August 28, 2014

How to Stop Radicalization in the West

Introduction

British investigators are close to identifying the young militant with a British accent who beheaded the American journalist James Foley. via Reuters

The ISIS fighter wielding the knife in the video showing the murder of James Foley is reportedly part of a growing group of British jihadists in Syria. And the first American is believed to have been killed fighting for the militant group. These events have drawn renewed attention to the dangers posed by radicalized young Muslims in the United States and Europe.

What can be done to stop young Muslims in the West from adopting radical views and joining militant groups?

Read the Discussion »

Debaters

Challenge Radicals Loudly and Clearly

Ghaffar Hussain, Quilliam Foundation

There must be a society-wide civil intolerance of hateful ideas whether disguised in religious language or not.
Integration Beyond Socioeconomic Opportunity

Jocelyne Cesari, Islam in the West Program, Harvard University

Political efforts are needed to put an end to the ‘ghettoization’ of Islam, which is often depicted as alien and incompatible with Western core liberal values.
Address Radicalism Early

Raffaello Pantucci, Royal United Services Institute

Creating spaces in which people can ask about what they should do if a relation is starting to flirt with radical ideas, without actually having to report it to the police, offers a moment at which an intervention could be made.
Battle of Ideas Moves Online

Jamie Bartlett, Author, "The Dark Net"

Extremists are using social media to reach out to millions of people, which means the battle for hearts and minds must be waged online 24 hours a day.
Fluid Situation With No Single Solution

Patrick M. Skinner, Soufan Group, former C.I.A. officer

Consistent engagement between government and communities, with unique solutions and no cookie-cutter approach, can greatly reduce the appeal of the extremist narrative.