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Masking and countering racialisation: Dutch counter radicalisation through policymakers’ eyes

Description

This article explores the reflections and problematisations of Dutch

Preventing and Countering radicalisation and Violent Extremism (P/

CVE) policymakers, focusing on racialisation and the masking

thereof. It analyses their reflections on changing contexts, effects

versus origins of policies, and the influence of their organisational

position and role, using a conceptual lens of race, religion, and

masking. The findings show how discourses of security, liberalism,

and secularism masking racialisation coexist with conscious efforts

to counter racialisation. They imply a level of institutionalised racialisation within P/CVE policies that allows for an openness to change,

as long as existing organisational contexts and frameworks remain

the same. Based on the findings and analysis, this article suggests

the potential existence of self-perpetuating mechanism strengthening existing policy foundations, which could explain the coexistence of racialising patterns and efforts to counter racialisation.

Considering the strategic position and proactive role of the

Netherlands in P/CVE policy formulation within Europe, and Dutch

resistance to using the term race explicitly, these insights are relevant for research on other European regions deploying P/CVE policies and/or contexts where race is not explicitly discussed, but

discourses masking racialisation may be present.

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Language:

English

Date:

16-07-2026

Proposed by:

IPS 

Source:

Groothuis, 2025