- Mark Sedgwick, Aarhus University: Minority alienation in Denmark
- Tahir Abbas, Leiden University: Nuances of exclusion and inclusion: Perspectives of Muslim and nationalist youth in the Netherlands
- Eolene Boyd-MacMillan, University of Cambridge & Gabe Mythen, University of Liverpool: Currents, trends and challenges: Assessing the UK landscape
- Valerie DeMarinis, Umeå University: Approaching the complexity of identity, exclusion and inclusion: Emerging narratives from Muslim and nationalist youth in Norway
- Eolene Boyd-MacMillan, University of Cambridge & Valerie DeMarinis, Umeå University: Risks and protective factors elicited by experiences of social exclusion: safety, belonging, identity
Panel abstract
This panel showcases original research emanating from a European Commission Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action project, ‘Determining multi-level led causes and testing intervention designs to reduce radicalisation, extremism and political violence in North-Western Europe through social inclusion (DRIVE)’
DRIVE is a multi-disciplinary, multi-methods initiative involving intensive and comprehensive research carried out in the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom over a period of 36 months. The ambition of the project is to help determine European-wide policy solutions that concentrate on social inclusion in counter-radicalisation initiatives by bringing together the expertise, skills and knowledge of researchers and practitioners involved in creating an understanding of radicalisation and building resilience against violent extremism and social polarisation.
DRIVE involves deep exploration of four enabling factors that connect to social exclusion based on spatial formation, identity politics, intergenerational change and reciprocal radicalisation. The project also advances understanding of individual and public mental health issues (well-being and resilience) related to experiences of social exclusion as they contribute to the processes of radicalisation within North-Western European societies.
Paper abstracts
Minority alienation in Denmark
Mark Sedgwick, Aarhus University
This paper looks at the causes of the social alienation of two Danish minorities, Muslims and Nationalists. Social alienation does not, in most cases, harm anyone except the individuals concerned, and may even sometimes be beneficial, but in some cases it helps commitment to radical positions and even, occasionally, the resort to political violence. In interviews and focus groups, young people in both groups commented on their own negative experiences, and also on mainstream ideological and political positions that they found troubling. Both groups felt alienated from the Danish state, certain government policies, the mainstream media, and - more broadly - from mainstream society. The two groups differed in that Muslims reported more personal experiences, while nationalists focused more on abstract ideas they could not accept. An unexpectedly complicated pattern of reciprocal radicalization emerged. Nationalists had bad experiences of Muslims, while Muslims had bad experiences of state policies that were often adopted in response to Nationalist political pressure. The state, then, emerged as a participant in the process, not as a neutral guardian of peace and justice.
Nuances of exclusion and inclusion: Perspectives of Muslim and nationalist youth in the Netherlands
Tahir Abbas, Leiden University
Based on ninety-five interviews with young people, practitioners, and activists, the data from the Netherlands demonstrates complicated patterns of inclusion and exclusion among Muslim youth. Many people report experiencing prejudice and feeling detached from their Dutch identity. Others, however, emphasise localised forms of belonging in a variety of metropolitan settings. Nationalist youth experience social marginalisation in political, cultural, and spatial dimensions since traditional national and local identities, especially in rural areas, are perceived to be under attack. However, the legitimacy of exclusion claims needs additional investigation. Furthermore, Muslim and nationalist youth attitudes defy broad generalisations, revealing profound variability. At the same time, while clear challenges such as prejudice persist, some Muslim adolescents are blending their identities. Various nationalist youth hold intransigent views, while others are unconcerned about polarising speech. This paper advocates for prioritising different young voices when creating understandings of radicalisation linkages. The various forms of exclusion and inclusion, as well as susceptibility to extremist narratives, must be identified across different young demographics. Balanced policy and community responses are required that recognise Muslim and nationalist youth’s agency and resilience in the face of marginalisation.
Currents, trends and challenges: Assessing the UK landscape
Eolene Boyd-MacMillan, Cambridge University and Gabe Mythen, University of Liverpool
This paper reports on the key UK findings emerging from the interview and focus group methodological strands of the DRIVE project. An overview will be provided from preliminary analyses of the interviews undertaken with practitioners, activists and young people. We will discuss what practitioners working in various fields focussing on extremism and counter radicalisation determine to be the key challenges in research, policy and practice, both presently and upcoming. We will then go on to discuss the preliminary findings from analyses of interview and focus group data with Muslim, young conservative, and nationalist young people in the UK, focusing on social exclusion and the areas of the four project hypotheses. Preliminary conclusions and recommendations will follow.
Approaching the complexity of identity, exclusion and inclusion: Emerging narratives from Muslim and nationalist youth in Norway
Valerie DeMarinis, Umeå University/Innlandet Hospital Trust
This paper analyses data from the Norwegian study that is a part of the Horizon DRIVE project. The analysis draws primarily from the project’s over sixty individual interview- and focus group interview data with Muslim and nationalist youth in different areas of Norway. The focus is on the experiences, views, and meaning-making pathways of these young persons related to: social and other forms of exclusion and alienation, the perceived consequences of such, and their hopes and visions for a better Norway. A multi-dimensional framework is used, incorporating interactions among micro-meso-macro Norwegian societal levels as well as international and on-line influences. The individual narratives of the Muslim youth are varied. Complex patterns of exclusion, discrimination, and targeted racism are reported by many. Cultural and community patterns of inclusion, engagement and sources of resilience are also noted. The nationalist youth narratives are also varied. Many express a sense of isolation from current society through different expressions of marginalisation in political, cultural, and also spatial dimensions linked to the perceived threat of loss of national and also local identities and values. Networks and communities of inclusion and sources of resilience are also identified. Initial implications of the findings for future research and policy formation are discussed.
Risks and protective factors elicited by experiences of social exclusion: safety, belonging, identity
Eolene Boyd-MacMillan, Cambridge University and Valerie DeMarinis, Umeå University/Innlandet Hospital Trust
The DRIVE project advances understanding of individual and public mental health issues (well-being and resilience) related to experiences of social exclusion as they may contribute to the processes of radicalisation within North-Western European societies. Summary findings will be discussed from amongst four public mental health hypotheses focusing on safety, security and belonging, identity-building behaviours, the reconfiguration, replacement or creation of family/ clan constellations, and the effects of political shifts in governance. Preliminary conclusions and recommendations will be provided.