DISENGAGEMENT, DERADICALIZATION, AND COUNTER-RADICALIZATION: AN EXAMINATION OF GLOBAL PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS EXTREMISM
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Date
2019-09-05
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Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
Though the study of deradicalization is relatively new, in the last several decades many countries have undertaken the task of building programs within the space to address the growing threat of extremism and radicalization – both from a religious and political perspective. However, there is considerable disagreement on whether such programs are effective measures to deal with the problem, and if they are what key components should such a program contain. This paper consists of three chapters that each examine two countries each – the first covers Norway and Sweden, the second covers Morocco and Saudi Arabia, and the third addresses the United Kingdom and the United States. Within the chapters, this paper looks at what precipitated each country’s development of deradicalization, disengagement, and counter-radicalization programs; and what success and failures can be identified within the programs.
The paper uses government sources, news reports, and academic literature to evaluate each aspect of the program. Where necessary, open-source translations were used to interpret data presented in governmental reports. Government-reported statistics are used when available, while also noting if there is controversy surrounding the accuracy of those numbers.
Through this examination, all six programs were revealed to have similarities both in successes and failures, with the leading problem in this field being sufficient data to draw conclusions. In many cases, there was simply not enough data or the program had not been running long enough to make a determination about its overarching success or failures. However, generally, well-funded programs that took a holistic approach to examining individual’s problems and deradicalization had the highest rates of success. There is considerable work needed still in this field to address even basic questions, but in some cases the answers will only come with the passage of time, as an individual’s disengagement and deradicalization can only be affirmed if they continue to remain apart from their group as the years progress.
Thesis Reviewers:
Dr. Joana Cook
Mr. Anthony Lang
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Keywords
Deradicalization, disengagement, counter-radicalization, terrorism, countering violent extremism, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Empowerment Conversations, radicalization, CONTEST, CVE