Transformative Approaches to Violent Extremism

Dealing with violent extremism (VE) has emerged as a central framework of analysis and policy-making in most Western and non-Western government agencies. It is also heavily shaping the programming of non-governmental agencies, not least due to the availability of related funding lines.While there is an undeniable need to address violent extremism, this latest Berghof Handbook Dialogue takes as one premise that more often than not, analysis and programming to date often fall short in understanding and tackling the root causes of the phenomenon. Our lead article proposes: "Ultimately, addressing VE is fundamentally about conflict transformation, yet CVE/PVE interventions are rarely designed to be transformative."

Beatrix Austin and Hans J. Giessmann: Introduction Mohammed Abu-Nimer: Alternative Approaches to Transforming Violent Extremism The Case of Islamic Peace and Interreligious Peacebuilding Sanam Naraghi Anderlini: Challenging Conventional Wisdom, Transforming Current Practices. A Gendered Lens on PVE Maral Jekta: Engaging with Whom? Opportunities and Challenges of PVE Approaches in Iraq and Germany Anita Ernstorfer: Effective Approaches to Preventing Violent Extremism A Peacebuilding Systems Perspective Radwan El Sayed: Religious Institutions and the Challenges of Extremism and Terrorism 61 The Long View Beatrix Austin (interviewer): “What’s actually needed is to invent new terms”. A Conversation about Radical Religious Norms and Experiences from the Balkans Mohammed Abu-Nimer: A Way Forward in Transforming Violent Extremism De-Islamisation, De-Securitisation and De-Religionisation 77 About the Authors and Editors List of Abbrevations