RAN study visit - The Swedish approach to tackling violent right-wing extremism, Stockholm 11 June 2024

Violent right-wing extremism (VRWE) poses a significant threat across Europe, manifesting through hate crimes and other forms of violence. To prevent (violent) extremist acts, Sweden implements a multi-faceted approach involving various actors at national, regional, and local levels. On 11 June 2024, practitioners from all over Europe gathered in Stockholm during a RAN study visit to learn from the Swedish approach to tackling violent right-wing extremism. 

The group of participants consisted of practitioners from law enforcement, exit work, youth work, NGOs, and education, among others. During this one-day event, participants visited three organisations playing a vital role in Sweden’s approach to preventing and countering VRWE to learn first-hand from their experiences: 1) the Center for Preventing Violent Extremism, 2) the Dialogue Police, and 3) Exit Sweden. 

This paper provides an overview of the study visit, aimed at understanding the operational frameworks, challenges, and successes of these organisations in combating VRWE. By examining their initiatives and strategies, this paper seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of P/CVE efforts in Sweden. 

Key points 

• The CVE Centre coordinates the Swedish approach on national, regional, and local levels. It provides tailored support to other stakeholders such as municipalities and schools, as well as gathers and disseminates knowledge and information on violent extremism and P/CVE efforts. 
• Whereas the CVE Centre has only focused on ideologically motivated violent acts until recently, their mandate has been expanded to also cover the rise of school-shootings in Sweden. 
• The Dialogue Police aim to let all groups – even those with extremist ideologies – exercise their right to freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate, while ensuring that they do so within the limits of the law. 
• The tactics of the Dialogue Police are based on social identity theory and aim to get extremist groups to “self-police”, to prevent individuals from creating disturbances that would negatively influence the whole group. 
• Exit Sweden offers disengagement programmes to anyone wishing to leave an extremist group or a criminal organisation. They follow a five-step method that provides a thorough and sound way of disengaging. 
• While individuals might ideally decide to completely distance themselves from extremist ideology, Exit Sweden aims to help clients sufficiently disengage to the point where they are able to participate in democratic processes.