This article draws on the insights from complexity science to outline potential strategies within education which could interrupt the spread of violent extremism. It first identifies three problems in examining extremism – definitions, causes and targets—before arguing for a focus on systems, not individual learners. Within systems, diversity is needed…

Returning foreign fighters from Syria and Iraq – battle-hardened, skilled in handling arms and explosives, and ideologically radicalised – pose a direct threat not only to the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also of the region and beyond. Upon their return, they may already belong to existing networks of…

Violent religious extremism is a global concern today. As governments prepare their counter-terrorism policies, many focus solely on reactive measures such as military action and surveillance measures – hard power – that are responsive to individuals who are already radicalized. This paper argues that education should be incorporated into such…

Youth radicalisation towards violent extremism is a global phenomenon that threatens peace, security and stability. This paper reviews the evidence on the factors that may contribute to the dynamics of youth radicalisation. Available findings from East Africa and the Horn of Africa, West Africa and the Sahel, and North Africa…

From Mosul to Paris, Ramadi to London, Yemen to the United States, Jakarta and most recently Brussels; the world has not been spared the cruel touch of the Islamic State or Daesh. Their ability to attract thousands; men and women, young and old, educated and illiterate from various parts of…

There is an emerging consensus that ideologically-based narratives play a central role in encouraging and sustaining radicalization to violence, and that preventing, arresting, or reversing radicalization requires some means by which to address the effects of these narratives. Countering violent extremism (CVE) is a broad umbrella phrase that covers a…

This report summarizes the results of a pan-African survey for public attitudes with a focus on radicalization and violent extremism.

China’s newly adopted Counter-Terrorism Law establishes not only a lead governmental organ for counter-terrorism actions but also proposes a deradicalisation strategy with three components, namely prevention, custodial rehabilitation, and aftercare. Both in law and in practice, Chinese deradicalisation measures rely heavily on the participation and engagement of the communities. This…

The Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria has decimated the continued survival of people and continues to be the largest violent extremist threat in West Africa. Initially, the sect’s leadership did not call for violence; its followers engaged in periodic clashes with security during its formative years (Blanchard, 2014). However,…

In June 2015, militants from the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) aided a beach hotel in Sousse, Tunisia, killing 38 people (CNN, 2015a). Four months later, ISIL claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian airliner, with 224 fatalities, although the official cause remains undetermined (CNN,…

Across the globe, a key priority of counter-terrorism policing is the building of partnerships with Muslim communities. However, the task of engaging the Muslim community to tackle extremism and terrorism is a challenging one. The paper discusses the three key challenges Australian police agencies face in their engagement efforts with…

This research examines the shifting momentum of right-wing extremism (RWE) in Australia. The study provides an in-depth assessment of eight of the most active RWE groups in Australia, through their online presence where they espouse their ideological narrative and propaganda statements. The phenomenon of new radical right (NRR) groups is…