Countering Violent Extremism: Scientific Methods & Strategies

摘要

This report represents a distillation of current social, behavioral, and economic (SBE) research findings on violent extremism: What is the cultural basis for violent extremism and radicalization. What motivates individuals and groups to violence, and how is that risk measured. How does our understanding of these findings educate the mitigation of extremism. Can it be prevented or reversed. These and other topics are outlined here to open a forward-looking dialog in the research and policy community that will be crucial to formulating future research direction and for addressing this pressing national concern. This paper collection focuses less on root causes and more on solutions for risk management, disengagement (including delegitimization), and prevention of violent extremism. It also tackles the thorny issue of state terror, a subject that must enter any discussion of solutions for countering violent extremism. Ultimately, it is hoped that the paper collection can inform a better understanding of, and suggest sets of solutions for, motivating individuals and groups to desist from violence and preventing other individuals and groups from seeking involvement in movements/groups that seek to bring about change through violence. Throughout the collection, there is an undercurrent of do no harm ; that is, concomitant with suggestions for stopping or preventing violent extremisms, there are cautions an errors to avoid. These cautions implicitly ask the reader to think about things in a different way, in a way that avoids mirroring and simplistic assumptions of what others think or value and widens the timeframe in which we measure success or failure. Many goals related to countering violent extremism, especially disengagement/risk management and prevention require patience and a commitment for the long haul.