International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism
The International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism, observed on February 12th, provides a global platform to raise awareness and foster a collective effort in preventing violent extremism that may lead to terrorism. Established by the United Nations in 2015, this day emphasizes the need for early intervention and preventive strategies to address the root causes of violent extremism. While the focus is on the prevention aspect, the wider implications of violent extremism and terrorism on societies around the world are profound and far-reaching.
Violent extremism, often characterized by radical beliefs and behaviors that reject peaceful coexistence, poses serious threats to societal cohesion: polarization and division, erosion of trust and unity, etc. When individuals or groups engage in such ideologies, their actions can affect entire communities, causing psychological, social, and economic damage. The effect on social fabric is particularly damaging, as fear, suspicion, and distrust can take hold among citizens. Community bonds, which are essential for unity and peace, can be severely fractured as extremism often targets specific groups, fostering division and even hatred.
The fight against violent extremism also needs a rethinking of counterterrorism policies. Previous research on the impact of counter-terrorism polices has highlighted negative outcomes such as stigmatizing minority groups. While security measures are important, addressing the underlying conditions that fuel extremism is key to long-term solutions. Education, dialogue, and community engagement are essential tools in building resilience against radicalization. Scientific research shows that actions characterized by creating spaces for dialogue at the grassroots level are contributing to prevent youth violent radicalization. PROTON project (2016-2019) highlighted four core elements underlying these spaces for dialogue:
- Provide guidance to be safe in the exploration of extremist messages and violent radicalization
- Rejection of violence
- Egalitarian dialogue
- Relationships are built on trust so that adolescents and young adults feel confident to raise their doubts
Therefore, dialogic evidence-based policies into the fight against violent extremism is crucial. These policies not only rely on scientific evidence but also engage with the perspectives and experiences of those directly affected by violent extremism. Only in this way can social impact be achieved.
Editor of Daily 27.
Predoctoral researcher at the Department of Sociology in University of Barcelona.