The aim of this paper is to stimulate thinking about alternative approaches to preventing violent extremism. The argument offered here does not claim to be definitive but rather to provide reflections and recommendations that, through dialogue with others, can be further developed and refined. The paper examines practical ways in which the government can fulfil its pledge to “[c]hallenge the violent extremist ideology and support mainstream [Muslim] voices” in a positive and pro-active way: supporting Muslim communities to re-emphasise and re-assert authentic dialogue values and teachings in Islam. Values associated with dialogue and those associated with violent extremism are mutually exclusive: the stronger one grows the weaker the other becomes. By concentrating efforts on reviving ‘dialogue’ values and teachings in Islam, violent extremist ideology can be weakened, undermined and negated. The paper suggests eight specific recommendations for the practical implementation of this approach and the efforts of the Dialogue Society in this vein.