How to understand and prevent the process of jihadist radicalisation in today’s Europe ?

HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND PREVENT THE PROCESS OF JIHADIST RADICALISATION IN TODAY’S EUROPE ?

Essay

Economic Political Science

Written by

Romane Comte

2018

Table of contents

Introduction

I. A suitable and efficient process, difficult to understand

A) The causes of radicalisation

B) The Radicalisation Process : how to understand it in order to

prevent it

II. How to set up efficient measures in Europe

A) Inspiring and promising European models

B) European measures are sometimes inefficient and not enough

focused on prevention

Conclusion

Sources

Introduction

The file of reports for the prevention of terrorist radicalisation (FSPRT) created in

March 2015 had only 11 400 cases at the time of the attacks of 13 November 2015.

In two years it has increased by about 60%, with 18,500 reports in France in 2017.

Among them, there are about 40% women and 20% minors. The number of radicalised

people in Europe is difficult to identify, which is why governments use the number

of "relevant reports" (reports of radicalised individuals to the various structures

set up by the government) as an approximation to this figure.

The term radicalisation comes from the Latin radix, which means "to get to the root".

In the political sense, the term refers to people who want to radically change society

by using - or not using - violence. To radicalise is not only to challenge or reject the

established order. Jihadist radicalization is driven by the desire to replace democracy

with a theocracy based on Islamic law (Sharia law) using violence and weapons.

It therefore requires the adoption of an ideology and benchmarks guiding all behaviours.

In the West, jihadism has been gradually spreading since the 2000s. It is a real

threat. In France, the problem took a decisive turn after the attacks in 2015. New jihad

candidates are becoming younger and younger, from all social classes, and

many are unknown to the police services. This is where the difficulty of deradicalisation

resides : the profiles being very different, it is not possible to propose a single

solution. The systems must be adapted to the plurality of cases in order to be able

to implement a real personalised follow-up.

What causes radicalisation and, consequently, what approaches should be used to

tackle it ? Should authorities limit their efforts to violent radicalisation or broaden

them to include nonviolent extremism as well ? How are partners for counterradicalisation

initiatives to be chosen within civil society and local Muslim communities ?

How the results of counterradicalisation initiatives can be measured ?

In the first part of this essay we will analyse the complicated and unpredictable nature

of radicalisation by talking about the causes of radicalisation and how the process

works. Then, in a second part we will discuss the role of European countries in

the process of preventing radicalisation.

I. A suitable and efficient process, difficult to understand

A) The causes of radicalisation

Radicalisation is at the crossroads of a psychological process (a victimizing feeling

of non-recognition) and an ideological logic, based on identity and communitarianism,

which is in contradiction with the idea of a republican pact and democracy. It

is also favoured by a social and family breakdown.

This process of radicalisation has intensified and is fed in particular by the societal

and social developments that have taken place in recent decades:

- the breakdown of the family structure with, in particular, the devaluation of paternal

authority ;

- the loss of audience of institutional authorities (army, school, churches,...) ;

- the rise in youth unemployment ;

- the breakdown of the social elevator ;

These developments have sometimes led a fraction of young people to social protest.

More frequently, we are currently witnessing social and political disengagement,

or even community disengagement. The President of the Economic and Social

Council recently pointed out that "a number of rootless young people are falling

into radicalisation, not to challenge the Republic, but to fill the lack of Republic".

He identifies "a risk of social dislocation, if the increase in wealth is made on a minority".

These behaviours find a favourable echo in radical Jihadist speech, based on an

identity-based, communitarian, even conspicuous approach, which challenges and

fights our social and democratic model.

The growing importance of the process of radicalisation is also supported by a favorable

international environment. France policy of wanting to fight against the Bashar

El Assad regime has been used as a legitimate pretext to fight alongside Islamist

groups facing Syrian power. In a context of globalization of exchanges and debates

on the Internet, the Syrian conflict has acquired international visibility and the emergence

of an Islamic state project has made it attractive to young people, not only

Muslims, who lack ideals and projects. Thus, since the creation of the Islamic state,

on the borders of Syria and Iraq, the idea of avenging the wrongs caused to Muslims

everywhere in the world now justifies all abuses. The new political commitment of a

part of youth is reflected in the participation or support of these terrorist groups.

This recruitment can also lead to attacks on our national territory. This situation affects

all Western countries, particularly in Europe. Thus, of the nearly 20,000 foreign

fighters, there are more than 5,000 Europeans. This phenomenon is European and

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