In the face of a rising tide of violent radicalisation, extremism, and nationalism in Europe, the "Mobilising against extremism through countering and diverting radicalisation of young people (RADEX)" project emerged as a crucial initiative. Despite the highly commendable efforts by the European Commission, Horizon, and Erasmus+ projects, there remained a pressing need for targeted support aimed at young individuals vulnerable to grooming by violent extremists. RADEX took up the challenge, focusing on prevention, education, and the development of tools to equip young people and P/CVE practitioners in the fight against extremism.
RADEX's ambitious objectives aimed at countering, preventing, and diverting violent radicalisation. The project sought to empower its target groups with the tools and knowledge necessary to detect and intervene in the radicalisation process, both online and offline. The multifaceted approach included:
- Prevention and Diversion: Equipping young people with tools to prevent and divert violent radicalisation and extremism
- Detection Tools: Providing target groups with the tools and knowledge to detect the radicalisation process, both online and offline
- Educational Resources: Creating comprehensive educational resources on violent radicalisation and extremism, coupled with a digital alert for disenfranchised youth
- Awareness Building: Raising awareness among local, national, and EU actors on youth radicalisation processes and patterns
- Critical Thinking: Enhancing young people's critical thinking skills to analyse and question extremist ideologies
- Vigilance and Alertness: Improving the vigilance and alertness of young people, both online and offline, while training practitioners on how to approach such topics
- Proactive Communication: Encouraging proactiveness in online social communication and behaviour among young people
- Online Safety Awareness: Raising awareness among the target group on critical matters such as online safety
- Multiplying Impact: Enabling participants and target groups to become multipliers of the project's tools and results
RADEX adopted a systematic approach through the creation of a methodological framework. This framework allowed the collection and analysis of data to identify patterns of pressing need regarding the radicalisation of young people in Europe, both online and offline.
The RADEX project has successfully concluded, delivering valuable outcomes. These include an e-book presenting research findings on the radicalisation of young people in the UK, Cyprus, France, Greece, and Belgium. Additionally, an advanced e-course was developed to train professionals working with at-risk youth, with a specific emphasis on online grooming.
Fighting terrorism and violent extremism requires a comprehensive approach that extends beyond surveillance and security. RADEX's outcomes emphasised that effective prevention strategies focus on stopping individuals from engaging in violent extremism in the first place. Practitioners should prioritise efforts that redirect young people towards alternatives that are devoid of violence, fostering a community-centric approach to counter-radicalisation. In essence, the most impactful interventions occur when practitioners invest in prevention and guide youth towards healthier paths, minimising the appeal of extremist ideologies.
Sophie Sideridou is a Research Coordinator and Restorative Justice for All (RJ4ALL) Europe Manager