In recent weeks a number of papers relating to extremism have been published. This post will summarise some of them.
Critiquing approaches to countering extremism and terrorism via Prevent – H Fenwick
This paper notes that the reliance on the Prevent Strategy has been criticised for creating stigmatisation of Muslims, damage to social cohesion and as representing a striking recent increase in securitisation in the UK. However, it also notes that Prevent’s role in encouraging critical thinking and pluralism has also received some support.
Exploring radicalisation and Extremism online – an experimental study – M Littler
The paper uses the data collected from a 1,700 respondent poll conducted by You-Gov on the evening of Tuesday 16th April 2019. The research sought to explore the relationship between exposure to online extremist content, and social and political attitudes including support for violence. The results did not match the hypothesis. No relationship between the phenomena was found. Suggestions for this include ineffective stimulus material, or the conditions of the research. Sources for the stimulus material included information from the EDL. Further analysis found little evidence for the availability for extremist content to impact or or shift social and political attitudes.
Extremism online – analysis of extremist material on social media – I Awan, H Sutch & P Carter
This paper examines the differences between general online discussion of extremism and discussion inspired by offline events through the analysis of tweets and YouTube comments. The study focused on two events: the Shamima Begum case and the New Zealand Christchurch terrorist attacks. The paper states that cyber-meditated crime such as online extremism is not comparable to conditions of offline crime. Extremists may take advantage of how the internet provides the potential for a greater audience (reach/impact) with the ability to remain anonymous. This can lead to deindividuation.
Embedding human rights in countering extremism: reflections from the field and proposals for change – K E Brown, F Londras, J White
This paper states that generally speaking seven domains of Counter Extremism (CE) activity can be identified:
- Family and parenting
- Community
- Counter-narratives
- Policing and criminal justice
- Human rights
- Education
- Healthcare
The majority of the work in CE is carried out at the local and community level and is concerned with addressing extremist narratives and ideology. The challenges and risks with the existing approaches are political and philosophical, institutional and functional. The paper recommends re-framing CE towards human rights as both a process and an “end-state”. The paper then proposes a set of guidelines to achieve this, and the establishment of an independent evaluative review body.
This paper suggests that current policy has generated and continues to generate criticism from educators and faith groups. The paper highlights the issue that individual liberty barely features in the lists of values promoted in schools. Moreover, the paper highlights that the notion of ‘Britishness’ may be considered particularly divisive and problematic. It notes that schools tend towards other values frameworks that favour the promotion of values more universal and inclusive in nature.
Police Horizon Scanning 