Countering radicalisation and violent extremism among youth to prevent terrorism : [proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Countering Violent Extremism Among Youth to Prevent Terrorism, Mila, Italy, 10-13 June 2014

Although violent extremism is not a new phenomenon, it is increasingly recognized as a major challenge of our times. The recruitment of foreign fighters by extremist organizations, and its potential impact on public safety in the countries from which they come, is also emerging as a complex issue at the forefront of international preoccupations. This book presents the proceedings of the three day NATO Advanced Research Workshop, ""Countering Violent Extremism Among Youth to Prevent Terrorism"", held in Milan, Italy, in June 2014. The best way to respond to violent extremism in general, and the radicalization of disaffected youth in particular, is far from clear, but the stakes are so high and the potential threat to countries worldwide so great that inaction is not an option. The goal of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of policymakers and practitioners to design strategies that will achieve verifiable human-rights based outcomes to counter violent extremism. Subjects covered in the 19 papers which go to make up this book include: the causes or drivers of violent extremism; the factors which facilitate the recruitment of youth by violent extremist groups; the risk of growing Islamophobia in some Western and Central European countries; and proactive measures to counter the radicalization of youth. The book will be of interest to all those involved in policy development, prevention programs, de-radicalization programs or research aimed at countering violent extremism and the radicalization of young people." COUNTERING RADICALISATION AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM AMONG YOUTH TO PREVENT TERRORISM 2 Introduction 6 Contents 12 Investigating and Preventing Terrorism in Multicultural Urban Settings: Is a Balanced Approach Possible? 14 Collateral Damage of Counter-terrorism Measures and the Inevitable Consequence of the Social Exclusion and Marginalization of Vulnerable Groups 24 Social Inclusion Programmes for Youth and the Prevention of Violent Extremism 36 Corruption and Youth’s Recruitment into Violent Extremism 50 Human Security: A Promising Concept to Address Terrorism-related Threats 61 Crisis Management and Violent Radicalization: The Neglected Role of Risk Communication 69 Critiquing Radical Islamist Claims to Theological Authenticity 78 Violent Radicalization Concerns in the Euro-Mediterranean Region 96 Complex Threat: Challenges of Countering Terrorism in the Middle East after the Arab Revolutions 114 The Support of Sufism as a Counterweight to Radicalization: An Assessment 126 De-radicalization and Disengagement Programs as Counter-Terrorism and Prevention Tools. Insights From Field Experiences Regarding German Right-Wing Extremism and Jihadism 133 Countering Violent Extremism: Program and policy approaches relating to youth through education, families and communities 164 The Participation of Azerbaijan Citizens in Conflicts in Syria and Iraq and its Potential Radicalization Effect in Azerbaijan 177 Countering Violent Extremism Among Youth: The Turkish Case 184 Prolongation of the Syrian Crisis and its Gravitational Force on Foreign Fighters: A Critical Analysis in Light of the Concept of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) 195 The Road to Jihad in Syria 203 Investigation and Prevention of Violent Radicalization in the Balkans: A National Point of View 211 Police Officers’ Perception of Community Policing in Countering Violent Extremism: An Exploratory Study 216 Fundamentalism in the Mental Health System -Children Agency and Activism in the Shadow of PTSD Industry 233 Subject Index 244 Author Index 246