Deradicalisation

type: Article , Topic: Security

Extremist activities cannot be countered effectively and permanently with punitive measures alone. This is why deradicalisation work is a key component of Germany’s comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism.

Definition

Like radicalisation, deradicalisation is a highly individual process, strongly affected by personal circumstances. In the course of deradicalisation, radicalised individuals not only give up their commitment to and support for extremist positions, but also cut ties with their previous social network of supporters of extremism. Unlike prevention, deradicalisation addresses people who are already radicalised and who have, to some extent at least, an extremist worldview.

What is deradicalisation?

Deradicalisation refers primarily to work with radicalised individuals, but also involves the people in their social environment. Family, friends, teachers or other persons close to such individuals tend to be the first to notice signs of radicalisation and can play an important role in stopping or reversing the process.

Deradicalisation work aims to help people make the long-term move away from extremist thinking and action. To this end, professional teams in civil-society and public institutions provide active support not only to people willing to make this move, but also to the people close to them. These teams consist of social workers and psychologists, violence prevention coaches, social scientists and, depending on the type of radicalisation, religious experts. Other organisations, such as the youth welfare offices or security authorities can be involved, if necessary, to contribute their expertise in support of deradicalisation efforts.

How the BMI contributes to deradicalisation

The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI) has for many years made a substantial contribution to deradicalisation within the framework of the Federal Government’s comprehensive approach to countering terrorism and extremism. The comprehensive approach implements prevention, law enforcement, rehabilitation and deradicalisation measures in a coordinated manner. To this end, different government and civil society stakeholders must work together at federal and state level.

Government-funded deradicalisation work is coordinated in different bodies, working groups and regular discussions between stakeholders at federal and state level. For example, regular meetings are held between federal institutions, the federal states’ coordination offices for preventing extremism, and civil-society organisations promoting deradicalisation; representatives of federal and state authorities meet once a year at the BMI to share experience; and there is a deradicalisation working group at the Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre (GTAZ). The BMI contributes its expertise and drives advancements in this field. It is an intermediary between civil-society and government partners in Germany and abroad. Moreover, the BMI funds research and pilot projects in its executive agencies (BAMF, BfV and BKA) and provides similar support to civil-society organisations.

The BMI also promotes the comprehensive approach to countering extremism and terrorism at international level. In recent years, structures have been created in particular at EU level to promote experience-sharing among policymakers, practitioners and researchers, e.g. the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN), the Network of Prevent Policy Makers, and the EU Steering Board on Radicalisation. Together with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, the BMI represents the Federal Government in these bodies.

Finally, deradicalisation is an important topic for members of various international bodies involved in countering extremism and terrorism, e.g. in the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and multinational initiatives such as the anti-IS coalition and the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF).

More Information

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