DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR INTERNAL POLICIES Justice, Freedom & Security PREVENTING AND COUNTERING YOUTH RADICALISATION
Prof. Didier Bigo Presentation By Director, CCLS Professor King s College London / Sciences-Po Paris Dr. Francesco Ragazzi Associate Researcher, CCLS Assistant Professor Leiden University Associate Researcher, CERI / Sciences Po Paris Administrator responsible: Sarah SY, Policy Department C Citizens Rights and Constitutional Affairs
Authors of the Study Professor Didier BIGO (Director, CCLS Professor at King s College, United-Kingdom) Dr Laurent BONELLI (Associate researcher, CCLS Lecturer at the University of Nanterre Paris X, France) Dr Emmanuel-Pierre GUITTET (Associate researcher, CCLS Lecturer at the University of Manchester, United- Kingdom) Dr Francesco RAGAZZI (Associate researcher, CCLS Lecturer at the University of Leiden, Netherlands)
Understanding Radicalisation Psychological Models Social Models Political Models
Hard and Soft Counter-radicalisation Judicial powers Administrative powers Preventative Programs and Policies
Assessing the Effects of Soft Counter-Radicalisation No Firewall between Social and Police Work: Reinforces Suspicion Leads to Stigmatisation Justifies Vigilantism Targetting extremist rather than violent speech: Limits Diversity of Political Expression Legitimizes Radical Voices
Oral Update Focus #1. EU Citizens Fighting Abroad No single drivers for departures More focused, not broader monitoring is needed Deprivation of citizenship is counterproductive Systematic incarceration postpones and worsens the problem
Oral Update Focus #2. Online Radicalisation Lack of empirical evidence of the nature and magnitude of the phenomenon Insights from social science: discourses (and images) are rarely sufficient factors Hardly any data on the effects of counternarratives and websites banning Damaging effects on freedom of expression and freedom of the press
Oral Update Focus #3. Radicalisation in Prisons A numerically marginal phenomenon Negative incarceration conditions may reinforce radicalisation Isolation measures should comply with rights of prisoners Rehabilitation and repression should be firewalled
Conclusion: What is silenced by radicalisation? Self radicalisation- radicalisation online? Small group radicalisation? One actor? Whose spoke persons? Invention of a local and global myth Rediscovering escalation and deescalation- Seeking distantiation Opening the black box: lessons from peace and conflict research
Recommendations Recommendation 1: Impact Assessments on fundamental rights should be part of EU and MS policies: In addition to Effective Remedy, Fair Trial and Right of Defense Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion Principles of Equality: Non-Discrimination, Cultural and Religious Diversity
Recommendations Recommendation 2: Encourage MS to implement policies of firewalling rehabilitation and repressive programs to avoid unintended consequences
Recommendations Recommendation 3: Broaden EU Expertise Broaden the working definition of Radicalisation to include Effects of State Policies Seek distanciation to avoid entering the escalation logic