It has been a busy year for RAN Practitioners and members of the network: nine Working Groups, as well as the RAN YOUNG Platform, met regularly throughout the year; practitioners from every working field came together in person for the first time in two years at the RAN Practitioners Plenary; new projects were added to the Collection of Inspiring Practices; and over 30 papers were published. So as the year comes to a close, we look back at some of this activity and look ahead at what might be in store in the year to come. To do this, we feature the latest edition of the Spotlight magazine, and the latest episodes of the Special Report and The View. In this issue of the RAN Practitioners Update, we also take a look at the important role of civil society in preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE).
2022
Spotlight
The final Spotlight magazine of the year takes a look at what RAN Practitioners has been up to in 2022. The publication – a digital magazine which provides RAN practitioners with an opportunity to share their insights, views and practices – takes a look at some of the emerging P/CVE challenges that have arisen and some of the key events that have taken place. It provides a review of the European Remembrance Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism, the RAN Practitioners Plenary, the RAN YOUNG platform, and RAN in the Western Balkans project.
Plenary
In a recent issue of the RAN Practitioners Update we featured some content on the annual RAN Plenary event which took place in Brussels in October 2022. In the latest episode of our ‘Event Report’ series, we take a look back and hear from some of the participants at the event, including RAN practitioners, Working Group leads and representatives from the European Commission.
Special Report
The fifth episode of the Special Report – a programme which reviews some of the most-timely issues of the day – explores some of the P/CVE topics which have been concerning practitioners in recent months. Practitioners and other experts provide their insights on the impact of new digital technologies on P/CVE, the role of young people in P/CVE, and the impact of socio-economic factors on radicalisation. You can watch the programme in full on the RAN YouTube channel here. And if you would like to learn more about ‘socio-economic drivers’ you can also listen to the latest RAN in Focus podcast here.
The View
The fifth episode of The View takes a look ahead at the year to come. A panel of three leading experts in P/CVE – including Chiara Dedeken from the RAN YOUNG platform, Teun van Dongen from the International Centre for Counter Terrorism (ICCT) and RAN Policy Support expert, and a representative from the EU Internet Referral Unit (EUIRU) – discuss some of the emerging threats of most concern, including online radicalisation and anti-authority/anti-government extremism.
Civil society
Spotlight
In this edition of the Spotlight magazine, we take a look at the important role of civil society in P/CVE. The publication provides an overview of the challenges in communities in Europe today, the different communities which civil society groups represent and the challenges that they face. It includes content on working with faith-based groups, working with community figures inside and outside of schools, and creating safe spaces for young people.
Paper
A paper, published by RAN Practitioners in May 2022, entitled ‘The role of civil society organisations in exit work’, discusses the importance of multi-agency work and collaboration between governments and civil society in exit work. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the different functions and characteristics of CSO-led exit interventions in the EU and summarises challenges, lessons learned and inspiring practices.
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned to the Calendar page on the RAN Practitioners website for updates on meetings which will take place in 2023.
Publications
Countering the misuse of gaming-related content & spaces
A recent paper provides insights for practitioners on the exploitation of video games, gaming(-adjacent) platforms and gaming-related content by extremist actors, and discusses the potential for cooperation with tech companies in tackling the challenge. The paper explores different approaches, including reactive approaches, such as deplatforming, moderation and other regulatory activities, and proactive approaches, such as positive interventions and positive communication.
Violent individuals with personalised ideologies and mental health issues
A recent paper discusses how (extremist) ideologies have become increasingly fragmented and individualised and seem to centre more on personal, single and/or local issues. The paper describes the phenomenon and its complexity, as well as the ensuing challenges that practitioners – including mental health practitioners, EXIT workers, police (psychologists), intelligence personnel and local authorities – currently face. The paper then puts forward recommendations for risk assessment, therapy and care infrastructure and policy.
Contact Us
RAN Practitioners is implemented by RadarEurope, which is a subsidiary of the RadarGroup:
- Phone: +31 (0)20 468 06 08 (office)
- E-Mail: ran
radareurope [dot] nl (ran[at]radareurope[dot]nl)
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