The majority of European citizens – often referred to as ‘foreign fighters’ – that have returned to European soil have predominantly been prosecuted for terrorist offences. In recent years several European countries have been prosecuting alleged terrorists cumulatively for both terrorist offences and core international crimes. This paper explores which…

This study explores the motivational drivers of violent extremism by examining references to motivational goals—values—in texts written by lone offenders. We present a new database of manifestos written by lone offenders (N = 103), the Extremist Manifesto Database (EMD). We apply a dictionary approach to examine references to values in this…

This article explores what it is to explain extremism. Rather than providing yet another explanation of extremism, it takes a bird’s eye point of view at existing explanations of extremism. What is it that scholars are doing in seeking explanations of extremism? This article answers this question by considering four issues. First, exactly what is the…

Digital media platforms have been implicated in the recent rise of far-right extremism. This study proposes that these platforms afford emotional processes that lie at the core of far-right movements. Drawing on Randall Collins’ interactional framework and the literature on cultural trauma, we investigate the emotional processes triggered by traumatic…

In recent years, the prevalence of hate speech has become an increasing concern across European societies because of its damaging effect on the very foundation of society and trust between communities. Experts and practitioners have offered a variety of hate speech definitions. For the purpose of this paper, we will…

Digital media platforms have been implicated in the recent rise of far-right extremism. This study proposes that these platforms afford emotional processes that lie at the core of far-right movements. Drawing on Randall Collins’ interactional framework and the literature on cultural trauma, we investigate the emotional processes triggered by traumatic experiences…

his publication showcases the results of Hedayah’s program on Supporting Families in Countering Violent Extremism in Nigeria conducted during 2019-2022 in partnership with Neem Institute. Through a series of capacity-building workshops, the program aimed to contribute towards overall peacebuilding efforts in Northeast Nigeria through enhancing the capacities of 26 recipients…

During the last decades, new forms of men’s rights activism have emerged, commonly referred to as the ‘manosphere’. This loosely connected, misogynistic online movement particularly attracts young men. Its shared ideology is the Red Pill, a neoconservative ideology that adopts essentialist notions of gender and sexuality, and selectively employs evolutionary…

Harmful actors use an ever-expanding range of digital spaces to spread harmful ideologies and undermine human rights and democracy online. Understanding their evolving ideas, online networks and activities is critical to developing a more comprehensive evidence base to inform effective and proportional efforts to counter them. But creating that evidence…

Harmful actors use an ever-expanding range of digital spaces to spread harmful ideologies and undermine human rights and democracy online. Understanding their evolving ideas, online networks and activities is critical to developing a more comprehensive evidence base to inform effective and proportional efforts to counter them. But creating that evidence…

This policy paper was produced as part of the project Digital Policy Lab (DPL), funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. As part of the DPL, ISD organised working group meetings on the topic of online gender-based violence between May and June 2023. The working group comprised DPL members representing national ministries…

This policy paper was produced as part of the project Digital Policy Lab (DPL), funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. As part of the DPL, ISD organised working group meetings on the topic of online gender-based violence between May and June 2023. The working group comprised DPL members representing national ministries…