engagement in a radicalization process. Examples include the
US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and support for Israel by many Western governments that soon
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
108
triggered dissatisfaction and indignation in many quarters, fostering feelings of resentment toward
Western society as a whole (Precht, 2007).
Respect and treat Muslim communities equally
As mentioned in the section on counter-radicalization policy issues, one of the most problematic
issues to arise from counter-radicalization measures over the years has been the creation of suspect
communities, more specifically, Muslim communities. Some researchers consider them the targets
of greater surveillance and discrimination (Awan, 2012; House of Commons UK, 2010; Kosseim,
2011; Kundnani, 2012; Ragazzi, 2014), especially under the United Kingdom’s Prevent policy.
Precht (2007) underscores how important it is for governments to cooperate with Muslim
communities, not by differentiating them based on their religious identity or as a group at risk but
by treating them as equal citizens. This is the only way to nurture a sense of belonging and shared
values.
Singapore is a good example in this regard. As soon as its deradicalization and Islamist counterradicalization programmes were implemented, the Singapore government positioned violent
extremism as a national problem, not as a threat originating in a specific community. From the start,
the focus of the problem to be overcome centred on defeating ideologies that fuelled intolerance
and violence, regardless of any religious or ethnic affiliation (El-Said, 2015). This made it easier to
establish trust between the government and the country’s Muslim minority, which took action like
any other community, without necessarily feeling targeted or perceived as the source of Islamist
extremism (El-Said, 2015).
Precht (2007) also points out that “the” Muslim community, often presented as a seamless whole,
is an illusion; there is no unified group rallying behind a single representative or viewpoint. The
diversity that exists within Muslim communities must be considered, and an effort made to reach
under-represented elements (as elsewhere in society), such as women and young people.
Fighting discrimination by promoting diversity
Another recommendation suggested by Precht (2007) is to increase the representation of ethnic
diversity in Western societies. For example, it is important not only to identify models for youth
engaged in school activities; models arising from cultural and ethnic diversity in other segments of
society must also be promoted to show that social mobility and success are not privileges reserved
for white people from the West. For example, greater representation of a variety of ethnic groups
in public advertising and posters would send a strong message that cultural and ethnic diversity
are part and parcel of society (Precht, 2007).
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
109
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Zeuthen, M. (2015). From Policy to Practice: Findings and lessons learned from a research-based
pilot countering violent extremism programme in the Horn of Africa. In S. Zeiger & A. Aly
(Eds.), Countering Violent Extremism: Developing an evidence-base for policy and practice.
Perth, Australia: Curtin University. Retrieved from http://www.hedayah.ae/pdf/cve-editedvolume.pdf
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
129
APPENDICES
A.1 Appendix 1. Methodology
Phase 1 of this study consisted of a review and analysis of the scientific and grey literature, of
national and international standards and legislation, and of international programmes or promising
practices related to radicalization leading to violence.
To achieve this objective, we conducted two systematic reviews of the relevant literature, using
various keywords.
a) The first review concerned literature that contextualized the phenomenon, exclusively in
Western countries, such as trends, radicalization and recruitment contexts, determining
factors in the process, and explanatory models and radicalization trajectories.
b) The second review directly addressed strategies, programmes and projects for preventing
radicalization leading to violence. In this case, given the limited number of studies on this
specific topic, we considered all studies regardless of the country of origin.
Although studies based on evidentiary data and primary sources constitute the core of this review,
given their limited number and insufficient quality (see Box 4) we also considered articles relating
to discussion and theoretical and general conceptual thinking on the topic, particularly from other
literature reviews or documents based on secondary sources. This enabled us to enrich and
contextualize the information gathered from this review.
We initially found 40,373 documents during the first review and 45,231 during the second. After
analyzing the titles, we selected 3,601 documents (excluding duplicates). We finally settled on 483
documents considered relevant to our report, including 291 pertaining exclusively to the first
review, and 11 to the second; 92 documents addressed the topic of the radical right.
A.1.1
Research questions
How is radicalization understood, defined and framed internationally, and are there any
trends concerning types of radicalization?
How is radicalization explained? What are the major risk factors underlying the process?
What are the primary models used to explain the topic?
What radicalization pathways are taken by individuals, and by groups?
What contexts facilitate the radicalization process? What role is played by new
technologies, including online websites sites, chat rooms, forums, games, multimedia
messaging (photos, videos and audio) and social media?
What international norms and standards guide the development of responses to
radicalization, including prevention?
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
130
What are the respective roles of national, sub-regional and local governments in
developing strategic responses and programmes?
What types of prevention programmes and practices have been developed and to what
extent are they participatory? For example, school programmes; sports, culture and the arts;
leadership skills and civil engagement; Internet and social media initiatives; community and
inter-faith dialogue.
How are at-risk populations identified and are their rights respected? Are initiatives
appropriately adapted to the various groups, to women and to men?
A.1.2
Research strategy
Review period and languages: We limited our research for both reviews to the period from
January 1, 2005, to June 1, 2015, and to articles in French or English. However, in some cases where
an article was clearly important (by allowing us a better understanding of an aspect of the
phenomenon), we used specific sources dated prior to 2005 or after June 2015.
Documents gathered: Articles from scientific journals, chapters of books, government reports and
documents, conference presentations, others (dissertation, unpublished work, etc.).
Search engines: The following search engines were used for scientific articles:
ProQuest
-
Abstracts;
JSTOR
-
Selected databases: IBSS, ProQuest Sociology, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological
Selected disciplines: Criminology & Criminal Justice, Middle East Studies, Peace &
Conflict Studies, Political Science and Sociology;
Psychological Information (PsychInfo);
National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS);
Google Scholar: In particular, to gather grey literature and thus add to our data collection,
we limited the quantity of results generated by selecting only PDF-type files, while also
ensuring that the keywords appeared in the titles of our results;
Additional research on programmes was required given the limited number of articles on
the topic found in the literature review. This research led to the retrieval of government
action plans, academic articles containing programme evaluations, etc. These documents
were selected on the basis of missing information about the various programmes.
Keywords:
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
131
For the first review we used the following keywords41
*radicali?a?ion
Radicalism*
Radicali* + religio*
Radicali* + right-wing
Radicali* + far-right
Extremis*
right-wing + extremis*
far-right* + extremis*
Jihad*
Jihad* + violence
*radicali* + violence
Jihad* + *radicali*
Jihad* + Homegrown
Homegrown + terror*
Homegrown + *radicali*
Neo-nazi + *radicali*
For the second review:
Program + *radicali*
Program + terroris*
Program + extremis*
Prevent + *radicali*
Prevent* + terroris*
By adding a “*” or a “?” before or after the keyword we were able to search according to root words and
thus include terms like “deradicalization.”
41
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
132
Prevent* + extremis*
Prevent* + right-wing
Prevent* + far-right
Treat* + *radicali*
Treat* + terroris*
Treat* + extremis*
Treat* + right-wing
Treat* + far-right
Intervent* + *radicali*
Intervent* + terroris*
Intervent* + extremis*
Intervent* + right-wing
Intervent* + far-right
We removed the keywords fundamentalism and anarch* to limit our research. We also added the
keyword far-right, a term that often appeared in connection with far-right extremism.
A.1.3
Procedure
The phases of the review were as follows:
a) Initial keyword search;
b) Items excluded based on a title analysis;
c)
Removal of duplicates (Zotero);
d) Items excluded based on a summary analysis;
e) Inaccessible tests excluded;
f)
Items excluded following a text analysis;
g) Texts for analysis.
We organized the results into a table similar to the one below, entitled “Review Process.”
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
133
“Review Process” Table
ProQuest
(IBSS,
ProQuest
Sociology,
Social Services
Abstracts,
Sociological
Abstracts)
JSTOR
(Criminology &
Criminal
Justice; Middle
East Studies;
Peace &
Conflict
Studies; Social
Sciences;
Sociology)
PsychInfo
NCJRS
Google
Scholar
Texts found
N=
N=
N=
N=
N=
Excluded
after a title
analysis
N=
N=
N=
N=
N=
Removal
of
duplicates
(Zotero)
N=
Excluded
after a
summary
analysis
N=
Inaccessible
texts
excluded
N=
Excluded
after text
analysis
N=
Texts for
analysis
N=
Texts were selected for analysis as follows:
a) Initial keyword search. First we indicated, in the table, the number of articles found per
search engine for a series of keywords over a given period of time (first selection).
b) Items excluded based on a title analysis. We analyzed (directly on the website of the
search engine) the titles of articles found and selected those that seemed most relevant to
our research. In this way, we ended up with a second selection, and we entered the number
of articles in this second selection in the table.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
134
c)
Removal of duplicates (Zotero). Based on the search engine, we exported references into
a RIS file and then, using the Zotero software, we were able to identify and exclude
duplicates.
d) Items excluded based on a summary analysis. Once duplicates were removed, we
created a report containing the abstracts of all the selected articles. Using these abstracts,
we excluded articles that were not relevant to our research.
Based on the analysis of abstracts and research questions, we created a table for sorting
the documents gathered based on twenty-two variables pertaining to the article’s
relevance and the themes covered. This table enabled us to easily retrieve relevant
information at each stage of the analysis and to write the mid-term report.
h) Inaccessible texts excluded. A significant number of inaccessible texts were books; as a
result, the review is essentially based on scientific articles available online.
i)
Items excluded after text analysis. Sometimes a text that seemed relevant based on a
review of the abstracts was less relevant than expected after it was examined as a whole.
As a result, certain articles were excluded from the review.
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
135
A.2 Appendix 2. Legislative measures42
Table 2. Summary of counter-radicalization legislative measures in English
Curtailment
of
Country
Curtailment of Mobility
Information Sharing
Curtailment of Expression
Association
Supportive
Surveillance
Intervention
Search
Curtailment
Curtailment
of Access to
of
Funds
Livelihood
Canada
s. 9 (1) of the Secure Air
s. 3 The purpose of Security of Canada
s. 8(1) of the Secure
s.
Travel Act – The Minister
Information Sharing Act is to encourage
Air Travel Act - The
Secure Air Travel Act
Information
may direct an air carrier to
and facilitate the sharing of information
Minister may establish a
– The Minister may
Sharing
deny transportation to a
among Government of Canada institutions
list of any person who
direct an air carrier to
person
in order to protect Canada against activities
the
has
screen a person before
that undermine the security of Canada
reasonable grounds to
they enter a sterile
believe will engage or
area of an airport or
board an aircraft
Security
of
Canada
Act
(2015)
**implements
of
of
the
the Secure Air
s.
Information
attempt to engage in an
Travel Act
Government of Canada may disclose
act that would threaten
information in respect of activities that
transportation security
undermine the security of Canada
or travel by air for the
Air Travel Act – the
purpose of committing
Minister
s. 8 – the Excise Act is amended to allow an
an act or omission that
any
official to provide confidential information
would be considered a
verification
if there are reasonable grounds to suspect
terrorism offence
compliance with the
5(1)
Disclosure
Minister
9(1)(b)
that the information would be relevant to
s. 28(1) of the Secure
may
enter
place,
for
of
Act
the investigation of a threat to the security
of Canada or whether a terrorism offence
(b)
has been committed
document
remove
or
any
other
thing from the place
where the inspection
42
This chart was developed by Alexandra Frederick of the Dentons Canada LLP law firm and was used to draft the section on legislative measures (see Box 15, page 70).
Curtailment of Access to
Weapons
s.10 of the Secure Air Travel Act –The
or
Minister
carried out
of
Transport,
Minister
of
audit
is
being
Citizenship and immigration, RCMP, CSIS,
CBSA and others nay collect information
and disclose information to and from each
other
s. 12 of the Secure Air Travel Act – the
Minister
may
enter
into
a
written
arrangement relating to the disclosure of
information with the government of a
foreign state, government institution or
international organization
s.13 of the Secure Air Travel Act the
Minister of Transport may disclose the List
to air carriers and operators of aviation
reservation systems
s.14 of the Secure Air Travel Act the CBSA
may
disclose
to
the
Minister
any
information in respect of a listed person
that is collected from air carriers and
operators of aviation reservation systems
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
137
Criminal
Code
of
Canada
R.S.C,
1985,
c.C-46
(amended
s. 83.3(4) – a peace officer
s. 320 .1 allows the courts to order the
s.810.011(1) A person who fears on
s.810.011(3)
the
s. 83.222(1) A Judge
s.
may arrest a person without
deletion of publicly available on-line
reasonable grounds that another person
provincial court judge
may issue a warrant
provincial
a warrant and cause them
hate propaganda from computer
may commit a terrorism offence may, with
adduced
the
authorizing seizure of
shall consider whether it is
to be detained in custody if
systems when it is stored on a server
the AG’s consent, lay information before a
informant
has
copies
desirable, in the interests
the peace officer suspects
that is within the jurisdiction of the
provincial court judge
reasonable grounds for
on reasonable grounds that
court
to
in
Security
of
prevent a terrorist activity
custody
is
likely
to
Canada
The
Judge
that
of
propaganda
terrorist
810.011(7)
court
The
judge
of the defendant’s safety
the fear, a judge may
or that
order the defendant to
person, to prohibit the
s.83.221(1) of the Criminal Code –
enter into recognizance
defendant
every person who, by communicating
to keep the peace and
possessing any firearm,
statements, knowingly advocates or
be of good behaviour
cross-bow,
the detention of the person
pursuant
if
restricted
shall consider to include in
terrorism offences in general while
weapon,
prohibited
the
Sharing Act)
recognizance
commission
prohibited
weapon,
s.83.3(11.1)
the
from
of
Information
promotes
of any other
a
knowing that any of those offences
device,
condition that the person
may be committed, as a result of such
prohibited ammunition or
deposit any passport or
communication,
an
explosive substance, or all
other
document
indictable offence and is liable for
of those things. If the
issued in their name that is
imprisonment for a term of not more
judge decides that it is
in
than five years
desirable to do so, the
travel
their
possession
or
is
guilty
of
control
judge
ammunition,
shall
add
that
s.83.223(1) - if there is terrorist
condition
s. 83.3(11.2) the Judge
propaganda available to the public
recognizance and specify
shall consider to include in
through a computer system within the
the period during which it
the
court’s jurisdiction, the judge may
applies.
recognizance
a
condition that the person
order
remain within a specified
custodian to ensure that the material
geographic
is no longer stored on and made
area
unless
the
computer
system’s
written permission to leave
available
is obtained
system and provide the information
through
the
computer
that is necessary to identify and locate
the person who posted the material
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
138
to
the
Curtailment of
Country
Association
Curtailment of Mobility
Curtailment of
Information
Supportive
Expression
Sharing
Intervention
Surveillance
Search
Curtailment of
Curtailment
Access to Funds
of Livelihood
France
Law No. 2014-
Article 1
1353
Prohibited
of
Article 5
from
leaving
the
November
country
13, 2014
Article 3 Residency requirement
strengthening
with condition not to associate
provisions
with specific named individuals
to
Strengthening
of
repressive provisions
Article 12
counter
Administrative
terrorism
blocking of Internet
websites
advocating
terrorism
Anti-Terrorism
Article 2 – Strengthened control for the CNCTR
Bill 2015
in terms of provisions that require, for the sole
purpose of terrorism prevention, telephone
operators and Internet providers to implement
an algorithm-based system for processing the
information and documents on their networks:
prior notice to identify persons involved,
permanent
access
to
the
system,
and
information on any changes in the algorithm on
which
it
is
based
(amendments
of
the
rapporteur).
Article 6 – Requirement for cryptology service
providers to provide “without delay” intelligence
service officers with the encryption keys for data
transformed
via
services
they
provided
(amendment of the rapporteur).
Article 9 – Requirement for ground transit
operators providing international service to
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
139
Curtailment
of Access to
Weapons
collect the identity of passengers carried and
keep the information for one year.
French
Penal
Code
Article
Direction and organization
of a criminal association
for the purpose of
preparing terrorist acts;
Article 434-6 Prohibits
Detention for Terrorism Offences
the
harbouring
of
individuals suspected of
terrorism or wanted In
connection with terrorist
offences
Article
113-13
nationals
habitually
or
French
individuals
resident
in
France who go abroad in
order inter alia attend
terrorist training camps,
421-2-1
Pre-charge
Article 421-5
Article 705-95 Phone tapping of terrorists
Article 421-2-1 Participation in
Article
any group or association with a
electronic data in real time
706-102-1-706-102-9
Access
to
Article 76 – searches
Article
and seizures without
Financing of a terrorist
the agreement of the
organization
individual concerned
considered an act of
view to the preparation, marked
by one or more material actions
Article 706-25-2 Individuals suspected of
shall in addition be an act of
glorification of terrorism and incitement to
terrorism
terrorism may use under cover methods to
Article 706-88 For all terrorist
extract, acquire or save elements of proof and
offences, police custody may be
data concerning identity
Article 78-2-2 Vehicle
421-2-2
is
terrorism
Inspections
extended to 96 hours
Article 706-88 Police custody
Article 706-80 Surveillance of person suspected
may be extended to six days if
of committing terrorist act
there is a serious danger that acts
of terrorism imminent in France or
abroad
even though no misdeed
has been committed on
French territory.
Article 25 – Individuals convicted
Code Civil
of a terrorist offence can be
stripped of their citizenship.
Country
Curtailment of Association
Curtailment
Curtailment of
of Mobility
Expression
Information Sharing
Supportive Intervention
Surveillance
Search
Curtailment of Access to Funds
Curtailment of
Curtailment of
Livelihood
Access to Weapons
Norway
General
Penal
Civil
Code,
Article 147(d)
Norway is a party to EU border
Section 147(b) Any person who obtains
control data sharing arrangements.
or collects funds or other assets with the
In 2013, Norwegian immigration
intention that such assets should be
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
140
Act of 22 May
1902
form,
authorities began using biometric
used…to finance terrorist acts…shall be
participate in, recruit members,
equipment for the fingerprinting of
liable to imprisonment for a term not
or
arrivals from outside the Schengen
exceeding 10 years.
area.
Norway also enforces Financial Action
Anyone
who
provide
"who
economic
or
material support to a terrorist
Task Force (FATF) standards.
organization is subject to a term
of imprisonment.
Curtailment
Country
of
Curtailment
Curtailment of Mobility
Association
of
Information Sharing
Expression
Supportive
Surveillance
Intervention
Search
Curtailment of Access to Funds
Curtailment
of Livelihood
Curtailment
of Access to
Weapons
United
Kingdom
Terrorist Asset-
Reporting obligations
Freezing of funds and economic
Freezing
of relevant institutions
resources of designated persons
s.19
s.11
Act
2010
Making funds or financial services
General
power
to
available to designated persons s.12
disclose
information
Making funds or financial services
s.23
available for benefit of designated
person s.13
Making
economic
resources
available to designated person s.14
Making
economic
resources
available for benefit of designated
person s.15
Powers to request information s.20
Terrorism
Association
Overnight
Prevention and
Measure
Measure s.1 (1) – (11)
Investigation
s.8(1)-(3)
Measures
Act
Residence
Travel Measure s.2(1)-(3)
2011
Exclusion Measure
Reporting Measure
Schedule 5 – Power of Entry,
Schedule 1 – Terrorism Prevention and
Work
s.10(1) –(2)
Search, Seizure and Retention
Investigation Measures
Studies
Terrorism
Financial Services Measure
Measure
Prevention and
s. 5(1) –(8)
s.9(1)-(3)
Investigation
Appointments Measure
s.10A(1)-(2)
Search
of
premises
Suspicion of Absconding
on
or
s.7(1)-(4)
Schedule 1 –
Measures
Property Measure
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
141
s.3(1) - (2)
Search
Photography Measure
s.11
Movement
for
Compliance
s.6(1)-(5)
Weapons and
Purposes s.8(1)-10(16)
Explosives
Directions
Measure
Monitoring Measure
Measure s.4(1)-(3)
Search of Individual for Public
s.12(1)-(3)
Safety Purposes
Schedule 6- Fingerprints and Samples
s.10(1)-(3)
Taking
and
Power to Retain Items
and
s.11(1) -12(4)
samples:
of
fingerprints
England,
Wales
s.6A(1)-(3)
Northern Ireland s.1(1)-4(7)
CounterTerrorism
and
Security
Act
Seizure of Passports
s. 1(1)
Temporary Exclusion Orders
s. 2(1)-(8)
(2015)
Country
Monitoring
Performance:
Curtailment of
Curtailment of
Curtailment of
Association
Mobility
Expression
of
Assessment
Further
and support:
and Higher Education
Local panels
Bodies s.32(1) –(9)
s. 36(1)-(8)
Information Sharing
Supportive
Surveillance
Intervention
Search
Curtailment of
Curtailment of
Access to Funds
Livelihood
Curtailment of
Access to
Weapons
United States
of America
U.S.A
Patriot
Act 2001
Prohibition
Mandatory
against
of suspected terrorists;
Detention
Authority
criminal
share
Authority to intercept wire, oral, and
Seizure
investigative
harboring
habeus corpus; judicial
terrorists
review
s.803
s. 412
to
electronic communications relating to
pursuant to warrants
of
voicemail
information
terrorism
s.209
s.203
s. 201
messages
Emergency Disclosure of electronic
Expansion of regional
communications to protect life and
information
limb
sharing
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
142
system
to
s.212
facilitate
Authority to intercept wire, oral, and
Federal-State-local law
electronic communications relating to
enforcement response
computer fraud and abuse offences
Authority for delaying notice of the
related
s.202
execution of a warrant
to
terrorist
s.213
attacks
s.701
Roving surveillance authority under
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Single Jurisdiction search warrants
Act
for terrorism
s.206
s.219
Pen register and trap and trace
authority
under
the
Foreign
Nationwide
service
Intelligence Surveillance Act
warrants for terrorism
s.214
s.219
of
search
Access to records and other items
Access by the State Department
under
and the INS to certain identifying
the
Foreign
Intelligence
Surveillance Act
information in the criminal history
s.215
(Please
records of visa applicants and
note
that
technically
this
applicants for admission to the
legislation has expired and will be
United States
replaced by the U.S.A Freedom Act but
s.403
will still be in effect for six months)
DNA identification of terrorists and
Foreign student monitoring program
other violent offenders
s.416
s.503
Post-release supervision of terrorists
s.812
Country
Curtailment of
Curtailment of
Association
Mobility
Curtailment of Expression
Information
Supportive
Sharing
Intervention
Surveillance
Search
Curtailment of Access to Funds
Curtailment of
Curtailment of
Access to
Livelihood
Weapons
Spain
PREVENTING RADICALIZATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
143
Political Parties Act
Articles 17 (2) and 55
Article 578 of Criminal Code:
Article 18.4 of the
Article 18.3 of the Constitution of
Article 18.2 of the
Article 576.1 of Criminal Code:
Article 579 of
Article
No.
(2),
“Apologism or justification
Constitution
the
that
Constitution provides
“Whoever … provides or collects
Criminal
Code
Criminal
those
supplying,
6/2002
(Ley
and
Code
of
Constitution
Code:
Criminal
public
provides: “The law
“Secrecy
is
that “No search of
funds … to commit [terrorism] or to
bars
Politicos) allows the
Articles 520 and 520
expression or diffusion of the
shall restrict use of
guaranteed, particularly regarding
entry may be made
deliver
convicted
government
to
bis. Suspect of terrorism
felonies included in Articles
data processing in
postal, telegraphic and telephonic
without the consent of
organisation or group, shall be
from
dissolve any political
may be held for 72 hours
571 to 577 of this Code, or
order to guarantee
communications, except in the event
the householder or a
punished with prison sentences of
employment
ammunition
parties
incommunicado.
of
honour
the
of a court order.” Gvt may pass laws
legal warrant”. Gvt may
five to ten years and a fine of
and office for
punishable
imprisonment of 6-
which
A
means
anybody
of
who
has
and
them
to
a
terrorist
of
public
manufacturing,
trafficking
is
with
undermine individual
judicial
may
participated in commission
personal and family
to suspend this right for specific
pass laws to suspend
eighteen to twenty- four months.
time
freedom or disable
impose 48 more hours.
thereof, or in perpetrating
privacy
persons
with
this right for specific
Should the funds eventually be
imprisonment +
10
the
Represented
duty
acts that involve discredit,
and the full exercise
investigations of the activities of
persons in connection
used to execute specific acts of
6-20 years.
committed
Spanish
disdain or humiliation of the
of their rights.”
armed bands of terrorist groups
with investigations of
terrorism, this shall be punished as
member
under Art 55.
the activities of armed
co-perpetration or complicity, as
terrorist
or their relatives shall be
bands
appropriate, provided this involves
organization.
punished with a sentence of
groups under Article
a higher penalty.”
imprisonment from one to
55.
Article 127.1 of Criminal Code:
democratic
system.
body
by
communications
of
573
Organica de Partidos
Procedure,
of
provides
solicitor.
by
Constitution,
of
citizens
victims of terrorist offences
in
connection
two years.”
of
terrorist
of
years
if
by
a
of
a
the state may seize all assets within
the
setting
of
a
terrorist
organization.
Curtailment
Country
of
Association
Curtailment
Curtailment
of Mobility
of Expression
Information Sharing
Supportive
Intervention
Surveillance
Search
Curtailment of Access to Funds
Curtailment of
Curtailment
Access to
of Livelihood
Weapons
Europea
n Union
Council Decision 2010/412/EU – Provides for the transfer of
Directive 2015/849 of the EU Parliament on the Prevention of
Regulation
(1) financial payment messages that refer to financial transfers
the use of the financial system for the purposes of money
98/2013
and related data, which are stored in the EU by international
laundering or terrorist financing
marketing and use
financial payment messaging service providers to the U.S.
Regulation 2015/847 on information accompanying transfers
of
Treasury Department; and (2) relevant information acquired
of funds
precursors
from the U.S Treasury Department’s Terrorist Finance Tracking
Directive 2014/42/EU on the freezing and confiscation of
instrumentalities and proceeds of crime in the European Union
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on
the
explosive
Program to EU countries’ law enforcement, public security or
Regulation 596/2013 imposing certain specific restrictive
counter terrorism authorities
measures directed against certain persons and entities
Regulation 603/2013 on the establishment of Eurodac
associated with the Al-Qaida network
This chart was developed by Alexandra Frederick of the Dentons Canada LLP law firm and was used to draft the section on legislative measures (see Box 15, page 70).
Note 1: The European Union Section of the Table only references Directives and Regulations as they are the only binding elements of EU law on member states.
With information from:
‘Country Reports on Terrorism 2013’. U.S. State Department. 2013. online: http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2013/224822.htm .
Vidino, Lorenzo & James Brandon. ‘Countering Radicalization in Europe [UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway]’. The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political
Violence, 2012, online: http://icsr.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ICSR-Report-Countering-Radicalization-in-Europe.pdf .
Norway
http://app.uio.no/ub/ujur/oversatte-lover/data/lov-19020522-010-eng.pdf
Further research sources:
‘Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism: A Community Policing Approach’, Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (Vienna: February 2014), online: http://www.osce.org/secretariat/111438?download=true
‘Preventing and Countering Youth Radicalisation in the EU’, Directorate-General for Internal Policies, Policy Department C for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs, 2014, online:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2014/509977/IPOL-LIBE_ET(2014)509977_EN.pdf
Tuck, Henry & Riazat Butt, ‘European Counter-Radicalisation and De-radicalisation: A Comparative Evaluation of Approaches in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Germany’,
Institute for Strategic Dialogue, online: http://www.strategicdialogue.org/De-radicalisation_final.pdf
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Peachey, Paul, ‘[British] Government wins power to intervene in schools and colleges to prevent radicalisation’, The Independent, 24 November 2014, online:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-wins-power-to-intervene-in-schools-and-colleges-to-prevent-radicalisation-9879753.html
Lozano, Maria, ‘Inventory of the best practices on de-radicalisation from the different Member States of the EU’ , European Commission, Office of the Director General of Home Affairs,
online: http://www.terra-net.eu/files/nice_to_know/20140722134422CVERLTdef.pdf
Vidino, Lorenzo & James Brandon, ‘Countering Radicalization in Europe [UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway]’, The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political
Violence, 2012, online: http://icsr.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ICSR-Report-Countering-Radicalization-in-Europe.pdf
Dudouet, Veronique, ‘Anti-Terrorism Legislation: Impediments to Conflict Transformation’, Berghof Conflict Research Policy Brief, November 2011, online: http://www.berghoffoundation.org/fileadmin/redaktion/Publications/Policy_Briefs/PolicyBrief02.pdf
Travis, Alan, ‘University professors decry Theresa May’s campus anti-terrorism bill’, The Guardian, 3 February 2015, online: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/feb/03/professorsletter-protest-counter-terrorism-campuses
Canada
http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Redirector.aspx?RefererUrl=%2fHousePublications%2fPublication.aspx%3fLanguage%3dE%26Mode%3d1%26DocId%3d7965854&File=29#1
France
http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/dossiers/renseignement.asp
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/outcry-over-french-intelligence-bill-313779
http://www.strategicdialogue.org/Country_report_France_SF_FINAL_31_October.pdf
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/france-adopts-anti-terror-law-eroding-civil-liberties
http://www.coe.int/t/dlapil/codexter/Country%20Profiles/Profiles%202013%20France_EN.pdf
http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2013/224822.htm
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EU
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-3140_en.htm
http://secile.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Catalogue-of-EU-Counter-Terrorism-Measures1.pdf
http://secile.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/SECILE_doc_amended.pdf
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1433811504037&uri=OJ:JOL_2015_141_R_0001
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1433811504037&uri=CELEX:32014L0042
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1433811504037&uri=CELEX:32013R0596
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1433811504037&uri=CELEX:32013R0603
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1433811504037&uri=CELEX:32013R0098
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