Unpacking Radicalization Course 2020
Today, the proximity of discourses on radicalization to terrorism and security-related policies poses various challenges for peacebuilding practice. In practice, radicalization is often equated with Islamist violent extremism, and met with security-centered counter-terrorism approaches and measures such as Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) or Countering Violent Extremism (CVE). This limits our understanding of radicalization processes, which may also be a form of societal and political protest that remains within the boundaries of democratic negotiation. Along these lines of reasoning, economic deprivation and political marginalization lead to strong emotions of resentment and frustration that may lead to radicalization with or without violence. This course looks into the concept of radicalization as well as other notions such as de-radicalization, extremist violence, PVE and CVE in relation to peacebuilding practice and discusses them through different case studies from the Global North and South.
This course is designed for professionals who would like to improve their understanding of radicalization discourses and for practitioners and academics interested in complementing their own experiences with current conceptual insights and practical knowledge.
Leading international scholars as well as experienced practitioners from government, international organizations and civil society facilitate this course.
Experts:
- Jane Braden-Golay, Program Director IC Thinking Sweden at Fryshuset
- Georgia Holmer, Senior Advisor for Anti-Terrorism Issues, OSCE
- Robert Örell, Steering Committee member, Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) of the European Commission and Co-Chair, RAN EXIT
- Dr Elizabeth Mesok, SNF PRIMA Research Fellow and Lecturer, University of Basel & Associated Researcher, swisspeace
- Dr Nick Miszak, Program Officer, Analysis and Impact Program, swisspeace