The Extreme Ideoscape: Risks and Radicalization Defined in an Era of Digital Revolution

Over one year into the COVID-19 pandemic and the world is still experiencing widespread restrictions on physical movement that has increasingly pushed people into a virtual and online reality. While serving as a crucial platform for the world to stay connected, reliance upon social media has increasingly exposed people to greater vulnerabilities, risks of fake […]

Building Trust and Social Dialogue: The Impact of Local Interventions

In 2019, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that only 45 per cent of citizens trusted their governments and since COVID-19 and the spread of misinformation, polarization and mistrust has amplified even further. Confidence building measures and trust are key in moving forward in conflict affected regions or areas where low levels […]

Exiting Extremism: Returning Home and Recipient Communities

When people make the decision to leave a violent extremist group, the path to what was once home and rehabilitation can seem harder than the one that radicalized them. Importantly, it is not only former violent extremists, but family members including children who can be dragged into a net of suspicion and stigmatization. The international […]

Misogyny: The Extremist Gateway?

Misogyny often lies at the heart of violent extremism and is central to indoctrination, recruitment, and ideology – yet it frequently escapes scrutiny. Hounding women from the public sphere has been a starting point for violent ideologies, with social media directing hatred towards those women who speak out.  Societies that tackle misogyny are more peaceful […]

One Plan, 79 Recommendations, Five years: The UN Secretary General’s Plan of Action

Five years have passed since the UN Secretary-General established a Plan of Action calling for a two-part comprehensive approach focusing upon security-based counter-terrorism measures and preventive steps to address underlying conditions that drive people toward radicalization and violent extremist groups.  The Plan provided more than 70 recommendations to prevent the further spread of violent extremism. Over the […]

The Pandemic and Violent Extremism: Has the Landscape Changed?

COVID-19 has changed the world and is a health crisis on a scale not seen since the 1918 influenza pandemic. To combat this, declared states of emergency have enabled governments to temporarily limit personal freedoms. However, some have enforced measures that impinge upon citizen rights and reinforce marginalization of minority groups. In fragile and conflict-affected […]

Impact: How have Societies Moved Forward from Violent Extremism?

When a community or society is affected by violent extremism the purpose of the attack can be manifold, but an ambition of installing fear in a population is part of the violent extremist individual or groups ambitions.  The opening session of Oslo III will explore the power of resilience after attack and will dive into […]