Title: Extremism, Radicalisation and Citizenship
Grant agreement no: 871092
Duration: 1 January 2020 – 30 December 2021 (extension 30 September 2022)
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Research area:
The 2012 terrorist attacks in Toulouse (Mohamed Mérah) demonstrated how young people can commit acts of extreme violence following a process of radicalisation, generating a feeling of fear and anxiety that undermines social cohesion and the attractiveness of local areas. These feelings are reinforced by a lack of understanding of the process of radicalisation and the various forms that extremism can take.
To address this phenomenon, RAD2CITIZEN is aimed particularly at young people, with a view to deconstructing this pathway to violence and radicalisation as early as possible. The aim of the project is to reduce the violence associated with radicalisation, using four methods: coordinating all stakeholders both locally and across Europe, pooling data and analysis, building a common culture, and developing synergies between actions in order to harmonise responses.
Following on from the H2020 PRACTICIES project, four partners are providing a response to radicalisation phenomena: Toulouse Métropole (the local authority responsible for administering the Greater Toulouse area), which is involved in preventing radicalisation among young people; the city of Málaga, one of a small number of cities with an integrated local plan for preventing violent radicalisation; the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule Salzburg – FHS), an expert in tools involving residents in preventing and countering radicalisation; the Centre for Security Studies (KEMEA) at the Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection (Athens), an expert in security and training and CIFAL Málaga, a non-governmental non-profit entity, which supports the activities of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
The approach proposed is broken down into the following three technical work packages (WPs): WP3, involving the development of an observation and support unit, by means of analysis by FHS, to guide local stakeholders in defining public policies and a methodology for intervention, and acting to address the phenomena underpinning extremism, irrespective of where they occur; WP4, to support the extended appropriation of effective, validated tools by local stakeholders, in conjunction with the parties involved in dealing with these forms of extremism; and lastly, WP5, involving the development of an action plan, combined with a training plan, on how to manage the identity-based conflicts associated with migratory flows.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Interna Security Fund Programme under grant agreement No 871092
