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New concept in THE EU strategic review in comparison with the 2003 Security Strategy. Excerpts:

three twitter flows on radicalization and recruitment below

EU AND RADICALIZATION

RADICALIZATION

TERRORIST RECRUITMENT

A pessmistic view from Rand:

It cant happen here - or? And if it does - God forbid - it is not because we have done something wrong is it?

Impressive 100 page report on Kosovar foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq proposing a comprehensive approach 

 the recruitment of terrorists is global -  Case in point Syria:

FROM THE 2014 EU STRATEGY:

To counter radicalisation and terrorist recruitment, we resolve i.a. to: 
• Promote security, justice, and equal opportunities for all 
• Ensure that voices of mainstream opinion prevail over those of extremism 
• Enhance government communications 
• Support messages countering terrorism 
• Counter online radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism 
• Train, build capacity and engage first line practitioners across relevant sectors 
• Support individuals and civil society to build resilience 
• Support disengagement initiatives 
• Support further research into the trends and challenges of radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism 
• Align internal and external counter-radicalisation work

AS CAN BE SEEN MAIN FOCUS ON INTERNAL - TOO LITTLE FOCUS ON THE EXTERNAL:

-- Outside Europe, we must continue to promote good governance, rule of law, human rights, democracy, education, economic development, security sector reform, and stability by means of political dialogues and via our assistance programmes --
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Click on image for full document!
See also the Communication preceding the strategy

the eu is slow in using the potential of the internet: dg migration and home affairs updated the main text on its webpage on radicalisation last on the 19.2.2013!

WHO ARE THE ACTORS?

embedded timeline from google news
--Member States will work, individually and together, with the support of the Counter Terrorism Coordinator, the European Commission, and the EEAS to deliver this strategy. Both Member States and the EU should also work in conjunction, amongst others, with the UN, the Council of Europe, OSCE and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum to develop projects overseas in this sphere.--
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click on image to get to the full report
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Click on image to get to the site!

Washington Summit on Countering Violent Extremism

Terrorism targets not just the security of people, but also freedom of speech and diversity of societies. Those were some of the messages EU High Representative Federica Mogherini delivered in a speech at a Washington Summit on Countering Violent Extremism at the White House on 19 February.

Mogherini said that "the attacks in Brussels, Paris and Copenhagen shook our continent. Once again, years after London and Madrid, we were brutally reminded that terrorism is a global and European threat. No nation, no power can carry out this fight alone."

In her speech Mrs Mogherini called for "a coordinated effort by national governments, regional organisations, civil society groups. Only a global alliance can address this threat effectively." (EEAS website)

embryo of a database of twitter searches - click on the twitter sign and then again on the twitter line at the bottom of the screen

study processes

key sources 

Hegghamer, Thomas: TERRORIST RECRUITMENT AND_ RADICALIZATION IN SAUDI ARABIA MIDDLE EAST POLICY, VOL. XIII, NO. 4, WINTER 2006
David C. Hofmann: Essay: Twenty Important Journal Articles and Reports on Radicalisation to, and De-Radicalisation from, Terrorism
Manuela Caiani, Linda Parenti: and American Extreme Right Groups and the Internet 

Putting people in prison - see link

views in the debate:

"Unfortunately, most government policies related to terrorism are tactical and shortsighted. They focus on killing terrorists, rather than addressing the causes of terrorism and de-radicalization. Such short-sighted measures include stop and search programs and proposals in the United Kingdom to criminalize returnees from Iraq and Syria.

In the same vein, the efforts of the current anti-IS coalition in Iraq and Syria will only be able to stop the group’s progress, but not completely eradicate it, especially without cooperating with Iran and the Syrian government. This approach has led to a massive increase in terrorist recruitment and a growing fear among the civilian population."

"The drive to blame theology has left more important concerns unaddressed. The insistence that the Middle East conflict or the Iraq War don’t justify terrorism (they don’t of course) means that their role in radicalising is ignored."

on the reasons for radicalization

Why isn’t counter-radicalisation working? When counter-radicalisation is failing it is time to return to evidence based policy not dig deeper into political prejudices.

This flies in the face of almost every study of radicalisation. These tell us that, despite the motives claimed by terrorists, there is actually much in common between those who joined Baader-Meinhof, ETA, the IRA and the Tamil Tigers and today's radicalised. The key question is not Why do some young British Muslims become terrorists? but Why do young terrorists emerge in every generation and conflict?


- - - - - 

In every case there's large group of young people alienated beyond the usual frustrations of youth. It could be poverty but is as likely to be discrimination, a clash of generations or cultural rejection. Crucially, they feel no voice and little stake in a wider society.

There will be a clear cause, possibly legitimate but maybe romantic, which offers identity, meaning and purpose. It might be national liberation, self- determination, religious expression, or class conflict; but at its core are seen deep wrongs needing to be put right.

Those young people will live in a culture in which many others also believe justice is not being done, that the rest of society is not interested, that the processes of change are closed."

un report of the use of the internet for terrorist purposes

The issue of radicalization in prisons 

the different networks in radicalization

FROM INFORMATION TO ACTION

EU Expert Group on Violent Radicalisation
Powerbase summary of the work 
--balanced approach between security-related measures and efforts to tackle those factors that may create an environment conductive to radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism--
--Full respect for human rights and our fundamental freedoms is one of the foundations for our work to counter radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism. All actions must be taken with full respect for these fundamental rights and freedoms. Focus should be on developing dialogue so as to promote mutual awareness and understanding. Stigmatising of any particular group of people must be avoided.--
"The main objective of the strategy should be to prevent people from becoming radicalised, being radicalised and being recruited to terrorism and to prevent a new generation of terrorists from emerging. "
--Overall, the challenge of radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism will not be met by governments working alone, but by collaboration with communities, civil society, nongovernmental organisations (NGO) and the private sector. It requires a joint effort at local, regional, national, European and international level--
--The relevant Council preparatory bodies are invited to follow-up the delivery of this Strategy. --